The concept of sustainability has currently become one of the main axes of management in tourism, with this paradigm shift being the result of awareness about the impact that tourism brings to the environment, society, and destinations. In this context, the emergence of sustainable lifehubs has garnered significant attention, signifying a holistic approach to sustainability within the tourism industry.

According to the "Ecological and Sustainable Tourism: Profiles and Trends" report, 66% of tourists are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. The data confirms that the tourism sector is responsible for around 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, of which 1% corresponds to the accommodation sector. Therefore, today at Discorp, we will talk about hotels and sustainable design through the brand Mockuproom, a brand dedicated to conceptualization, design, and hotel furnishing, contributing to the vision of sustainable lifehubs.

Until recently, little importance was given to the architectural component within sustainable tourism; however, as buildings become more visible within the tourism landscape, the need to apply environmental criteria in their construction becomes more evident.

In addition, various initiatives have been launched to align the tourism sector with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); among them, the declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations.

Given their large size and high impact on the environment, sustainable hotels are a fundamental element to address within sustainable architecture. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Hotel Technology Institute (ITH), 90% of surveyed travelers would choose a sustainable hotel to stay in, and 34% of them were willing to pay more for this type of accommodation.

Taking into account this interest, we will now talk about some of the most important topics surrounding sustainable hospitality, what elements make a hotel considered sustainable.

What is a Sustainable Hotel?

A sustainable hotel is one that is designed respecting the environment and whose operation does not have a negative impact on the place where it is built or its surroundings. Likewise, it actively participates with the local community, using its resources respectfully and promoting the economic and social development of the locality.

Like sustainability in general, a sustainable hotel not only brings benefits to the environment but also helps society and the communities with which it interacts.

What Elements Make a Hotel Considered Sustainable?

For a hotel to be considered sustainable, it must meet at least one of these characteristics:

• Environment, culture, and society of the site where it was built at the time of its design. This means that the hotel will be part of the local landscape, harmonizing with natural elements and, above all, with the people in the place and their culture.
• Respect for the surroundings, both from the natural and social points of view. This includes preserving the biodiversity of the local environment, reducing non-recyclable waste generated, and avoiding the use of non-renewable energy sources that consume local elements and deplete them.
• Contribute to the development of the community and promote local businesses. In this sense, sustainable hotels function as job-generating sources since, on the one hand, the community finds work in the hotel, and on the other hand, the hotel refers travelers to use the community's services.
• Promote the consumption of local products, which brings economic benefits and, in turn, favors the development of the local identity of the destination and enhances the elements that differentiate it from other places.
• Use renewable energy sources to supply most of the hotel's energy requirements. This includes the use of solar energy, wind energy, or the construction of the building with bioclimatic principles.
• Use organic and recycled materials, including construction materials, cleaning materials, hotel consumables, among others.
• Respect the principles of bioclimatic construction so that the use of air conditioning and heating systems can be completely reduced.