The benefits of sustainability for your business

Why should I commit my time and money to introducing sustainable initiatives to my short-term rental business?

This is a question that many of us have asked ourselves in recent years. Of course, given that tourism contributes approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, there’s a clear environmental imperative for accommodation operators to reduce our impact. 

However, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that this means throwing cash and energy at sustainable tourism projects which may benefit future generations, but which won’t directly benefit us. Let’s dispel that myth.

The advantages of a sustainable vacation rental business

Read on to discover precisely how sustainability enhances your business’s profit margins.

1. Attract a growing market of eco-conscious travellers

71% of travellers want to travel more sustainably in the coming months, which marks a 10% increase from 2021. That’s a significant and steadily growing portion of the market that wants more eco-friendly stays. 

If you’re not catering to this desire, then you’re increasingly likely to lose those guests to rental properties that have sustainable initiatives in place. By the same logic, if you are catering to this desire, then you immediately gain a competitive edge over similar properties in your area.

2. ​​Make the OTAs work for you

The OTAs themselves are catching onto travellers’ ever-growing desire to roam more sustainably. They’ve introduced a series of badges and filters that highlight green accommodation to eco-conscious guests.

For example, Booking.com introduced its Travel Sustainable badge in 2021. They’ve now enhanced the badge into three different levels, which indicate precisely how far a property has gone to implement sustainable initiatives.

3. Save money on your energy bills 

A more efficient property is a cheaper property. Using less energy and less water is great for the environment and also great for your bills. This is a benefit we can all appreciate at a time when energy costs are soaring (a reality that looks likely to become the norm if we maintain our dependence on non-renewable energy sources).

There’s some simple technology that you can invest in to ensure that your property isn’t consuming any more resources than necessary without compromising on the comfort of your guests’ stay. 

4. Earn more 5-star reviews and see more repeat guests 

Guests want to feel good about where they’re staying. If you can offer them comfort, warmth, and hospitality, whilst also helping them feel that they’ve made a positive decision for the planet, you’ll quickly gather a crowd of loyal guests.

Nail the green guest experience, and you’ll see:

• word-of-mouth referrals
• stellar reviews
• repeat and returning guests

In fact, Casal dei Fichi – a series of sustainable holiday rental apartments set in the rolling Italian countryside – sees a whopping 60 per cent return rate. In part, they put this down to the fact that their eco-philosophy makes guests feel good about staying with them.

Where to start on your sustainable journey

So, we’ve established that a sustainable ethos brings a multitude of benefits to your vacation rental business. But where to start?

The key thing to remember is that you don’t have to do this all at once. Small, consistent steps towards genuine environmentalism are much more valuable than one-off grand gestures.