Senior independent sustainability auditor Chris Thompson told Abta’s Delivering Sustainable Travel seminar on Wednesday (24 May) that hoteliers had “a role to play” extending sustainability practices to benefit communities, but warned: “Most of them fail miserably.”

Thompson said needed to encourage hoteliers to change their view of sustainability. “The first thing they focus on is energy and light bulbs. Really, we should be saying: ‘You are the face of the destination and you should embrace the fact you are impacting on it’.”

This, he said, meant taking into account a range of factors, including their social and biodiversity impact, as well as energy use and water wastage.

“When you talk to accommodation about community, a fair proportion have no idea who they are – they just don’t get it," Thompson continued. "Yes, they recognise they employ and purchase goods and services [locally], but don’t really understand the impact on the community as a whole.

“They are the face of the destination, they have the responsibility. If they destroy the places they are based in, people won’t go there because there is nothing for them.”

The session, chaired by TTG editorial director Pippa Jacks, also heard from Tui sustainable business manager Ian Corbett, who outlined Tui’s work at its owned properties, which total around 400, for which it has a net-zero carbon target.

“There is a massive focus on local sourcing, plastic and food waste,” he said, but cautioned: “We’re also very mindful of not overwhelming our partners by trying to do too much at once.”

Tui was looking at things like how buffets were presented, but Corbett said this meant “how to reduce without penalising or berating” clients. “We’ve quite a few projects that do not impact the guest experience.”

Both Thompson and Corbett agreed consumer behaviour was part of the issue. “There is much more hotels should be doing to encourage people to take responsibility for their own actions,” said Thompson. “We need to push tour operators to talk to the guest and the accommodation.”

Corbett added consumer behaviour started at home, but said it was a myth people don’t think about sustainability when they are on holiday.

He told delegates Tui was discussing how to empower consumers to make sustainable choices. “We include at each touchpoint a reminder, but that work has to start before they get there and focus on working their way down the all-inclusive cocktail list."