In our view a Sustainable Stay can be taken in a cabin, guesthouse, small hotel or an international standard hotel or resort. Each stay in each location throughout the year have challenges on being sustainable, what is possible for one hotel in place might not be possible yet for another, regardless of the motivation to do better. Whilst sustainable certification is helpful and key to measurement and accountability there are many certification schemes and some are better than others so we look at what is important through actions, beyond awards on office walls.

Does the stay use renewable energy and are efficient with electricity and water? Do the managers take steps to reduce waste by recycling and composting and minimising plastic and other single-use disposables? Does the lodging support the local community, hiring local people, paying them fairly, providing ongoing training and perhaps helping nearby non-profits? Does the management buy goods and services from local businesses, which helps the local economy and minimises the carbon impact of their supply chain? Do the hotel team pay attention to conserving nature, respecting local culture, and educating guests about sustainability?

This is a very nuanced area of sustainability and we seek to enable understanding, share success and help make better decisions.