The objectives of the HOSP-ECO project were: 1. To develop a methodology for developing Sustainability Leadership in Hospitality. 2. To change the mindset of hospitality management to consider sustainability in the core of all strategic decisions taken 3. Generate and use EU Ecolabel-based e-tools to monitor sustainability by all types of accommodation. 4. Reinforce the commitment to sustainability by developing leadership skills that will influence and transform the current ethos and practices in hospitality. 5. Strengthen Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of hospitality establishments. 6. Demonstrate the significant role of VET in the development of sustainability leadership in hospitality. 7. Support the competitiveness of the European tourism industry by diversifying the EU tourism offer
Sustainability in the hospitality industry must be our top priority in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Changes in leadership in hospitality is urgent. Sustainability leadership should be demonstrated as a principle that drives operational and strategic decision-making. This requires the concept and practices of sustainability as well as change leadership to be mapped into a range of subjects in the curriculum as learning outcomes and assessed accordingly. Ideally, the education providers themselves would also transform into third wave organisations. This project will strengthen the role of vocational training in creating the conditions for the development of sustainability leadership in hospitality. It will develop a training course where sustainability leadership will be demonstrated as a principle that drives operational and strategic decision-making. It will also create a set of e-tools in line with the EU Ecolabel to facilitate the management of sustainability of accommodation establishments. One such tool will be the Hotel Eco footprint, a tool to measure the ecological impact of a tourist accommodation establishment’s operations.