Booking.com makes the holidays greener with updated sustainability program

As the holiday season approaches, Booking.com has revamped its sustainability program, aimed at supporting its accommodation and experience partners in becoming greener. The update centers on assisting partners with third-party certification pathways, aiming to make eco-friendly travel options more accessible for both partners and travellers.

A green focus

Recent research from Booking.com underscores the growing importance of sustainability in travel. Travellers are increasingly prioritising environmentally conscious accommodations, with 45% expressing a preference for stays labelled as sustainable. However, approximately two-thirds of travellers believe that travel booking platforms should adopt consistent, standardised certification labels across the industry.

Yet, certification systems vary widely by region, leading to inconsistencies in standards. In fact, 63% of Booking.com partners expressed interest in understanding which third-party certifications are available in their region, while 75% wanted clearer guidance on sustainability practices they could adopt.

Bridging the Gap

To address these needs, Booking.com developed its updated program in collaboration with key organisations, including the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the UN Tourism, and Travalyst, a coalition promoting sustainable practices in travel. This revised approach offers partners a more tailored path toward certification and supports them with specific, actionable guidance.

Through a comprehensive survey, partners can share details about their properties, including location, existing sustainability efforts, and specific characteristics. Based on their responses, partners will receive recommendations for suitable certifications and resources to help them achieve these standards.

Additionally, Booking.com has partnered with sustainability software provider BeCause to streamline data sharing between accommodations and certification providers, simplifying the accreditation process. Partners will also receive targeted advice on areas such as water conservation, energy use, waste management, and community engagement.

Overcoming Cost Concerns

One common hurdle for partners is the perceived cost of certification, with about 25% citing concerns about financial constraints. Booking.com aims to alleviate this by providing resources to connect partners with funding sources, discounts on certification fees, and reduced ongoing subscription costs.

Booking.com’s Partner Hub, an online support platform for property owners and managers, has also been updated with a host of new tools, including a sustainable hospitality handbook and online courses developed in collaboration with the UN's tourism division. These resources are intended to guide partners through sustainable practices and help them enhance their listings on the platform.

The Benefits of Going Green

Although these partners will have to invest time and money into making their property more sustainable, as well as engaging third party certification, their efforts will pay off with benefits. On Booking.com’s website, accommodations with sustainability certifications will have that information displayed, and travellers can actually filter searches to find accredited properties. Presently, over 18.000 accommodations have a third-party certification displayed on the platform.

Since four in five travellers share that travelling more sustainability matters to them, this mindset will translate into their decisions of accommodation — especially when platforms like Booking.com make it easy for them to filter and compare such properties.

“While many of our partners are already making great strides in their journey, for others it can be challenging knowing where to start or what certification may be best suited to their needs,” said Danielle D’Silva, Director of Sustainability at Booking.com. “In empowering partners to make more informed decisions and accelerate their progress, our ultimate goal is to help bridge the gap between the number of accommodations with third-party certifications and the breadth of choice available in the market.”

This initiative promises a more sustainable and accessible future for both travellers and hosts alike, making green travel a more attainable choice this holiday season and beyond.