Today’s travellers are choosing sustainable stays

Sarah Goldsmith |

In recent years, the hospitality industry has increasingly turned its attention towards responsible tourism and wellness of its guests, driven by the need to reduce environmental impact and meet the growing demand for eco-conscious travel experiences and sustainable stays, without sacrificing guest experience.

Hotels are under increasing pressure from their Group departments and from guests to meet ESG goals in line with eco-tourism.

This article will outline some of the actions which need to be taken in order to achieve these goals and how we, at Borg & Overström can help by supplying point-of-use drinking water dispensers or integrated tap solutions.

Environmental impact

Waste reduction: Providing point-of-use water dispensers in hotels can eliminate the need for single-use-plastic water bottles, as guests are able to replenish re-fillable bottles, glasses and carafes themselves.

Beyond plastic, switching to POU dispensers also eliminates the waste associated with cardboard boxes and packaging used for bottled water delivery.

Lower carbon footprint: By eliminating the need for the transportation, refrigeration, and disposal of bottled water, hotels can reduce their overall carbon emissions.

Borg & Overstrom E6 water dispenser with water bottle on living wall background for waste reduction and eco-conscious travel

Energy efficiency: Traditional beverage fridges and coolers in hotels consume energy continuously, even when there are no guests to use them.

By switching to Borg & Overström’s intelligent, energy-saving dispensers, hotels can lower their energy costs by around 70%, whilst reducing their carbon footprint.

Water conservation: With instant access to chilled and hot water, there’s no need to leave the tap running to achieve the desired water temperature.

Guest health and wellness: Many travellers are eco-conscious and increasingly seek accommodations that reflect their values. They often opt for bottled water due to the uncertainty around tap water, giving them safe potable water assurance. Hygienic drinking water is also vital for hydration and health, especially in fitness suites.

Borg & Overstrom T3 integrated drinking water tap in hotel suite providing fresh, filtered water for hotel guest satisfaction and eco-conscious travel

Community engagement: By relying on local water sources, hotels can reduce dependency on bottled water from other regions. This promotes sustainable local water usage and avoids the social and environmental issues associated with distant water sourcing.

Health and safety: Bottled water can sometimes contain microplastics and other contaminants. POU systems with advanced filtration can ensure safe, high-quality drinking water, providing health benefits to guests and employees.

Governance and compliance

Cost savings and efficiency: With a one-time investment in a POU dispenser, hotels can eliminate the need to restock single-use plastic bottles weekly for guests, saving approximately 160 hours in labour.

A five-year contract at £1,200 per month for eight taps (sufficient for an average hotel with 100 rooms, a gym, reception area, and conference suite) totals £72,000—significantly less than the £150,000 that would be spent on bottled water over the same period.

This switch allows hotels to save more than half of their previous costs.

Switching to a Borg & Overström POU drinking water dispenser or integrated tap system is a clear step toward more sustainable operations for the hotel and hospitality sector.

Just by changing the way a hotel provides water, they can enhance their brand reputation, make strides towards their ESG goals, satisfy eco-conscious guests and ensure compliance with evolving sustainability standards and travel awards such as Green Key Eco Rating Programme and Luxury Hotel Awards, to name but two.

Book a virtual showroom demo