Integrating Sustainability in Hospitality Operations: The Case of Carbon Footprint Calculators

The present case examines the opportunities as well as the challenges of implementing a carbon footprint calculator into a hospitality operation. Although the use of such tools is increasing in the hospitality industry, there are several issues related to their accuracy, their implementation and their acceptance among both staff and guests (Bottrill, 2007; Padgett, 2008). The question that presents itself is how to most effectively integrate a carbon footprint calculator that is effective and accurate. It is suggested that the creation of a dedicated carbon footprint calculator, which is custom built for a specific hotel organisation, could be the answer to tackling the challenges mentioned above, effectively raising awareness, improving organisational sustainability, and facilitating the acceptance of such a tool by staff, as well as satisfying the demand of an increasingly environmentally conscious customer base.