Biodiversity: My Hotel in Action

Hotel Manager’s Checklist

This checklist is designed to guide you in evaluating how many of the practices recommended in

this guide have been implemented in your hotel. The results of this assessment can help you

determine where your hotel is excelling and what might be your priority areas for improvement.

This checklist is divided into six sections, corresponding with the six sections in Part II of the

Guide, Taking Action in the Hotel:

The first section, Overall Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Practices, is a good

place to begin, allowing a general evaluation of your property that can give you an idea if

you are on the right track toward protecting and conserving biodiversity through your

actions.

The middle four sections, Hotel Restaurants, Guest Rooms and Public Areas, Hotel

Souvenir Shops, Hotel Grounds and Gardens, go into more detail about specific actions

you can take to protect and conserve biodiversity in each of these different areas of the

hotel.

The final section, The Destination, offers recommendations on how your hotel can have a

wider impact in the surrounding area, supporting local biodiversity conservation efforts

and minimizing the impacts of off-site activities and excursions offered by your tour desk.

For each specific activity listed below, hotel managers should evaluate the hotel based on whether

or not you are in compliance with the recommendation or not. The following rating scale can be

useful for determining extent of compliance. Page numbers listed in the checklist correspond to

the page of the Guide on which each recommendation appears.

Rating scale:

3: Already in compliance

2: Nearly in compliance

1: Strategy in place, not yet implemented

0: Not yet

The guide “Biodiversity: My Hotel in Action” is available from www.iucn.org/publications

1. Overall Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Practices

Action Page Rating

You have appointed a senior manager and/or “green team” to take

responsibility for your biodiversity actions.

24

You have set clear and realistic targets, and are monitoring and reporting

on progress towards reaching those targets.

24

You have made it simple for staff, clients, suppliers and stakeholders to do

what is asked of them.

24

You have provided staff with any necessary training, and asked them for

their ideas and suggestions for biodiversity actions that your hotel could

support.

24

You have created incentives for staff to support biodiversity conservation,

e.g. through a “Green Employee of the Month” award.

24

You have taken the time to explain your hotel’s actions and motivations

behind those actions to staff, guests, suppliers and stakeholders.

24

You have integrated the principles and recommendations in this guide into

your hotel’s existing Environmental Management System.

25

You are monitoring and evaluating progress in all areas. 25

You avoid using resources that are produced or harvested by methods that

are unregulated or particularly damaging to biodiversity.

25

You encourage certification schemes for sustainably produced food. 25

You specify requirements for the goods and services that you obtain from

your suppliers, and choose suppliers based on their compliance with your

standards.

25

You inform your clients about the characteristics of local biodiversity and

what they can do to protect and enjoy that biodiversity.

25

You have worked to raise awareness about your contributions and the

importance of local biodiversity among relevant stakeholders in the

destination, including other businesses, public authorities, conservation

organizations, local communities and managers of protected areas.

25

Wherever possible, the products that you use come from sustainably

harvested and/or sustainably produced sources and, if relevant, are certified

and labeled under certification schemes that include biodiversity criteria.

25

You avoid using any items from threatened species or populations. 25

2. Hotel Restaurants

Action Page Rating

Internal Actions

You have made your menu more biodiversity-friendly by:

avoiding purchasing species that are locally, regionally or globally

depleted, except from sustainable sources;

choosing food items that have been certified by sustainable, fair

trade or organic certification schemes;

offering regional dishes based on locally produced foods.

29

You are educating your restaurant staff about:

biodiversity issues related to the production and harvesting of

food;

the need to regularly check local regulations;

helping customers understand and appreciate foods sourced from

sustainable sources.

29

You have a kitchen garden, greenhouses and/or orchard, either within the

hotel grounds, or on another site.

29

Actions with your suppliers

You have explained to your current and potential suppliers that you want

to purchase foods from sustainable sources, asked them how you can work

together to put this goal into practice, and offered them advice on

improving their practices.

30

You encourage and support certification schemes for sustainably produced

products.

30

You seek out suppliers who use sustainable packaging materials and

systems, such as natural cork.

30

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You assist local food producers and suppliers to produce and store food

supplies so that they meet your quality requirements and demand.

30

Actions with your clients

You are informing your customers about:

issues concerning sustainable food production, harvesting methods

that promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable labels and the

origin of food;

the benefits of sustainable food for themselves, both in terms of

health and improved taste.

30

You offer learning opportunities to guests, such as:

a small exhibition of local products or photos of local food

production and harvesting equipment;

invitations to visit the kitchen gardens, greenhouses and/or

orchards.

30

3. Guest Rooms and Public Areas

Action Page Rating

WOOD

Internal Actions

You have identified the wood products purchased by your hotel that may

negatively impact high-biodiversity forests, and substituted alternative

wood products from sustainable sources.

36

You provide staff with information about:

the need to obtain wood from sustainably managed sources and to

regularly check local forestry regulations;

sustainable wood used in your hotel and activities your hotel takes to

support tree planting and sustainable forestry.

36

You re-use wood whenever possible. 36

Actions with your suppliers

You avoid purchasing timber and forest-derived products from species that

are locally, regionally or globally depleted, that are of unknown origin, or

from areas which are over-harvested, and/or that have been harvested

illegally.

38

You have explained to your suppliers that you want to purchase wood from

regulated and sustainable sources, and asked them how you can work

together to put this objective into practice.

38

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You support local projects that:

promote sustainable forestry;

help communities use fuel wood more efficiently or adopt alternative

renewable energy supply options.

38

Actions with your clients

You encourage guests to support sustainable forestry by:

providing information on how you integrate biodiversity concerns in

relation to wood;

promoting visits to local forest conservation projects;

collecting donations for local forest conservation projects.

38

AMENITIES AND SPA PRODUCTS

Internal Actions

You have ensured that all plant-based products come from plants used that

have been harvested sustainably, have been collected from cultivated

sources that do not endanger wild sources of supply, and are not

endangered and/or listed under CITES.

38

You explain to your staff the hotel’s commitment in relation to the use of

medicinal and aromatic plants in amenities and spa products and help them

to communicate with customers about these issues.

38

Action Page Rating

Actions with your suppliers

You choose products from reputable sources that are informed about

conservation and sustainable use issues, and which operate in accordance

with international sustainability standards.

40

You have explained to your suppliers that you want to purchase plant-

based spa products that come from sustainable sources, and work with

them to put this standard into practice.

40

You support local communities and producers to build their own

businesses for sustainable harvest and cultivation of plants for plant-based

body-care products, and purchase their products.

40

Actions with your clients

You educate your clients by:

explaining the importance of protecting medicinal and aromatic plants;

offering information about where they can purchase sustainably

produced medicinal and aromatic plant products;

using the wall space in the spas to showcase local culture and

biodiversity through photographs and artifacts.

40

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Internal Actions

You have created a list of hotel activities that risk introducing alien

invasive species, and explained to your staff your programme for limiting

the use of invasive species.

41

You have inventoried existing invasive species in or around your hotel and

obtained advice on how to remove them.

41

You avoid the use of locally, regionally or globally threatened species. 41

Actions with your suppliers

You have checked that ornamental plants and animals used in your hotel

are not listed as invasive species, and you give preference to the use of

alternative native species.

41

You have ensured that any ornamental plants and animals that your hotel

purchases have been sustainably cultivated or collected.

41

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You have engaged local experts in the design and decoration with plants of

the hotel’s public areas, and provision of explanatory signs.

41

Within the local community you are:

raising awareness about the problems that invasive species cause and

ways of controlling them;

supporting programmes to eradicate invasive species and promote

conservation and educational use of native species.

41

Actions with your clients

You inform your clients about:

how you integrate biodiversity concerns in the decoration of the hotel

with ornamental plants and live animals displays;

41

Action Page Rating

problems of invasive species, and how to control them;

how to treat animals present on your premises.

4. Hotel Souvenir Shops

Action Page Rating

Internal Actions

You check regularly with local authorities and associations for species

added to CITES lists and national legislation controlling or banning trade

in threatened species.

43

You train your staff to communicate about the issues concerning illegal

trade in endangered species, CITES and local regulations to protect

endangered species.

43

Actions with your suppliers

You raise awareness among shop managers or leaseholders by:

informing them about issues concerning illegal trade in endangered

species, species on the CITES lists and regulations controlling or

banning trade in threatened species;

ensuring they understand that they should not display, stock or sell

such species or products derived from these species.

43

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You work with local organisations and within the community to:

encourage local artists to develop souvenirs from sustainable materials,

including recycled products;

raise awareness about threatened species and the need to protect them.

develop programs to control use of local threatened species and their

parts in production of souvenirs and other items.

43

Actions with your clients

You raise awareness among clients by:

providing information about illegal trade in endangered species and

trade restrictions under CITES and/or national legislation;

displaying a sign in your shop saying that customers can buy “CITES-

proof” souvenirs and articles there

selling toy animals of charismatic local species that are under threat for

their children.

43

5. Hotel Grounds and Gardens

Action Page Rating

Internal Actions and Actions with Suppliers

Within your hotel grounds and gardens, you are:

planting local indigenous species and/or drought-resistant species,

purchased from local greenhouses wherever possible;

checking that any plants used in your grounds and gardens are not

listed as invasive species;

planting local, native tree and bush species to create shaded areas and

new habitats.

46

You have made your grounds more wildlife-friendly by:

encouraging wildlife in your hotel grounds;

ensuring that hotel lighting does not adversely affect wildlife,

particularly if your hotel is situated near sensitive wildlife sites;

using sound insulation and reduce noise at source, to limit disturbance

to wildlife

46

If there are exotic animals on your grounds, you have all the relevant

national permits that may be required for purchasing and keeping them,

and they are obtained from sustainable sources.

46

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You have worked with local conservation organisations, universities or

botanical gardens to:

design a biodiversity-friendly garden or hotel grounds;

develop explanatory signs on the various species;

develop nature trails and biodiversity activities for children and their

families.

46

In gardens and public areas around your hotel, you:

encourage the use of local indigenous species and incorporation of

wildlife areas;

support programmes to eradicate alien invasive species.

46

You support the development of local biodiversity businesses, such as

indigenous tree nurseries, and incorporate the products of these businesses

in your supply chain.

46

Actions with your clients

You offer learning opportunities to guests, such as:

information on how you have integrated biodiversity concerns in the

design and management of the grounds;

signs on trees and in flower beds with names of indigenous species;

nature trails with interpretive leaflets and biodiversity information;

a map of the garden, with various species and opportunities for bird

and wildlife watching included in the hotel directory;

sign boards on the hotel beach about local biodiversity.

46

6. The Destination

Action Page Rating

SUPPORTING LOCAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Internal Actions

You encourage your staff to support local conservation efforts by:

organising activities to support environmental associations;

providing information on local biodiversity and ecosystems, and

about the partners your hotel is working with; and

organising and participating in campaigns to clean up local

habitats.

49

You use your contribution of staff time and other resources to leverage

community interest and support for nature conservation.

49

Actions with your suppliers

You are raising awareness among your suppliers by:

providing information about the partners your hotel is working with

and their biodiversity protection activities;

explaining that you want to set up partnerships for conservation and

sustainable use and asking for their input and support.

49

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You work with destination management organisations and local authorities

to:

raise awareness of the importance and value of protecting biodiversity

for the destination, its communities and businesses;

encourage them to designate and adequately manage areas for

biodiversity conservation;

encourage them to support local businesses whose products and

services value biodiversity;

encourage the development and implementation of voluntary practices

and codes of conduct for hoteliers that will contribute to the

conservation of biodiversity in your destination

49

You support the projects of organisations and public authorities that

improve biodiversity and tourism at sites your guests like to visit by:

creating opportunities for your guests to visit these projects;

providing rooms and catering for meetings and other functions of local

conservation initiatives and/or in-kind prizes for lotteries and other

fundraising activities;

assisting with informal technical advice on marketing and product

development to help them set up revenue-generating tours;

offering training sessions on business skills, management and

accounting systems, and tourism and hospitality;

providing direct financial support or suggesting possible funding

sources.

Action Page Rating

Actions with your clients

You offer learning opportunities to your guests, such as:

information about the partnerships your hotel supports, and about the

partners that you are working with;

the option to visit projects your hotel is supporting;

opportunities to make donations to projects;

volunteer opportunities to participate in activities linked to projects

with your partners or those your hotel supports.

50

ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS OFFERED AT THE TOUR DESK

Internal Actions

You ensure that any activities that are provided by your hotel are well-

managed in terms of protection of biodiversity, comply with relevant local,

national and international standards, and are conducted by fully trained

staff who are able to monitor the impacts of tourist activities.

50

You have appointed and trained Biodiversity Information Focal Points

among your staff to provide first-hand information to your clients.

50

You offer your guests up-to-date information on opportunities for wildlife

watching and visits to conservation projects, protected areas, nature

reserves, or areas of high biodiversity value.

50

You ask staff for their ideas on improving existing activities, or possible

new activities that you could offer.

50

Actions with your suppliers

You work with local tour agencies and operators to offer tours and

activities that are well-managed in terms of protection of biodiversity,

comply with relevant local, national and international standards, and are

conducted by fully trained staff.

50

You encourage small enterprises to increase their benefit from tourism and

sustainable use of biodiversity, by building local businesses to develop

sustainable production/harvesting of biological resources that you use in

your hotel and/or provide tours for your guests.

50

Actions in partnership with public authorities and local organizations

You support tours developed and managed by community organisations

and local enterprises.

50

You use qualified guides from local communities, and help provide them

with any training and/or equipment they may need.

50

You work with destination management organisations and local authorities

to ensure that regulations for wildlife watching and nature-based tourism

are disseminated by all hotels and other service providers in the

destination.

51

You work with organisations offering nature-based activities to avoid

overcrowding and overuse of sites.

51

Action Page Rating

Actions with your clients

You offer learning opportunities to your guests by:

providing information about local natural resources and their value,

and about the damage to natural resources that can be caused by

diving, snorkelling and other recreational activities;

recommending responsible providers of recreational activities, and

providing guidelines for responsible behavior;

providing information on environmentally sustainable behaviour that

can allow guests to minimise their adverse impacts on natural

environments and wildlife;

producing cards illustrating best practices in recreational activities;

developing ad hoc interpretation programs that will help your clients

better understand the value of local biodiversity.

51

You ensure trained guides are available to help guests appreciate local

biodiversity, and require that guests be accompanied by guides in sensitive

areas.

51