Sustainability Resources

Pioneering sustainability: shaping a greener future for hospitality

Welcome to the BCHA Sustainability Initiatives page, where we lead the charge in fostering sustainable practices within the hospitality industry. The BCHA is a Biosphere Certified Organization. We believe that sustainability and responsible tourism are paramount for our industry’s long-term success and the well-being of our planet. Through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, we actively drive environmental impact reduction to help BC hotels improve efficiencies, cost-savings, and support them in championing a greener future.

A quick snapshot of our suite of guiding tools

We proudly offer a range of powerful tools to support hotels in their sustainability journey to reduce costs, improve efficiencies, connect with the growing sustainable-tourist market, and green the planet. Keep scrolling to learn more about the below tools:

The BCHA Sustainability Playbook: your all-in-one guidebook to drive sustainable practices
The GoGreen Program: a complimentary and personal energy assessment to identify cost-saving opportunities
The GreenStep EcoFund: a financial planning tool to fund new innovative sustainability projects
Biosphere Tourism: empowering hotels to join define, organize and make their sustainable objectives and priorities visible — the BCHA is proud to be a Biosphere Certified Organization
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance: international leadership in sustainability, developing cutting-edge resources and knowledge sharing
Green Key Certification: recognizing hotels with sustainable practices
BCHA Allied Members: connecting hotels with trusted businesses that will help drive their sustainability practices

Don’t forget, the greatest tool at your disposal: Dylan Tomlin, our BCHA Energy Specialist!

Need sustainability support? Book a meeting with dylan, bcha's energy specialist!

Dylan Tomlin is a 15-year veteran of the utility industry who wrote the book on sustainability(we’re not kidding! Dylan helped craft the BCHA Sustainability Playbook)! Have a question? Dylan is available to assist all BCHA members. Through Dylan, you can:

Book a complimentary energy analysis identifying energy costs, consumption, and overall energy performance
Learn what revenue sources, incentives, and rebates are currently available to you
Explore what technology and equipment is right for you
Get expert advice on control optimizing for lighting and HVAC
Discover what the best practices in sustainability are across Canada
Learn no/low cost ways to immediately reduce energy costs
Discover how to financially plan for your next energy project through the BCHA Ecofund
and more!

Connect with Dylan today. Email dylan@bcha.com.

Opportunities & partners

Whether you’re an experienced sustainability expert or embarking on your journey, explore our comprehensive resources designed to benefit your property’s bottom line, broaden your market reach, and contribute to a greener environment

QUESTIONS? CONTACT DYLAN TOMLINE AT DYLAN@BCHA.COM

The bcha sustainability playbook

The Sustainability Playbook is an exclusive resource for BCHA members developed by the experts and our partners at GreenStep Solutions. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step guidance to create a cohesive sustainability plan. The Playbook is accompanied by a Toolkit containing various tools, resources, and templates to support your sustainability journey.

Here’s a glimpse at what’s included:

How to engage your team
Measuring your baseline
Creating your sustainability action plan
Implementing, communicating, and celebrating!
Actions to revisit
Low / no cost actions to get started
Reporting
A wide variety of templates that include:
- Sustainability action plan template
- Energy tracking Water tracking
- Waste audit data collection and tracking
- Single-use plastic audit
- Employee sustainability roles & responsibilities
- Goals & actions
- Sustainability report template

Get a complimentary energy analysis! | bcha gogreen program

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
BCHA Members can benefit from an extensive energy analysis of their operations, which identifies energy conservation and cost-cutting projects. This service complements other energy or sustainability assessments hotels may have received, offering a comprehensive analysis of energy consumption and costs. The goal is to identify substantial annual cost savings and utility rebates amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS
The Energy Specialist provides an energy assessment that includes the following:

Analysis of energy costs, consumption, and overall energy performance
Inventory of technology and equipment, focusing on high energy-consuming equipment
Survey and optimization of room controls for lighting and HVAC
Benchmarking against similar properties across Canada
Identification of alternate revenue sources, incentives, and rebates
Access to FortisBC Rebates (Natural gas and Electricity)
BC Hydro Incentives
List of energy-saving opportunities
Presentation of a business case to hotel management
Recommendations for equipment replacement
Action list for low or no-cost methods to reduce energy costs
Further information on our BCHA EcoFund Program

HOW TO GET STARTED
For more information on what the Energy Analyst can do for you, please contact Dylan Tomlin, Energy Analyst, at dylan@bcha.com or 604-443-4754. Alternatively, you can fill out the form below and our team will reach out to you promptly.

Finance your next project with the greenstep ecofund

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The BCHA has partnered with GreenStep’s EcoFund program to assist hotels in generating a budget for investing in energy efficiency opportunities identified by the Energy Analyst. This collaboration also generates a revenue stream for the BCHA to support research and advocacy efforts.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS
Through GreenStep’s EcoFund program, hotels can invest in significant energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction projects, resulting in cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint. Participants in the EcoFund program receive the following benefits:

Assistance in obtaining budget pricing quotes for prioritized projects
A prioritized list of energy conservation projects based on budget, return on investment (ROI), and payback period
Support in selecting contractors for prioritized projects
Assistance in applying for rebates for completed projects
Creation of an annual report on energy, carbon footprint, and cost reduction
Creation of an annual project spotlight to communicate completed projects and their environmental impacts and carbon footprint reductions
Support, if applicable, in accessing the FortisBC Commercial Custom Design incentive program
Guidance in working towards achieving Energy Star Certification
Assistance in setting a science-based carbon reduction goal

HOW TO GET STARTED
Take the first step towards energy efficiency by signing up to receive a free energy efficiency and business case analysis. Reserve your spot in the program now by connecting with BCHA Energy Specialist, Dylan Tomlin at Dylan@bcha.com.

Become a biosphere certified organization

Join the BCHA and hotel operators across the province who have become Biosphere Certified Organizations! Getting involved with Biosphere Tourism is a great way for hotels to enhance their sustainability credentials and gain recognition for their responsible practices. The certification process involves a thorough evaluation of various aspects of hotel operations, including environmental management, social and cultural engagement, and economic sustainability. Once certified, hotels can proudly display the Biosphere seal, signaling to guests that they are choosing an accommodation dedicated to sustainability.

Biosphere is a Sustainable Tourism System certified by the Responsible Tourism Institute, an international certification body that maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO, is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization, and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The system is aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris COP21 Accord to Fight Climate Change.

To explore the benefits of Biosphere Tourism and learn how to get involved, we encourage you to visit their website. There, you will find detailed information about their certification programs, success stories from certified hotels, and the positive impacts of sustainable tourism.

Discover the latest tools with the sustainable hospitality alliance

The BCHA has entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), a leading global organization driving sustainability in the hospitality industry. The SHA leads phenomenal work in promoting responsible and sustainable practices, tackling pressing issues such as climate action, water stewardship, and responsible resourcing. Their initiatives, such as the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, Business Case for Sustainable Hotels, and Hotel Water Measurement Initiative, provide valuable tools and resources for hotels to measure and reduce their environmental footprint. Through this collaboration, we aim to further advance sustainability efforts in the hospitality sector and drive positive change for our industry and the planet. Pathway

Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality – a holistic framework and pathway to support the hospitality industry in achieving a vision of a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes.

Climate action

Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative – a free methodology and tool for hotels to calculate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings in their properties.
Business Case for Sustainable Hotels – demonstrates the business benefits of building sustainable hotels and offers tangible recommendations tailored for hotels investors, owners and developers, operators, and franchisees.
Global Hotel Decarbonisation report – this report helps hospitality companies understand the scale of the action required, the importance of setting science-based targets and the opportunities already available to make significant carbon reductions.
Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index (CHSB) – the hotel industry’s largest annual benchmarking of energy, water, and carbon, open to hotels and hotel companies of all sizes and published in a freely available index every year. Uses data from 18,000 hotels globally to provide benchmarks. The report and index tool can be downloaded from here and might provide some useful information.

Water Stewardship

Hotel Water Measurement Initiative – a free methodology and tool for hotels to calculate the water footprint of hotel stays and meetings in their properties.
Destination Water Risk Index – offers evidence and guidance for hotel companies, developers and their stakeholders to prioritise water stewardship in investment, development and renovation decisions, as well as hotel management in high risk destinations.
Water Stewardship for Hotel Companies – this report recommends six steps every hotel should take to better manage their impact on water, with guidance on setting targets, managing water use, working with supply chain and collaborating for maximum impact.
Water Risk Assessment – provides an overview of the possible impacts the industry could suffer due to shifts in the availability of quality water sources. It also recommends key action areas for the hotel industry to preserve freshwater resources.
Water stewardship factsheet

Responsible resourcing

Hotel Waste Measurement Methodology – a methodology for hotels to collect, measure and report waste data. It covers overall waste and food waste.
Single-use plastics factsheet
Food waste factsheet
Responsible procurement factsheet

Greenkey global certification

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Green Key Global is a leading international, GSTC Recognized environmental certification body whose suite of industry standard programs and resources has been designed specifically for the lodging and meetings industries. Their affordable programs, including the Green Key Eco-Rating and the Green Key Meetings Programs, help members leverage organizational CSR activities to support their property’s sustainable initiatives, improve overall fiscal performance, and community relations. With member properties in over 30 countries and a notable mix of branded and independent members Green Key Global truly is the lodging industry’s certification program of choice.
Green Key Global – Certification.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS

You can receive a discount of 5% on our Green Key Global Hotel Eco program and $50 off of or Green Key Global Meetings programs using promo code BCHA.
Facilitation of activating a ‘green’ program for your property
Access to Green Key Global Toolkit
Reduce your carbon footprint

Learn more about the Benefits of Being a Green Key Global Member
Additional programs and information available from Green Key Global:

HOW TO GET STARTED
For more information on the Green Key Meeting Program please contact Rebecca Bartlett-Jones, Manager, Business Development at (905) 638-6757 or rebecca.bartlettjones@greenkeyglobal.com

BCHA ALLIED MEMBERS | DISCOVER EVEN MORE SUSTIANABILITY SOLUTIONS

The BCHA takes pride in its partnership with a distinguished group of allied members who are committed to supporting sustainability initiatives. These trusted partners offer a wide range of resources and expertise to assist you in achieving your sustainability goals. From energy efficiency solutions to waste reduction strategies, our allied members are dedicated to helping you make a positive impact on the environment while optimizing your operations. By collaborating with these industry leaders, you can access valuable support and guidance as you navigate your sustainability journey.