Biodiversity: My hotel in action. A guide to sustainable use of biological resources

Biodiversity plays an important role in the day-to-day life of a hotel: from the food in the restaurant and wood in furniture and fittings, to the amenities in the spa, the products of biodiversity are everywhere inside hotels. Outside, plants and animals make a hotel’s public areas and gardens attractive for guests, while beyond the hotel gate, national parks, green spaces, coasts and natural habitats provide guests with opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. 

The purpose of this guide is to help owners and managers of small and large hotels, located in all areas, from cities to mountain to coastal areas, to conserve nature. In particular, it is designed to guide the sustainable use of biological resources in the day-to-day operations of hotels.

This guide is meant to complement the many tools that are already available to help reduce environmental impacts in the hotel, by using appropriate siting, design and construction practices, and by improving management of energy and water consumption, and disposal of wastewater and solid wastes.