The green image

THE BTA VIEW
Creator: Barbados Tourism Authority  
Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Section An Page: 22
Paper Date: Thu, Oct 14, 1999


THERE'S no doubt that Barbados is making strides to ensure that our vital tourism industry is sustainable. There has been large-scale upgrading of our facilities and services and at the same time insightful diversification of our product offerings has been taking place.

However, the Barbados Tourism Authority believes that in order to increase our prospects for sustainability, we need to critically examine practices within our accommodation sector that may be working against this goal.

A fundamental component of our tourism industry is our natural environment, and with today's travellers being more educated, well-read, and concerned about the environment, they are looking for  "green" or "environment-friendly" lodgings. Hence, we have to address energy management, solid waste disposal, water resources allocation, and our purchasing practices in the tourism industry in order to have a good environmental record.

Solid waste
In 1992, a study done by the Sanitation Service Authority revealed that hotels and other accommodation facilities in the industry generated 16.5 per cent of the island's solid waste, the second largest contribution of any one place of origin.

According to the study, office paper, restaurant food waste, loads of amenity bottles, plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers, countless card board boxes, heavy machinery and guest room furnishings were all  finding their way to the island's landfill at Mangrove Pond, St. Thomas.

SSA general manager Chris Griffith confirmed that the composition and contribution of hotels' solid waste has hardly varied since the study was carried out.

When we look at the solid waste more closely, we see that variations in hotel waste composition can be attributed to the differences in the scope of operations and the hotel's target market.

Limited service hotels and small accommodation facilities often do not offer an onsite restaurant, and this may eliminate most of the food waste that makes up a large portion of a full service hotel's garbage.

Some of our larger hotels also cater to local and international conventions, and trade shows. This generates significant paperboard and packaging waste.

Meanwhile, properties catering to families on vacations contribute a lot of container waste such as take out boxes, bags, soft drink bottles and cans.

In examining the solid waste being generated, it is quite clear that efforts must be made to reduce, re-use and recycle. The BTA believes that the time has come for all lodging facilities to have recycle bins in guestrooms or hallways. Bottles, cans, paper or cardboard containers can then be collected for recycling purposes.

There are still many local hotels which provide guests with bar soaps daily. However, if dispensers are used instead, guests can access soap and shampoo at the push of a button. This could eliminate the loads of paper wrappers and tiny bottles that are generated daily.

Yard waste such as tree trimmings, leaves and grass which also constitute a significant portion of the solid waste, can be used to give nutrients to plants around the property.


A collaborative effort
For local hotels to develop and implement green programmes effectively there must be a collaborative effort from management, staff and guests. A mission statement portraying an environmental policy should be developed at each property.

It is also required that staff members in the hospitality industry be trained to be environmentally conscious. Holding regular seminars on the environment can achieve this.

Guests too must be encouraged to participate in such programmes. Properties can develop codes of behaviour for guests and workers, and place them at strategic points around the property. Energy saving messages can be erected in guestrooms to remind visitors to turn off lights, televisions, and air condition units when not in use.

A programme can also be developed where towels and sheets are only changed upon the guests' requests.


Lowering costs
A major complaint, especially among small hotels, has been the high operational costs. Hoteliers have large bills for water and electricity, which are used in large volumes per room each day.

While it may be an initial expense to invest in low watt bulbs, dimmer switchers, low flush toilets, and other energy management systems could be  taxing, it is believed that such facilities can help properties save  thousands of dollars.

Hotels should now have water collection devices to tap rainwater at strategic points on the property. This water can be treated and channelled for irrigation and laundry purposes.


A green model
Hoteliers who have gone "green" are netting positive results. Among the local hotels who have developed a "green" drive is the Casaurina Hotel at Dover, Christ Church. There is garbage separation in the kitchen, the restaurant, gardens, mini-mart and bars along with the use of recyclable garbage bags.

Many guests who have entered their comments in the Caribbean Lodging Database on the Internet have given the property maximum points for the lush surrounding and landscaping which is nurtured with only natural fertilisers.

Irrigation is done through the use of well water that is tapped from rainfall.

The hotel can also boast of major savings from its energy management devices and from the reduced use of utilities.

Casaurina won the Minister of Tourism Special Award a couple years ago for its pioneering environmental policies.

We must also commend the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association for taking steps now to improve environmental awareness and practices within the hotel industry though the help of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism.

The BTA believes that the top priority now is for properties to undertake environmental scans or audits of their facilities, to see where they could become greener.

Any improvements in this regard will assist in reducing costs tremendously, increasing guests' satisfaction, and in the creation of a cadre of  environmentally conscious workers.

The overall result for environmental management in Barbados will also be great, and this should have a positive effect on the sustainability of our tourism industry and in turn, our economy.