2. b. Identifying areas of improvement and compliance with sustainability standards

Conducting internal audits in the hospitality industry, setting and reviewing sustainability metrics helps hospitality businesses identify areas where they can/need to improve their sustainability efforts, set realistic targets and track progress over time.

Implementing sustainability metrics into daily operations in the hospitality industry requires a strategic approach that starts with identifying the factors that are most relevant to your business (e.g. energy consumption, waste production, emissions and social impact). Once the relevant areas are identified, it is critical to select appropriate metrics/KPIs that provide a measurable and quantifiable means of tracking performance in these areas. For example, businesses in the hospitality industry that are focused on reducing their carbon footprint could monitor the percentage of energy required that is sourced from renewable suppliers. The next step is to establish data collection procedures. To do this, companies may need to invest in new technology or systems to ensure they can collect and manage this data effectively. Once data collection is underway, companies should regularly review and analyze this information. These findings can be used to guide strategy development, highlight areas for improvement and provide a basis for setting realistic but ambitious sustainability targets. Finally, it is important to clearly communicate these metrics and any associated progress both internally and externally. Employees should understand how their role contributes to the company’s sustainability goals, while stakeholders and guests increasingly value transparency around such initiatives.