Sustainability in hospitality : A case study of hotel Galomar

Sammanfattning: Newly refurbished Galomar opened in the summer of 2018 and is awarded the first self-sufficient hotel in Madeira Island out of renewable energy sources. The hotel management is highly engaged in sustainability and therefore wants to ensure that they are doing everything achievable to be as sustainable as possible. The purpose of this report was to identify and analyse the environmental and sustainability work performed at hotel Galomar. The basis for identification was performed through a simplified life cycle assessment. Analysis was performed using the corner stone model, the United Nations seventeen sustainability goals and quality management tools such as: GAP-analysis, SWOT and 10M. The methodologies used to collect data was primarily qualitative through observation of hotel Galomar and interviews with guests staying at the hotel. Results show that the hotel primarily works to provide to sustainability in hospitality through engaged management, energy management system, advanced water system, inclusion of employees and guests and different activities to contribute to the local community. Results also show that there is a competitive advantage for a hotel to work with sustainability since this is something that is more and more desired and required by today’s travellers. Tourism is in a very special position to benefit from local communities, socially and economically, and to raise awareness and support for preservation of the environment. Within the tourism sector, economic development and environmental conservation should not be seen as opposing forces- they should be pursued hand in hand as aspirations that can and should be mutually reinforcing.