CLIMATE ACTION IN THE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

As global travel rebounds, the tourism and hospitality sector must balance exceptional guest experiences with urgent climate responsibilities—unlocking transformation through tailored climate strategies and nature-based solutions.

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HOW FORLIANCE CAN HELP THE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SECTOR TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE

 

From coastal resorts to remote eco-lodges, the tourism and hospitality industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high guest expectations. Energy-intensive operations, international travel emissions, and resource-heavy accommodation models challenge the sector’s climate integrity. However, destinations and businesses are responding—by introducing sustainable tourism practices, improving carbon transparency, and investing in nature-based climate solutions.  

FORLIANCE empowers this transformation by developing data-driven climate strategies, enabling sustainable accommodation providers to quantify, reduce, and compensate for emissions. Our solutions are rooted in sector-specific realities and deliver measurable results for your climate goals. 

KEY CLIMATE CHALLENGES IN THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR

Dependence on high-carbon infrastructure and transport

Tourism is deeply intertwined with global transportation systems—particularly air travel—which are inherently emissions-intensive. Even within destinations, energy consumption in hotels and resorts contributes heavily to the carbon footprint. Reducing this dependency requires a shift towards sustainable tourism practices and green energy sources. A clear decarbonization roadmap can help hotels and travel providers align with Net-Zero targets without compromising operational quality.

Resource-intensive accommodation models

Traditional accommodation relies on high volumes of water, electricity, and imported goods. Luxury and comfort often come at the expense of environmental performance. Transitioning to sustainable accommodation involves integrating circular economy principles, reducing waste, and utilizing local supply chains. With Forliance’s carbon footprinting and emissions monitoring, businesses can identify hotspots and optimize sustainability efforts effectively.

Regulatory Compliance And Reporting

Airlines must navigate complex regulatory frameworks, including the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Compliance requires accurate emissions reporting and the implementation of effective carbon reduction strategies. Failure to meet these regulations can result in financial penalties and reputational damage.

Lack of sector-specific climate reporting frameworks

Sustainability efforts in the tourism and hospitality industry often lack transparency and standardization, especially across small and medium-sized enterprises. Regulatory pressure—especially under CSRD—demands traceable and auditable climate reporting. Forliance supports hospitality groups and destination management organizations (DMOs) in developing CSRD-aligned frameworks that build credibility and enable climate-resilient decision-making.

Fragmented stakeholder landscape

The sector involves diverse actors: local communities, global travel agencies, regulators, and international tourists. Aligning climate goals across this landscape is complex. Without a unified communication strategy, greenwashing and misinformation can harm both image and climate impact. Forliance builds stakeholder engagement strategies to bridge communication gaps and drive coordinated climate action across the tourism value chain.

Biodiversity loss in destinations

Popular travel destinations often overlap with biodiversity hotspots. Poorly managed tourism can accelerate habitat degradation and harm local ecosystems. By integrating nature-based climate solutions, such as reforestation or conservation projects, tourism operators can actively contribute to ecosystem restoration. This not only offsets emissions but also creates authentic guest experiences tied to local conservation narratives.

IMPACT-DRIVEN CLIMATE CONSULTING FOR THE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

OUR SOLUTION

 

Emissions Analysis & Reporting

FORLIANCE provides tailored emissions analysis for the tourism and hospitality sector, helping businesses understand their carbon footprint across operations, accommodations, and guest services—laying the foundation for actionable climate strategies. 

Stakeholder communication strategy

We develop sector-specific communication frameworks that align guest expectations with sustainability performance—helping brands avoid greenwashing while showcasing authentic, data-backed commitments to climate action. 

Carbon Footprinting

By calculating Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, FORLIANCE enables sustainable tourism operators to quantify their climate impact and prioritize emission hotspots—paving the way for effective reduction and compensation strategies. 

Climate project development

FORLIANCE supports the development and integration of climate projects that resonate with tourism destinations—such as mangrove restoration in coastal resorts or reforestation near national parks—generating climate impact and storytelling potential. 

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Case study from Jugendherberge

 

FORLIANCE partnered with the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) to support their mission of advancing climate responsibility across the hospitality sector. Our collaboration began with a comprehensive carbon footprint analysis covering multiple youth hostel locations, identifying key emission sources in areas such as energy use, mobility, and food services.

Based on these insights, we developed a tailored climate strategy that included practical reduction measures and long-term emission targets. To address residual emissions, DJH invested in certified nature-based climate projects, enabling credible and measurable impact. This partnership highlights how climate-conscious hospitality providers can combine operational improvements with verified carbon compensation to strengthen sustainability performance and meet growing stakeholder expectations.

Explore the Die Autobahn Case Study
GET YOUR CONSULTING FOR THE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SECTOR

With deep expertise in the tourism and hospitality sector, FORLIANCE helps you turn complex climate challenges into actionable, industry-ready solutions — start your sustainability transformation today. 

Milan Pal, Manager Partnerships Development
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FAQs ON CLIMATE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SECTOR

 

How can hotels calculate their carbon footprint accurately?

To accurately assess their carbon footprint, hotels must capture data across all relevant emission categories—Scope 1 (e.g., fuel combustion on-site), Scope 2 (electricity consumption), and Scope 3 (supply chain, waste, guest travel, food sourcing). Sector-specific tools like the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) offer standardized methodologies, but a tailored approach is often needed for complex, multi-property operations.  

FORLIANCE supports hotels with granular data modeling, benchmarking, and customized emission factors to ensure precise and comparable results. This enables meaningful decarbonization planning while meeting increasing transparency demands from regulators and guests. 

What climate regulations apply to tourism businesses in Europe?

Under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), many mid-sized and large tourism companies must disclose their environmental performance, including carbon emissions, climate risks, and mitigation strategies. This includes alignment with the EU Taxonomy, double materiality principles, and ESG integration across operations and value chains.  

FORLIANCE supports tourism and hospitality companies in interpreting these regulatory frameworks and translating them into sector-relevant sustainability reporting systems. Our team ensures that reporting is not only compliant but also strategically valuable for long-term competitiveness and investor relations. 

How can small tourism operators participate in climate action?

Even with limited budgets and staffing, small tourism businesses can play a pivotal role in climate action by focusing on localized, high-impact measures. This includes switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy and water efficiency, integrating low-emission transport solutions, and sourcing food locally. FORLIANCE offers modular climate services tailored for SMEs—such as simplified footprinting tools, access to shared carbon compensation platforms, and bundled participation in certified nature-based projects. This allows smaller operators to reduce their impact, gain sustainability credentials, and appeal to the growing eco-conscious traveler segment. 

What are examples of climate projects suitable for tourism destinations?

Climate projects in tourism must combine ecological effectiveness with storytelling potential and local integration. Examples include mangrove restoration in coastal regions that simultaneously enhance biodiversity and protect shorelines, reforestation near eco-lodges that sequester carbon and improve habitat connectivity, or regenerative agriculture projects that supply resort kitchens and support local farmers.

FORLIANCE curates and develops such projects under recognized standards (e.g. Gold Standard, Verra), ensuring additionality, permanence, and community co-benefits. These projects can be embedded into the guest journey, adding authenticity and educational value to the tourism experience. 

How does climate action improve guest experience?

Modern travelers increasingly prioritize sustainable tourism and expect transparency around climate initiatives. By integrating climate action visibly—such as through carbon-labeled services, educational guest programs, or immersive visits to nearby restoration projects—businesses create deeper guest engagement and brand loyalty.  

Moreover, low-impact operations often translate into higher comfort and quality, such as improved air quality, reduced noise, and healthier food offerings. FORLIANCE helps tourism companies communicate these efforts credibly and strategically, ensuring that sustainability is not only implemented but also experienced by guests in a meaningful way. 

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info@forliance.com

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