Luxury hotel chiefs prepare for new era

Elsewhere in this issue we’re reporting on how the products housekeepers use in their daily roles – from linen to cleaning products – must have sustainability credentials. But we’re not the only ones thinking about this as the ‘big bosses’ in hospitality recognise the challenge.

New global research commissioned by communication technology company Communications Specialist Ltd, reveals that 94 per cent of senior executives at high-end, luxury hotels expect the sector to increase its focus on sustainability over the next three years – with more than one in five believing there will be a dramatic increase.

Just under half of those surveyed expect a major uplift in focus on working with local suppliers. Some 84 per cent are predicting growth in the luxury hotel sector’s use of renewable energy, and 86 per cent an increased focus on removing disposable plastics from their operations between now and 2026. Some 28 per cent of senior luxury hotel executives interviewed say having strong sustainability credentials is now extremely important to secure bookings.

Kevin Buchler, chief marketing officer at Communications Specialist Ltd, says: “The high-end luxury hotel market has very discerning customers and many of them increasingly want to know the ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) credentials of the hotels they are staying in. Our research shows the luxury hotel sector is investing heavily in this area, and it has become key to a hotel’s success to have a strong focus on sustainability.”

Communications Specialist Ltd commissioned the independent research agency Pure Profile to interview 50 senior executives at luxury, high end hotel chains with annual revenue of $4 billion based in Asia, Africa, Europe, the US and South America.