A guide to responsible travel practices and choices for STR managers and hosts

As property managers and hosts, every decision you make impacts your STR’s environmental footprint. From how guests arrive at your properties, to the daily commute of your staff, to the delivery of your supplies. After all, a quarter of global carbon emissions come from the transportation sector. Yes, that’s a hefty 24% of emissions, with 45% coming from private road transport, 30% from freight, and more than 11% from aviation—81% of which is from passengers alone. Shipping adds nearly 11%, while rail and pipelines (for oil, gas, water, etc.) account for the remainder.

If your business is dedicated to climate action, finding ways to lower these travel carbon emissions is crucial. Fortunately, adopting responsible travel actions for your STRs comes with substantial opportunities:

1. Eco-conscious travellers are on the rise, and by promoting conscious travel options, your property becomes more appealing to this growing market segment.
2. Responsible practices often lead to financial savings. For example, local sourcing reduces long-haul delivery costs, and less reliance on personal vehicles can decrease the need for extensive parking facilities.
3. Promoting non-polluting modes of travel reduces air pollution and traffic, enhancing the living conditions in your community and the overall guest experience.

In this article, we will share our advice for helping guests travel with less environmental impact. In addition, we will share actions through which you can lower your travel carbon emissions as a business.

For guests – tips for optimising arrivals and stays

As an STR committed to promoting sustainability and enhancing guest experiences, you play a crucial role in shaping the travel habits and overall satisfaction of your visitors. Your attention to detail and proactive communication can significantly impact the ease and eco-friendliness of your guests’ journeys. Here’s how you can guide them from their initial travel plans to the moment they step into your property, ensuring a seamless, enjoyable, and conscious arrival experience.

Arriving at the property

Start by providing a comprehensive section in your digital guidebooks, your website and booking site listing detailing the most efficient way for a guest to reach your property. Give them options that are more eco-friendly as well as the more obvious ways to reach you:

1. If they’re coming from a nearby city or area, recommend taking a train or bus, as these are often the most direct and more environmentally friendly choices. In many countries, taking a train journey itself becomes part of the overall holiday experience. 
2. For guests arriving by air, advise them on the best public transport route from the airport to your property, such as a shuttle bus or train service. Additionally, inform them that many airline booking platforms and comparison sites display the carbon emissions generated by different flights. This feature allows guests to make an informed choice about their environmental impact even before they depart.
3. If they’re driving, provide them with the most straightforward route to enhance their experience. Be sure to mention if your property welcomes the increasing number of electric car drivers. If you provide an EV charging facility, this can ease any concerns they might have about ‘range anxiety’ during their trip.

In your communications with guests, always provide links to websites and apps for local transport, along with any benefits or discounts these services provide. Offer to handle taxi or shuttle reservations as well (setting eco-friendly electric options as the default choice). Particularly for guests who do not speak the local language, ensuring their arrival is both effortless and more sustainable.

During their stay

1. If your properties are located in a city, it will be easier for your guests to travel by train and use other public transport options. Include maps, apps, ticket prices, passes, and insider tips on navigating the system like a local. By demystifying public transport, you can make it a more appealing choice for your guests.
   
   
2. In rural settings, consider providing bicycles for guests or collaborating with a local bike rental shop. Enhance your digital guides with maps of local bike trails, and include recommendations for cafes, restaurants, and attractions along the routes.
   
   
3. For properties situated in mountainous areas, electric bikes are a popular and fitting choice. Consider installing a charging station at your property or compiling a list of nearby e-bike charging points. Additionally, don’t overlook the simple act of walking — the most sustainable form of travel. Partnering with local hiking guides can offer guests unique mountain trekking experiences that are both low-impact and immersive.
   
   
4. When you are in a coastal location, there are so many ways you can encourage your guests to stay out of the car. In all likelihood, they will have chosen your property specifically for its seaside location. Consequently, you have the opportunity to recommend less carbon-intensive activities. These could include partnering with a company that offers excursions on a sailing boat rather than a diesel-powered motorboat.

For employees – responsible commuting and business travel

Your approach to managing how employees commute and travel for business is integral to promoting sustainable practices within your organisation. By implementing responsible travel policies, you contribute to environmental conservation while enhancing your team’s overall well-being and productivity.

Daily commute

1. Public transport perks

Encourage your team to leave their cars at home by offering subsidies for public transport passes. Detail specific routes and connections that are most beneficial for your team, and consider coordinating with local transport operators to possibly secure group discounts or special rates that can further incentivise this option.

2. Biking benefits

If your workplace is in a bike-friendly location, promote cycling as a healthy and eco-friendly commuting alternative. Support this initiative by installing secure bike storage facilities that protect bicycles from theft and the elements. A small bicycle maintenance station stocked with basic repair tools and a pump can also encourage more employees to bike to work, knowing they have the resources to handle minor issues. In some countries, there are salary sacrifice opportunities which allow employees to have a bicycle as part of their overall package.

3. Remote work flexibility

Capitalise on the benefits of remote work by offering flexible, hybrid work arrangements. Allow employees to work from home full-time or part-time depending on their roles, which can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint associated with daily commutes. Establish clear guidelines and support systems to ensure that remote work is as efficient and effective as possible.

4. Carpool coordination

Set up a structured carpool program to decrease the number of vehicles on the road. Offer incentives such as preferred parking spots for carpool vehicles or fuel vouchers to encourage participation. Create a sign-up system and use internal communications to match employees living near each other. Consider using a digital platform or app to facilitate ride-sharing arrangements and schedules, making the process seamless and straightforward.

Business travel

1. Prioritise virtual meetings

Whenever feasible, choose virtual meetings over in-person ones to significantly reduce travel-related carbon emissions. Develop a digital infrastructure that supports various types of virtual interactions, from video conferencing to real-time document collaboration, ensuring that productivity remains high regardless of physical location. For instances where face-to-face interaction is critical, establish a clear policy that encourages ground transportation options like trains or buses.

2. Efficient travel planning

In cases where business travel is essential, implement strategic planning to make the most out of each trip. Encourage employees to consolidate meetings and work agendas to cover multiple objectives within a single journey. Provide guidelines and tools for employees to plan their schedules efficiently. Including choosing direct routes, staying at hotels with sustainability policies, and booking through platforms that offer carbon-offsetting options. Additionally, create a pre-approval process for travel that assesses the necessity of the trip against potential virtual alternatives and environmental impact. Ensuring that each travel decision aligns with your company’s sustainability goals. 

For your suppliers – opt for eco-conscious suppliers and solutions

Managing your supply chain is crucial for minimising your environmental footprint. Here’s how you can align your operations with sustainable practices, ensuring that every step from supplier selection to delivery and logistics reflects your conscious commitment.

Supplier selection

 1. Choose the more eco-conscious partners

Actively seek out and partner with suppliers who are committed to sustainability. Look for partners that use electric or hybrid vehicles for deliveries, have clear sustainability policies, and can demonstrate their environmental efforts through certifications or reports. Establish a selection process that evaluates the environmental impact of potential suppliers, focusing on those who align with your sustainability goals. Build long-term relationships with these partners to ensure consistent supply chain practices that reduce carbon footprints.

2. Promote local sourcing

Focus on sourcing products and services from local suppliers to significantly cut down on emissions associated with long-haul transportation. Local sourcing reduces fuel consumption and supports regional businesses, fostering a robust local economy. Highlight your commitment to local sourcing in your marketing materials to appeal to eco-conscious consumers who value community support.

Sustainability meets convenience at EnviroRental Marketplace!

Finding suppliers that align with your sustainability standards shouldn’t be a challenge. The EnviroRental Marketplace is your gateway to a network of eco-conscious suppliers across diverse operational fields and regions. Ensuring that your business moves towards sustainability without compromise. Ready to make a difference?

Delivery and logistics

1. Streamline deliveries

Collaborate with your suppliers to plan and consolidate deliveries, minimising the frequency and number of trips. Check if your supplier uses advanced route optimisation software to identify the most efficient delivery paths, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Implement a system where orders are grouped to arrive in fewer shipments, and encourage suppliers to use larger, less frequent deliveries when possible.

2. Encourage sustainable practices

In a more advanced setting, motivate suppliers to adopt greener technologies and processes. Offer incentives such as long-term contracts, premium payments, or preferred supplier status to those who meet specific sustainability criteria. Encourage them to invest in renewable energy sources, reduce waste, and enhance their energy efficiency. Share your sustainability goals and criteria with suppliers, and engage them in regular discussions about their progress and innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact.

Continue your sustainability journey today with EnviroRental

In the ever-evolving landscape of short-term rental management, embracing sustainability is not just beneficial—it’s imperative. By adopting the strategies we’ve discussed, you can help lessen your environmental impact and gain significant benefits. Implementing carbon offset initiatives and adhering to emerging environmental regulations keeps you compliant and positions your properties at the forefront of sustainable tourism. This is about more than just meeting standards; it’s about leading the charge in advancing responsible hospitality.