Supporting hotels in their sustainability transformation
Hotels have traditionally offered plastic bottled water to ensure guests have access to clean drinking water, but the environmental impact has prompted many chains to seek sustainable alternatives. According to Booking.com’s latest Sustainable Travel Report, 67% of travelers now prefer accommodations with consistent sustainability certifications, and other studies show that sustainable practices increase guests’ willingness to pay more and their intention to revisit.
One hotel group pioneering the way forward in sustainability is Accor – having chosen BRITA as their preferred supplier for a hospitality water program to bring filtered water to the Novotel London Tower Bridge hotel. Located at the heart of the British capital and metres from the world-famous Tower Bridge, this hotel boasts of its commitment to sustainability and making efforts to change the mindset of customers, so that sustainability becomes a key factor they actively seek out, when choosing a hotel.
About Accor’s sustainability commitments
By signing a global partnership with Green Key – a certification program that assess businesses across the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, environmental impacts, cultural impacts, and socio-economic impacts, Accor has been able to take their sustainability transformation a step further.
Being confirmed by independent, third-party audits means Accor can encourage the certification of its 5,400 hotels and help guests and partners travel more sustainably by providing reliable information on sustainable options.
With Novotel London Tower Bridge adopting BRITA’s water program, it has taken the key step towards obtaining the independent certification to maximize its social and environmental impact.
Watch the video to see the BRITA water program in action at Novotel London Tower Bridge:
BRITA solutions opted by Novotel Tower Bridge
Guests hydration
Champion water dispenser Top Pro on every floor of the hotel, dispensing premium, filtered water for guests at the touch of a button
In-room bottles
BRITA glass bottles to encourage guests to refill and access on-demand filtered water
Encouraging refill culture
75% of customers would gladly use a water dispenser in a hotel to refill their bottle in order to avoid buying single-use plastics.
Filtered water in restaurant
Filtered still and sparkling water provided to guests in the bar and restaurant with a countertop Top Pro
Lounge bottle
Filtered still and sparkling water in BRITA lounge bottles to complement food and beverages
Staff wellbeing and hydration
Reusable BRITA wave bottles to all of staff, helping to educate and empower them to take sustainable actions.
Giada Melegoni, Front of House Operations Manager, Novotel London Tower Bridge
"Since 2022 we have been using the BRITA dispensers to cater to water requirements of our guests on each floor as well as our bar and restaurant. We used to purchase about 70,000 bottles per year for the rooms alone which we have now completely eliminated! Having a dispenser on every floor has not only had a huge impact on waste control and a predicted 30% cost-saving for our hotel, this initiative has generated such a positive response from our guests, improving our overall ‘eco-friendly’ score in our customer satisfaction surveys."
What benefits can our water program bring to your hotel
- Impeccable filtration: Guests have access to clean filtered drinking water without the need for plastic bottles.
- Reduced environmental impact: Our water dispensers produce 86 % lower carbon emissions than bottled water.
- Waste control: No hassles with the logistics of transport, storing, refrigeration and disposal of bottled water.
- Enhanced customer experience: Meet the notable shift in guest expectations and empower their drive towards sustainability and environmental consciousness.
- Staff wellbeing: Keeping hydrated is not only great for staff wellbeing, but will also educate and empower them to take sustainable actions.
Looking to the future
The hotel industry stands at a pivotal moment, poised to play a crucial role in the global push for sustainability. As consumer preferences shift towards eco-friendly options, hotels that embrace these changes will not only survive, but thrive in an increasingly green-conscious world. However, true sustainability goes beyond environmental impact; it must also be financially viable.
BRITA offers a range of dispensers designed for every hospitality setting—restaurants, cafés, bars, and hotels—catering to rooms, reception areas, conference facilities, gyms/spas, and dining spaces. These dispensers provide fresh, filtered water on tap, anytime, ensuring guests have a sustainable and convenient hydration option.
Implementing such a solution is a simple yet powerful step toward achieving both environmental and economic goals, ensuring a brighter, greener future for all.