Booking.com has added sustainability badges for short-term rentals on its website.
The booking website has partnered with start-up Sustonica evaluates properties based on criteria from the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the Travalyst framework.
As reported by PhocusWire, the badges will be analysed by energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation and community impact.
According to Booking.com’s 2023 Sustainable Travel Research Report, based on a survey of more than 33,000 people in 35 countries, 65% said they would feel better about staying in an accommodation that had a sustainable certification or label and 59% want to filter their options for properties with such a certification.
At the time of publishing the report, Booking.com head of sustainability Danielle D’Silva said: “We recognise that our global scale and reach could drive universal change across a segment that has historically been fragmented and complex, while solving for some of the challenges consumers have experienced in identifying a more sustainable choice.”
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How sustainable are hotels?
Many hotels have been upping their sustainability games, with introducing more waste management measures and carbon labels on menus.
InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG Hotel and Resorts) is currently planning its first lifecycle net zero carbon hotel ‘Zeal Exeter Science Park’ in Exeter, which is set to open in 2024.
To reduce emissions, an air source heat pump will provide heating and cooling for the ground floor, with adiabatic cooling and electricity providing heat for the higher floors.
Additionally, on-site photovoltaics – concerting thermal energy into electricity – will provide most of the energy needed, with the rest coming from renewable sources.
