What You’ll Learn

  • How to incorporate sustainable operations in all areas of hospitality operation

  • How to make changes to building operations that improve efficiency, conservation and human health

  • How to choose sustainable food and beverage, and other purchases

  • Establish waste prevention and donation measures

  • What policies to create, setting goals, monitor progress, and reporting

  • Where to access eco-conscious businesses and leisure travelers

  • Processes to engage stakeholders to participate

  • How to participate in global activities, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Hear from inspiring guest speakers in the hospitality and tourism industry

Who is This Course For?

► Anyone interested in understanding sustainable hospitality and tourism
► Current or prospective hospitality employees
► Students in hospitality management programs
► HR recruiters seeking candidates that add value to a position
► Consultants to the hospitality industry
► Suppliers of products to the hospitality industry
► Restaurant and lodging associations
► Meeting and event planners and organizations
► Destination management companies and professionals

No technical expertise or prior knowledge in sustainability necessary.

Course Description

Knowledge of sustainable hospitality and tourism strategies is a 21st-Century business imperative.

This course is designed to provide knowledge in sustainable operations for the hospitality and tourism professional — covering food and beverage, housekeeping, purchasing, policies, monitoring and measuring data, building operations, health and wellness, eco-sales and marketing, stakeholder engagement strategies — who are ready to drive their operations toward a purpose-driven company, while fostering a narrative around sustainable destinations, and advancing investor environmental and social governance. The course will give students a stronger foundation in how these industries contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and show you how to unlock eco-certification opportunities.

Presented in five, 1-hour modules that include 28 lessons and 11 guest speaker interviews, each lesson is between 5 and 15 minutes in length, spanning:

Module 1: People, Planet, and Prosperity for the Hospitality Industry
Module 2: Building Operations
Module 3: Food and Beverage
Module 4: Internal Operations
Module 5: Sales and Marketing

Course participants will take one quiz at the end of the course.

Certificate

Following the successful completion of the course, students will understand the basics of sustainability hospitality and tourism concepts, frameworks used by practitioners, and the leading initiatives advancing sustainability around the world.

Your Syllabus

Module 1: People, Planet, and Prosperity in Hospitality

1 hour

See the challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality and tourism industries and learn to make the business case for sustainability.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Learn how sustainability supports a company to thrive, even survive.

2. Find the opportunity to incorporate people and purpose into your business.

3. Learn how to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the global benefits it will achieve.

Module 2: Buildings Operations

1 hour

This section will cover ways to improve energy, water, waste/recycling management, and indoor air quality.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Learn what changes to implement in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, waste and recycling management, and indoor air quality.

2. Discover opportunities to reduce costs.

3. Explore how to engage guests to participate.

Module 3: Food and Beverage

1 hour

This section will cover food and beverage from purchasing to disposal.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Explore how we grow and raise food affects animal and human health, and the impact on the environment

2. Learn strategies to prevent, donate and dispose of food waste.

3. Understand which food eco-labels to look for to purchase healthier choices.
 

Module 4: Internal Operations

1 hour

This section will cover purchasing, housekeeping, employee engagement, and sustainability policies for all areas of operation.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Know what policies and monitoring of consumption are needed The process for reaching out to suppliers for eco-friendly products.

2. Understand the engagement process to gain buy-in from employees to enthusiastically participate in your efforts.

Module 5: Sales and Marketing for Sustainability

1 hour

This section will cover what opportunities are available to access eco-conscious travelers, and will specifically address sustainable destinations, group business, leisure travelers, and health and wellness travelers.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Learn where to find sustainability-minded businesses along the supply chain.

2. Know what eco-consientious travlers care most about.

3. Find out how to get the attention of your target market.
 

Course Contact

Email us at: Education@SustainabilityProfessionals.org

Meet Your Instructor

Kathy Sue McGuire Headshot.JPG

Kathy Sue McGuire, SEA, is an award-winning Sustainable Development Professional, LEED Green Associate, and Climate Reality Leader with 15 years of progressive experience and a proven track record of implementing sustainability projects. Recognized as an industry leader in meeting the highest standards and being among the first in the nation to achieve sustainable business certifications for her clients, she is a trusted source of knowledge on established practices and cutting-edge trends that benefit organizations, the community and the planet. Kathy Sue started her sustainability consulting firm in 2007. With her expertise in international environmental standards, a famed golf resort became the first hotel property in the U.S. to be certified to the ANSI-accredited APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings and Events standard – Venue & Accommodations category in 2015. Kathy Sue is on the board of directors of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation and has participated on the Working Group to rewrite the Events Industry Council's Green Events standards.

Guest Speakers

Speakers Card Sustainable Hospitality.JPG

About the International Society of Sustainability Professionals

The ISSP is the world’s leading professional association of sustainability practitioners. A member-driven nonprofit organization, ISSP moves the sustainability profession forward by defining professional excellence and empowering individuals, educational institutions and companies to advance sustainability within their organizations, regardless of sector. ISSP launched the Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) and Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEP) credentials (formerly the ISSP Sustainability Associate and ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional credentials) in 2016 to define and recognize competency in the field of sustainability. Since, ISSP has partnered with GBCI, which formally acquired the credentials in 2019, to enhance, scale and promote the credentials in order to drive positive environmental, social and economic outcomes in organizations and communities worldwide.

Copyright and Sharing

This course is hosted by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). The material is intended for the individual who purchased the material and no part of it may be shared or reproduced without the written permission of ISSP and the course instructor.