With British tourism still bouncing back from the impact of Covid-19, we at Alliance Online take a moment to review where the tourism industry is at and ways you can make your venue more appealing to eco-tourists.
British Tourism
It’s no secret COVID-19 affected numerous industries across the globe, but none were impacted quite like the tourism industry. During the height of the pandemic tour operators were closed, cruise ships were anchored, and flight crews were grounded with the exception of only accommodating necessary flights. Essentially, inbound tourism ground to a halt.
But, due to the limits in place British nationals discovered a renewed appreciation for domestic travel. This has translated into a fast resurgence to near pre-pandemic levels with 2022 presently having seen a domestic market worth £78 billion compared with 2019’s figures of £91.6 billion1. The market may not be quite as big but the speed the market has recovered is a testament to the British public finding joy in investigating their own backyard.
You may ask “Why is this of interest to me and my hotel?”
The answer is simple, the economy.
It is no surprise to anyone that inflation is on the rise, and it isn’t showing any sign of levelling out or falling which we appreciate is giving all businesses a constricting feeling where your budgets are concerned. There is however a hopeful silver lining for the hospitality and hotel sector though, it means domestic tourism may remain high and possibly eclipse 2019 levels due to people opting to travel within the UK in place of more expensive abroad holidays.
So, how can you best try to capture some of this predicted large domestic market?
Naturally, there are various ways to do so but we want to focus on capitalising on current trends and the biggest trend by far at present is evaluating and reducing our environmental impact.
Best Green Options
So, what are the best options available at present if you want to improve your range of eco-products to showcase yourself as a green champion within tourism?
Guest Toiletries
A great place to start is your guest toiletries as these will be recognised by your guests on account of them being used on a daily basis by them. We’ve all done it where we briefly study the shower gel in the hotel we’re staying in, so why not make a point of choosing an eco-option to demonstrate your businesses environmental ethos. Our ranges include:
- Green Culture Eco: The range includes two dispenser options (Smart Care and Press + Wash) and combines renewable, plant based raw materials with 100% recyclable packaging ensuring all aspects of the product have eco-friendly qualities. The range has been certified with the EU Ecolabel along with the prestigious Nordic Swan Ecolabel too.
- Anyah: Our relaxing and complete Anyah range is based on an eco-spa treatment amenities collection which benefits from environmental quality guarantees. The recyclable packaging is made in a manner which reduces CO2 emissions and the range boasts both the EU Ecolabel and Ecocert certification. The products are also BHT and EDTA free and also free of both petrolatum and silicone whilst also being vegan friendly.
- Geneva Green: Representing a collection with a circular design approach the bottles and caps are fabricated from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and are recyclable after use. All bars of soap are wrapped with 100% recycled paper whilst presentation boxes and door hangers are made from 80% recovered fibres and 20% pure ECF cellulose. This means the Geneva Green range produces zero waste to landfill and all packaging has a carbon neutral footprint.
Napkins
Where napkins are concerned offering eco-options can be a great way of promoting your green status as a conscious company. Now, should you have a fine dining restaurant we’d still recommend you offer proper linen (or a linen substitute such as Tork’s Linstyle) as diners will have a set expectation regarding finer dining experience.
But if you have napkins available in dispensers during less formal dining times such as buffet breakfasts or in a bar area, we’d suggest investing in kraft recycled napkins. Our range includes products which are made of 100% recycled material giving our customers a brilliant offering where green options are concerned.
Cleaning Supplies
Eco-cleaning can be a minefield of small print, false promises and difficult to decipher claims. As such we only promote and advertise options which we feel truly represent eco-chemical options. For cleaning chemicals, we recommend the following five ranges:
- InnuScience: As a supplier, InnuScience strive to be at the forefront of eco-cleaning and chemicals. They use advanced research and development to offer a range of biotechnological products which utilise microbes and enzymes to help tackle dirt, grease and grime and eliminate odours. Their commitment goes as far as their own creation of a Dragonfly hallmark which they attribute to all products as a sign of their biotechnology. The nature of the Dragonfly acts as a hallmark of nature and serves as their promise to always produce cleaning products which are safe for the environment.
- Bio-D: Much like InnuScience, Bio D strive to offer a solution for commercial cleaning which does not impact on the environment. The businesses founder Michael Barwell wanted to produce a range of cleaning products which were naturally derived and would clean effectively without harm to either people or the surrounding eco-system. Amongst their various eco-positives, the company is B Corp accredited which recognises their journey to becoming sustainable in all aspects of the Bio D product process including ingredients, packaging, accountability, workforce and more.
- ChemEco: Much like the previous two suppliers, ChemEco also boasts leading UK biotechnology and sustainability with their initial goal to be to create a “fundamentally green” solution for their customers. Their range is cruelty-free and vegan whilst also being specifically designed with the HORECA (Hotel, Restaurants and Cafes) market sector in mind.
- SURE by Diversey: The range covers all cleaning routines and daily hygiene requirements for both kitchens and washrooms including the personal care market too. Each product has a formulation designed to deliver a superior professional finish while maximising safety and gentleness for both people and the environment. Typically, all meet the eco-certification criteria and where applicable all are EU Ecolabel certified or have approval pending.
- Evans Vanodine: Evans are a supplier who appreciate it can be difficult to quantify and classify “green” credentials when it comes to chemical products, as such they developed their Greentick product line. The purpose is to highlight and give a visual indication to products of theirs which have a low impact on the environment. Ranges are analysed using Evan’s Greentick system ensuring any product which possesses the certification has been thoroughly reviewed and checked for its environmental impact.
Continuing with cleaning, another area worth reviewing is your cloth selection. The main option we’d suggest is the J-Cloth Plus 3000 compostable cloths. Its unique, open, wavy texture enables efficient pick-up of any dirt and makes it easy to rinse, ensuring longer freshness, in addition, this cleaning wipe is both compostable and biodegradable in accordance with the DIN EN 13432 200-12.
For a recent case study of how our Alliance Scotland branch helped a Scottish hotel chain install a chemical free eco-cleaning system, click here.
Ready Made Lunches
Some hotels offer guests the option to purchase a ready-made meal ahead of day-long or lunch time excursions. If you offer such services, then ensure you serve such meals in a disposable option.
Salad Boxes
For salad boxes we would recommend the Plaza Evolve range from Faerch. Being designed to close the loop on food packaging, it is a fully circular solution. The Evolve by Faerch Plaza bowls are made from recycled household post-consumer material which, after use, can be recycled into new mono- material food packaging without any loss of quality.
Sandwich Cartons
For sandwiches we’d recommend either opting for cartonboard wedges which include options made from recycled material and are they themselves are also recyclable (film is compostable, cartonboard is biodegradable). If however, you want something more transparent then rPET wedges are also a great alternative being made from at least 50% post-consumer recycled PET content. The material also benefits from being 100% recyclable and both proven and recognised as a BRC food grade material throughout the food industry.
Hot Cups
What can be a nice touch for guests is to offer those who are going out for the day a hot drink to go. A coffee, cup of tea or hot chocolate for the road can be a nice extra which most are not used to and can help towards creating a positive experience when visiting your hotel. We would recommend using a double wall cup as this provides insulation for the core temperature of the drink whilst also preventing your guests’ hands from being burnt.
There are multiple other eco options you can select to help achieve your own personal environmental goals. We at Alliance Online have over 23 years of supplying the hospitality and leisure industries with disposable and green products. As such, not only do we have a wealth of depth where eco-alternatives are concerned, we also have a full environmentally conscious range which can be either viewed online, or you can download our brochure and contact your nearest Alliance Local branch to talk to a rep further.
References:
- IBIS World – Total Domestic Toursim 2022: https://www.ibisworld.com/uk/bed/total-domestic-tourism/44062/
