Earlier this year, research by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) highlighted eco-tourism as a key trend for 2018. Its annual Travel Trends, report stated that popular TV programmes like Blue Planet II have put sustainability issues firmly in the spotlight, informing people’s choices about where and how they holiday.

With rising numbers of conscious consumers that value green and ethical products and services, sustainable tourism is a trend that is only going to grow over time. That’s why hotels need to ensure that they are prepared to meet customer expectations in this area, for now and the future.

Hoteliers should look out for services from external suppliers that can help managers to boost initiatives such as recycling. Hypnos Contract Beds aims to help hotels to eradicate the waste associated with old beds, for example, with a hassle-free disposal and recycling service, deconstructing them to create recycled raw materials for re-use in other industries. This responsible approach results in 100 percent landfill avoidance and offers a green way of disposing old mattresses, beds and bedding.

At Hypnos, every sleep solution, from mattresses to sofa beds, comprise the finest natural and sustainable materials, including those made from recycled plastic bottles as well as FSC® and PEFC™ certified timbers that have been sourced from managed forests, to create an ethically-conscious product.

In fact, the company constantly monitors its carbon footprint, having reduced carbon emissions by almost 70% since 2011, and regularly undertakes tree planting exercises with local schools to offset carbon emissions. Hypnos’ Castle Donington factory also runs on a biomass heating system, which was installed as part of the company’s ethos and commitment to protecting the environment. This renewable heating source uses wood pellets, meaning no fossil fuels are used, and the company aims to save 74 tonnes of carbon a year through this system.

As the number of green conscious consumers continues to grow, hotels have an opportunity to grow their business by providing services that meets the aims and ambitions of sustainable tourism. Calls for an international standard for identifying eco-friendly accommodations are getting louder and those hotels that take the initiative in attracting travellers with action on waste, efficiency and recycling will be best placed for the future.