Inclusion of Sustainability in Indian Hospitality Schools

Carlos has graduated in Economics and Business from the University Complutense of Madrid and holds a Masters in Business Administration from IEDE. He is currently working on his PhD in Education. His work focuses on promoting the international expansion of the institution, which is considered one of the most important in the world in its field. Carlos is one of the 150 most influential tourism professionals in hospitality and tourism in Spain.

The tapestry of technology has driven us towards a meaningful change in which we humans have gotten its new direction. Technology is serving varieties in our life through innovation, invention, and discoveries.

 The current decade has witnessed advancements in terms of technology that have gone on to transform the ambit of architecture, engineering, and construction.Holding the strong hands of digital technology, we have entered the high-end era where we intrude under a gamut of automation. From smart gadgets to smart home automation, the bright elements of science are constantly helping us to transform seamlessly.

Switch into the World of Sustainable Tourism
The arrival of the COVID-19 virus from foreign origins made us realize that pollution-free surroundings are crucial to living a peaceful, fulfilled, and healthy life. The present decade is full of conscious-minded citizens contributing to this era and the generation. So, sustainability is the buzzword. 

Like any other industry, sustainability in the hospitality industry plays a pivotal role and favors hotels in the best ways. They manage resources and save money on energy and water. They serve as a hospitality industry marketing tool that attracts guests who care about the environment. 

By combining pristine natural surroundings with luxurious resort amenities, this trend is alluring to individuals seeking respite from their busy everyday lives. For businesses in this niche, it presents an exceptional opportunity to appeal to nature lovers who look for good experiences within tranquil environments.

Sustainability in the Curriculum of Hospitality Schools

Sustainability is a foundational area of study within the hospitality curriculum. The hospitality industry operates adjacently with our natural surroundings by making extensive use of resources as well as contributing significantly to environmental impacts. 

As such, by impactfully integrating sustainable practices into core coursework and programs, institutions and schools can better prepare and train students for future leadership roles within this industry. It should be well-equipped with both proactive approaches towards ecological challenges and sound operational efficiencies to maintain ethical responsibility towards nature. 

Incorporating educational training about the emerging trends related to sustainability serves to impart the knowledge necessary for driving innovative solutions to reduce the impact upon ecologies. Simultaneously, it promotes socioeconomic equity and its key objectives that balance overall economic stability through systemic synergy resulting from holistic adoption among professionals. 

It becomes essential to task oneself anew every day which further fosters a whole new generation of exceedingly mindful practitioners, who are concerned deeply about achieving the balance between pragmatic operations versus idealistic pursuits where they are becoming responsibly integral elements.

Curriculum Fostering Eco-friendly Practices 

Incorporating sustainable practices within the hotel industry is an imperative strategy for achieving equilibrium among economic advancement, environmental preservation, and social responsibility. 

This approach is significant as it simultaneously advances efforts toward a green toxin-free environment and supports global initiatives against climate change. To balance the detrimental effects of economic activities on the environment while optimizing positive societal outcomes requires strategic transformations at both operational and investment levels across all accommodation units.

How can we incorporate eco-friendly practices among young minds?
Energy & Water Conservation: The curriculum needs to encompass state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies that facilitate the reduction of water and energy consumption. It might not be limited to educating learners on deploying renewable energy but also operating appliances endowed with high levels of energy efficiency.

• Waste Management: Students should study comprehensive waste management practices such as recycling, composting, and zero-waste initiatives, which are very important to safeguard our surroundings.
• Sustainable Sourcing: The subject should highlight the importance of sourcing food, beverages, and supplies from sustainable, local, and ethical producers, reducing carbon footprints and supporting local economies.
• Green Building & Design: Smart buildings will have smart data about electricity, water consumption, hourly space utilization, and more. The focal point of verdant architecture and eco-conscious design embodies sustainable materials, and passive solar engineering methods, as well as adhering to LEED certification criteria. The students need to be trained in all these aspects from their college.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): It centers around a particular self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. Additionally,  including CSR principles teaches to impart a thorough knowledge of broader social responsibilities, including fair labor practices, and community engagement.
• Experiential Learning: The colleges transfer theoretical and practical knowledge through real-world projects, internships, and field trips to sustainable businesses. These opportunities offer invaluable hands-on experience that fosters creativity and innovation in future leaders.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: By infusing a few disciplines such as environmental science, economics, and social studies one can achieve an all-encompassing comprehension of sustainability.

Sustainability & Eco-friendly Practices in Hospitality Sector 
Amidst the boundless and ever-growing hospitality industry, it is paramount to illuminate that sustainability should be the top priority. The artful execution of eco-friendly practices presents an invaluable opportunity for combatting the pervasive environmental and social repercussions that coincide with navigating this domain. 
By committing ourselves fully to sustainable practices, we conserve natural resources, reduce waste production, promote societal oneness, and foster more ethically-inclined travel habits. Such efforts require forward-thinking innovators who not only recognize but also encourage others toward ecological best practices as well. At the forefront of innovation, they spearhead efforts to decrease our impact on Mother Earth and raise awareness about diverse cultural endeavors aiming to protect ecosystems that extend beyond borders. It takes people like them to identify new technologies or modify existing processes to align better with essential and sustainable goals. 

Today, without compromising any fundamental beliefs, business models are shaped over time through traditionally accepted behaviors. They are imbibing themselves further by creatively brainstorming novel ways to implement their ideas. 

Renowned hospitality school Les Roches conducts events like ShiftIn’ powered by Spark that embodies collaboration between industry leaders and students facilitating the exploration and implementation of sustainable innovations, thus resulting in a beneficial impact on the industry and the environment. 

Constraints Affixing Sustainability in Hospitality Curriculum 
Innovation and invention are associated with various challenges that sometimes can be addressed or overlooked. Any new concept like the inclusion of sustainability factors or eco-friendly practices is characterized by a few hurdles such as:

• Curriculum Overhaul: Revamping the curriculum to integrate thorough sustainability education demands substantial investment in manpower, funds, and time.
• Interdisciplinary Complexity: Achieving sustainability involves a broad range of fields, which calls for an all-encompassing and interdisciplinary approach that can be quite arduous to manage.
• Faculty Training: To effectively educate and motivate students, educators must receive appropriate training in sustainable concepts and practices.
• Industry Collaboration: Putting theoretical knowledge into practice can present logistical challenges when striving to provide practical, hands-on experiences.
• Practical Implementation: Collaborating with industry leaders and sustainable businesses to create opportunities for experiential learning is a continuous process that demands ongoing effort and coordination.
• Resource Constraints: Industry collaboration and sustainability initiatives in educational institutions may be restricted by resource limitations, such as financial and logistical constraints.

A Sharp Forecast of the Hospitality Industry
The edge of the hospitality and tourism industry has become sharpened by several influential factors with the advent of the technological boom. The forthcoming days of the Hospitality industry are influenced by tech advancements, consumer preferences, and sustainability. Robotics, AI, and smart technologies upgrade efficiency, and guest experience while eco-friendly practices meet regulatory expectations. 

Many hotels are actively pursuing sustainable solutions as a top priority and will continue to do so in the future. Majorly, the emphasis is on the effortless inclusion of green as the lion’s share because the guests want to switch to an eco-conscious way of life.

The bright and brilliant brains with their sustainable knowledge and creative skills will be the ultimate critical change makers in the evolving industry landscape. Their openness to new technologies, coupled with their fresh perspectives, make them essential for navigating future challenges. 

As sustainability becomes increasingly paramount throughout and beyond the hospitality sector, this sustainable shift in educational practices bears the power to catalyze significant change not only in educational experiences but also across a sweeping spectrum of societal norms.