A new report from researchers at Griffith University highlights how hotels and accommodation providers can significantly reduce energy and water use by aligning infrastructure, staff practices and local environmental conditions.
The report, based on a five-year project funded by the Australian Research Council, examines how sustainability initiatives work in real-world accommodation settings and why some interventions succeed while others fall short.
Led by Alexandra Coghlan with collaborators including Susanne Becken, Stefen MacAskill and Christopher Warren, the research explored how energy and water are used across tourist accommodation properties and how infrastructure, organisational practices and human behaviour interact to shape outcomes.
Associate Professor Coghlan said the research shows sustainability in accommodation is not simply a technical challenge:
“Sustainability in accommodation is often framed as a matter of installing efficient technologies,” she said. “Our research shows that real change happens when infrastructure, place and people are aligned. Without that alignment, even well-intentioned initiatives can fall short.”
Key findings
The study identified several insights for accommodation providers seeking to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining guest comfort. Infrastructure upgrades—such as improvements to HVAC systems, hot water systems, insulation and shading—delivered the most consistent reductions in resource use. However, the researchers found that these upgrades were most effective when tailored to local climate conditions rather than applied as generic solutions.
The research also highlighted the importance of staff and managerial understanding of building systems. Accommodation managers who understood how energy and water systems behaved—and who could interpret data from tools such as smart meters—were better able to make informed operational decisions.
Dr MacAskill said this knowledge was a critical factor in achieving long-term sustainability outcomes:
“Technology alone does not deliver change. Managers and staff need to understand how systems behave and how everyday decisions affect energy and water use. When that knowledge is present, sustainability becomes part of routine operations rather than an add-on.”
Guest engagement and organisational culture
Guest behaviour also plays a role in resource consumption, but the research found that messaging needs to be carefully framed. Values-based communication—such as encouraging guests to contribute to protecting the local environment—was generally more effective than messages framed around restriction or obligation.
Professor Becken said guests were more likely to respond positively when sustainability initiatives were presented as part of a shared effort:
“Guests respond best when they feel they are contributing to something meaningful. Providing simple feedback about how their actions help reduce pressure on local energy or water systems can encourage more mindful behaviour without affecting the guest experience.”
The report highlights the need for a systems approach to sustainability in tourist accommodation. Successful initiatives typically combine infrastructure improvements with leadership, staff engagement and organisational learning.
The researchers say sustainability should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off intervention.
“Some operators assume that installing new technology will automatically reduce resource use,” Dr Warren said. “In reality, the biggest improvements occur when businesses combine efficient infrastructure with informed management and supportive organisational culture.”
The findings also suggest a role for policymakers in supporting sustainability transitions across the tourism sector, particularly by helping smaller operators access infrastructure upgrades and training.
Overall, the researchers hope the report will help accommodation providers adopt more integrated and effective approaches to sustainability.
“Sustainability is not a point of arrival,” Associate Professor Coghlan said. “It is an ongoing process that requires infrastructure, people and organisations to evolve together.”
For more information about sustainable tourism and to access the report, visit Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT)’s Resilient and sustainable tourism webpage.
