A hotelier’s blueprint for going green
With eco-conscious guests and investors increasingly demanding meaningful action, the stakes are high for hoteliers looking to make a genuine impact with sustainable change…
Words by Liam Aran Barnes | Eco Stay Awards Co-founder
Charlotte Piffard, head of the EXO Foundation and a judge for the Eco Stay Awards, offers a practical, data-driven blueprint for those serious about sustainability.
Her insights show how sustainability can be woven into daily operations and leveraged as a business advantage.
Building a strong foundation
For hotels, real sustainability starts with structure.
Piffard’s advice is straightforward: establish a Sustainable Management System (SMS) to set, track, and refine sustainability goals.
“Without a plan, good intentions go nowhere,” she says.
An SMS transforms broad ideas into measurable actions, making sustainability achievable across all departments.
Piffard stresses the importance of involving every stakeholder—from employees to guests and suppliers—in the SMS.
“Sustainability needs to be a team effort, not a solo mission,” she explains.
By including all voices early, hotels foster a shared commitment.
Her advice? Start with what’s working.
“Many hotels focus on what they’re not doing instead of recognising their existing strengths,” she notes. “Every hotel has a foundation to build on, and by amplifying that, you create real progress.”
Power up with data
Building on a solid SMS, tracking and measuring progress is essential.
At EXO Foundation, data-driven insights are key, and they utilise tools like Hotel Resilient to help hotels monitor metrics, benchmark against standards, and set data-backed goals.
“Data isn’t just for reporting—it’s a tool for growth,” says Piffard. “With real data, hotels can see where they stand, identify growth opportunities, and demonstrate progress.”
This approach aligns with certifications like Green Key or LEED, boosting a hotel’s credentials and appeal to eco-conscious guests and investors alike.
Benchmarking drives a culture of continuous improvement that resonates with guests and stakeholders. As more hotels adopt tools like Hotel Resilient, data-driven progress becomes a valuable differentiator.
Climate and community collaboration
Beyond internal systems and data, partnerships can broaden a hotel’s impact.
EXO Foundation’s collaborations demonstrate how climate action and community impact go hand in hand. In one project, a partnered hotel achieved carbon neutrality by offsetting emissions and investing in local initiatives.
“They replaced diesel generators with grid electricity, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and energy costs,” Piffard explains.
This hotel also restored 1,000 hectares of mangroves, enhancing biodiversity and creating natural carbon sequestration. Projects like these enable hotels to contribute to local resilience while lowering environmental impacts.
Another key partnership is with Evergreen Labs, which tackles plastic pollution across Asia by establishing community-based production facilities that transform low-value plastic waste into valuable products.
By engaging local residents, Evergreen creates jobs and supports local economies, turning waste into a resource that benefits both the environment and communities, with impact extending beyond hotel walls.
These partnerships underscore that sustainability goes beyond operational goals—it’s about creating meaningful change across communities, operations, and the bottom line.
Recognition as a catalyst
When it comes to driving accountability and progress, recognition can be a powerful motivator.
Initiatives like the EXO Sustainability Awards and The Eco Stay Awards encourage hotels to go further in their sustainability efforts. Piffard sees these programmes as key to fostering industry-wide responsibility and sparking sustainable action.
“These awards show that sustainability actually delivers,” she says, adding that recognition builds credibility with guests, investors, and competitors.
By spotlighting innovations, programmes like these validate that sustainable practices are both viable and valuable for hoteliers.
But for Piffard, genuine sustainability means more than surface-level efforts.
“Lip service doesn’t count,” she says.
She seeks hotels that have woven sustainability into their operations—supporting local economies, preserving biodiversity, and respecting cultural heritage.
The hotels that impress her most are those with measurable results, whether in waste reduction, emissions cuts, or community-focused initiatives.
Tuu’s takeaways
Start with an SMS: Establish a Sustainable Management System to organise efforts, engage all team members, and measure impact effectively.
Use data to grow: Platforms like Hotel Resilient provide data-backed insights that drive continuous improvement.
Build community partnerships: Partnering with organisations like Evergreen Labs can amplify your sustainability impact, creating environmental and social benefits that strengthen your brand.
Strive for recognition: Awards like the Tuu Eco Stay Awards validate your sustainability achievements, motivating teams and boosting your hotel’s reputation.
Make it measurable: Ensure initiatives are impactful and backed by data. Judges like Piffard value results that make a genuine difference.
Are you ready to lead?
Charlotte Piffard’s insights lay out a clear path for hotels serious about sustainability.
By establishing a structured system, tracking data, collaborating with partners, and aiming for industry recognition, hotels can move beyond good intentions to make lasting change.
The roadmap is clear. Now it’s up to hoteliers to act. With the right tools, hoteliers can lead sustainability from the front—and Tuu is here to support those who do.