Sustainable hotels balancing comfort with positive changes for our environment

In today's modern world, the social and environmental impact of businesses has never been more important to consumers, and the travel sector is absolutely no exception. Our understanding of humanity's footprint means the privilege of visiting awe-inspiring destinations comes with an inherent responsibility to respect the surrounding environment.

To help, we've made it easy for you to ensure your stays are sustainably conscious. Here's how we're doing our part at some of Australia and New Zealand's most sustainable Hotels.

From crafting hotels with care to managing our daily operations, we're committed to making sustainability accessible and impactful. Together with our hotels, we're on a journey to preserve our planet's resources and reduce our environmental impact, all while enhancing your experience with us.

Our efforts start right at the heart of our hotels, where we're working closely with owners to embrace eco-friendly practices. By optimizing how we use resources and minimizing our carbon footprint, we're not just protecting the environment; we're also making our operations more efficient.

At every step of your stay, sustainability is woven into the fabric of our approach. From the initial design phase to daily operations, we're implementing practical solutions that make a real difference. This includes managing waste responsibly, conserving energy and water, eliminating single-use plastics, and promoting a circular economy.

With a new hotel opening nearly every day and ongoing renovations, sustainability remains a top priority. We're committed to integrating eco-conscious practices into every aspect of our construction and renovation projects. Plus, as we convert more existing properties into Accor hotels, we're ensuring sustainability remains central to our growth.

In our quest for sustainable operations, we focus on three key areas: achieving carbon neutrality, optimizing energy use, preserving water resources, and reducing waste. By prioritizing these efforts, we're not just building a better future; we're creating a more enjoyable and responsible experience for you, our valued guests.

The luxurious 5-star Pullman Quay Grand Hotel which is located in East Circular Quay near the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge is another solar power adopter. This hotel installed a whopping 350 solar panels (100kWh solar system) on its roof. This system will provide electricity to cover the majority of base building systems which is equal to about 20 conventional houses.2 It’s one of the largest solar systems to be installed in the Sydney CBD. 

The ideal location for travellers looking for a sustainable stay with all the features and amenities of a 5-star hotel, Swissôtel Sydney delivers a considered luxury experience with a clean conscience through the creation and implementation of 'seamless sustainability', a concept that lets the guests enjoy their stay while the hotel works hard to be eco friendly. The hotel staff work behind the scenes to deliver a smooth, sustainable and ethical visit, which they achieve through several policies, checklists, certifications, and practices. 

Perhaps their most intriguing sustainable practice, Swissôtel Sydney & their house restaurant Ten Stories currently work with Sydney Bee Rescue to create a sustainable beehive housed on the hotel's rooftop, which helps in the conservation, rescue, and relocation of at-risk bee colonies. These bees will often visit the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens for their nectar needs and supply the restaurant with freshly harvested honey and honeycomb, which is used as a springboard to create their fantastic menu of locally sourced and sustainable produce.

Swissôtel Sydney also implements a strict Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility checklist for all Hotel purchases, ensuring that their partners also engage in ethical and sustainable business practices. They also use 100% recyclable bathroom amenities from Pürovel, grown in the Swiss Alps.

As a Platinum Certified property, Swissôtel has achieved the highest possible group ranking for sustainability and is a must-visit for those looking for a sustainable Sydney getaway.

Found on the edge of the dramatic Jamison Valley and known as one of the best accommodation experiences in this heritage-listed area, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains features everything from an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis court, and KidsZone, to three restaurants, a whiskey bar and an award-winning Day Spa, as well as close access to scenic walking tracks and the adjacent Leura Golf Course.

The resort is committed to ensuring it runs ethically and sustainably. With multiple 100kw solar panels feeding the electric rooftop generator, the resort is constantly using renewable energy while also offering two complementary Electric Vehicle charging stations for guests to use.

Fairmont also implements several sustainable policies across different departments. Fairmont ensures they recycle electronic equipment and encourages staff to prioritise paperless administrative processes. Their kitchen collects and recycles cooking fat and donates surplus stock to the local community through Earth Recovery Australia.

They've switched to an in-house filtration system, which stops an additional 20,000 plastic bottles from going into landfill. They've also created their own Native Garden Regeneration project.

Mercure Melbourne Doncaster has been thoughtfully designed with the next generation of guests and travellers in mind, combining elegant but approachable styling and decor with leading environmental and sustainability practices to deliver guilt-free luxury located in the heart of one of Melbourne's premium lifestyle and shopping complexes.

They've carefully installed sensor lights in shared areas and sensor air conditioning in guest rooms, which significantly reduce energy consumption and wastage. They introduced an innovative QR code ordering system in every room to drastically reduce paper wastage and have eliminated single-use plastic bottles from the hotel by providing reusable bottles for guests. 

Mercure Melbourne Doncaster also prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients and guest amenities and providing eco-friendly stationery for staff, guests, and events. And if you're an electric vehicle driver, they've got you covered with their complimentary onsite EV charging stations.

Pullman Melbourne on the Park has completed an award-winning refurbishment, including innovative double-glazed windows, which reduce reliance on indoor heating and significantly reduce their overall energy consumption. 

Announced in Adelaide in May of 2022 Pullman Melbourne on the Park was recognised at the Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards as a project that demonstrated design innovation, a commitment to sustainable design practices, and an exceptional guest experience.

Pullman Melbourne On The Park was nominated for the refurbishment that also saw 19 floors of Superior, Premium and Deluxe rooms and suites completely upgraded, as well as the addition of a new Executive Lounge and Sky Villa, following earlier investments to transform the ground floor lobby, reception, and Bar and Dining areas.

If you're looking for a more Western way to enjoy a sustainable holiday, look no further than Ibis Styles East Perth and its stunning riverfront location.

Offering an outstanding balance of comfort and affordability, this Perth hotel is also strongly committed to sustainable business practices. Ibis Styles East Perth is an active member of the Containers for Change scheme, which aims to recycle as many plastic bottles and containers as possible.