Hotels worldwide are ushering in new era of water efficiency makeovers that not only elevate the guest experience but also serve as beacon for the global shift towards sustainability
In the heart of every great vacation experience lies the enchanting world of hotels. Whether you're travelling for business or pleasure, one thing remains consistent the desire for comfort and luxury. However, in recent years, a refreshing transformation has taken place, where luxury is now closely intertwined with sustainability.
Hotels worldwide are ushering in a new era of water efficiency makeovers that not only elevate the guest experience but also serve as a beacon for the global shift towards sustainability.
The Environmental Wake-Up Call
In recent years, the hospitality industry has been confronted with a resounding environmental wake-up call. Guests are no longer satisfied with luxurious amenities alone. They seek out eco-friendly accommodation options that align with their values. This shift has spurred a wave of change in the way hotels approach sustainability.
Hoteliers all around the world have started to understand that incorporating sustainable practises into all aspects of their business operations is equally essential to the longevity of their sector, as offering luxurious facilities and excellent customer service.
The Hospitality Industry's Green Awakening
Hotels have long been criticised for their resource-intensive operations. From energy consumption to water usage, the industry's environmental impact is substantial. We've all had the experience of drinking water from ordinary bottles filled with the same old groundwater, purified by Reverse Osmosis (RO), and packaged in a standard plastic bottle.
It's an old technology paired with a depleting resource and non-biodegradable packaging. It's estimated that about 1.3 billion plastic bottles are used across the world each day, amounting to about 1 million bottles per minute, which is a huge number. Additionally, the beverage industry, valued at a staggering USD 2 trillion, consumes over 2000 billion litres of water annually.
This voracious consumption not only contributes to the depletion of precious groundwater but also adversely impacts communities reliant on this resource.
The Renewable Water solution and Innovations
Hotels are replacing plastic bottles in their hotel rooms and adding glass water bottles that are more sustainable and can be used continuously without any health-related side effects for their patrons. They are gradually shifting towards renewable water, and as hotels continue to evolve, water efficiency will be a constant concern in aspects of the hospitality industry.
This encompasses the integration of sustainable practises within hotels and hotel-owned restaurants, cafes, and bars and collaborative efforts to generate social and environmental impact.
Hotels, in their endeavours to cut down on groundwater depletion and increase their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores, are setting up renewable water infrastructure on their rooftops to create renewable water. The technology behind the innovation lies in the fact that the atmosphere contains six times more water than all of the world's rivers combined.
Moreover, moisture in the air naturally replenishes itself in just 8–10 days. When harnessed using exclusively renewable energy sources, this boundless atmospheric moisture can be deemed 100 percent renewable water.
There are various water solutions available in the market for hotels and the hospitality industry that offer affordability and flexibility through two distinct business models tailored to meet diverse business needs. In the Direct Asset Sales (DAS) model, hotels can directly purchase and install rooftop systems. Conversely, in the Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) model, companies can engage with water solutions in the market through various partnership arrangements.
Similarly, energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems are becoming standard procedures in eco-conscious hotels to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Resource-efficient technologies and practises, including water conservation measures such as aerators and smart irrigation systems, are also in demand.
The Future of Hospitality: Sustainable and Refreshing
The transition to water efficiency is not just about conservation; it's also about redefining luxury. Hotels have the potential to decrease their water and plastic usage through the providing ongoing training to staff to emphasise the significance of water conservation.
Today's discerning travellers appreciate the seamless integration of sustainability into their hotel experience. Hotels that can offer a luxurious stay while minimising their impact on the environment. The transition to water efficiency in hotels transcends mere economics. It is a commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for the hospitality sector and our planet.
(Swapnil Shrivastav, Co-Founder of Uravu Labs.)