Reducing carbon footprint of small and family run hotels

Reducing carbon footprint of small and family run hotels

National Association of Small and Family run Hotels (with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports) has launched a new trend called "Decarbonization of Family and Small Hotels," thus being among the first to encourage its members to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

With this aim, a new methodology called DOMH (Decarbonization of Family and Small Hotels) has been created, aligned with the international HCMI methodology (Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative). Unlike HCMI, DOMH provides guidelines for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Members of family and small hotels who have opted for this initiative, after an annual evaluation by an independent auditor, become holders of a certification confirming the measurement and reduction of their carbon footprint.

As a prerequisite for this valuable certification, which will become increasingly sought after when choosing accommodation, hoteliers need to measure the carbon footprint annually. This is calculated based on the total area of rooms and corridors, the total number of occupied rooms, total energy consumption from fuel and electricity, taking into account emission factors specific to Croatia.

This is part of a broader project called Eco Green Hotels, which the National Association has been implementing in recent years as part of green and digital transformation. Apart from guaranteeing their guests a stay in facilities committed to green and sustainable practices, projects like these also bring numerous savings to hoteliers and contribute to Europe's decarbonization efforts.

According to the Green Deal, by 2030, Europe should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels and become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

The first Carbon footprint certificates were awarded to small hotels in March 2024. The certificates were presented to our members by the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, Nikolina Brnjac.