BeCause, the innovative Danish startup focused on sustainability data management, has announced a strategic partnership with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to advance sustainable practices in the hospitality industry globally. This collaboration centers on incorporating WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics (HSB) framework into the BeCause platform, significantly streamlining sustainability initiatives for hotel operators worldwide.

The integration of HSB into BeCause’s platform will allow WTTC to expand the framework’s reach and impact, providing hotel chains with a centralized view of their properties' sustainability progress and enhancing accountability across the industry. Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, "By joining forces with BeCause, we are increasing the transparency of the sustainability process and empowering hotel groups to effectively manage their environmental performance."

Hotels engaging with the HSB framework will benefit from a clear pathway to meeting essential sustainability criteria over three years. Upon successful annual verification through WTTC partners such as Green Key and SGS, hotels receive a badge signaling their commitment to environmental stewardship, a valuable asset in attracting eco-conscious consumers.

Frederik Steensgaard, CEO and Co-founder of BeCause, highlighted the operational efficiencies brought by this partnership, explaining, "Hotels often struggle with sustainability data management. Our platform not only simplifies this process but also enables hotels to integrate their sustainability efforts with global verification standards seamlessly."

Looking ahead, BeCause plans to automate the transmission of data to verification partners, further easing the certification process for hotels and encouraging them to adopt more rigorous environmental practices. Additionally, the platform’s AI capabilities allow for the aggregation and application of sustainability data across various reporting frameworks, ensuring that hotels can achieve regulatory compliance and qualify for additional green certifications efficiently.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in promoting sustainable tourism, demonstrating a shared commitment between BeCause and WTTC to fostering environmentally responsible hospitality practices that pave the way for a more sustainable future in the travel and tourism sector.

A recent study by RightResponse AI unveils the significant impact of reviews and ratings on diners' dining decisions, with 91% of respondents acknowledging their reliance on these factors. The research underscores the importance of recent reviews, with nearly two-thirds of diners focusing on reviews less than one month old, signalling a preference for up-to-date information.

RightResponse AI, a leading provider of AI-powered review management solutions, has released a comprehensive report titled "We Digested Over 100,000 Restaurant Reviews, And This Is What We Learned." This analysis delves into customer sentiment and behaviour, leveraging advanced sentiment analysis capabilities to extract valuable insights for the restaurant industry.

Through an examination of over 257,000 phrases from restaurant reviews, RightResponse AI identified notable trends affecting the industry. Key findings include the increasing length of reviews across all star ratings and a significant rise in response rates, particularly in chain restaurants, where response rates approach 60%.

Interestingly, the research reveals a disparity in customer satisfaction between chain restaurants and single-location establishments. Despite similar star ratings, chain restaurants exhibit a lower percentage of positive mentions, highlighting potential areas for improvement in customer experience.

In parallel with this analysis, RightResponse AI conducted the 2024 Restaurant Diner Survey Insights, exploring diners' online search behaviours, review habits, and expectations regarding review responses. Notable insights from the survey include the influence of personalised and informative review responses on dining decisions, with 78% of potential patrons considering such responses influential.

George Swetlitz, co-founder of RightResponse AI, emphasises the significance of these findings in shaping restaurant success. He states, "Understanding and engaging with customer feedback in a personalised and informative manner is crucial for restaurant establishments of all sizes. RightResponse AI is committed to democratising access to advanced AI tools that enable businesses to enhance customer satisfaction, improve Google Map rankings, and attract new customers."

In addition to its research efforts, RightResponse AI has introduced a Free AI Review Response Generator, empowering users to add informative content to AI-generated review responses. This innovative tool, coupled with the option to upgrade to RightResponse AI's Intelligent Review Responder, provides businesses with scalable solutions to manage and respond to reviews effectively.

The hospitality industry is at a pivotal juncture with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), as highlighted by a recent survey conducted by Virta, a leading smart charging service provider. The survey reveals a significant trend: eight out of ten hotel guests now consider the availability of EV charge points as a crucial factor in their accommodation choices, placing it on par with traditional amenities like comfortable lodging and quality breakfast options.

This shift towards prioritising EV charging availability indicates a changing landscape in guest preferences and underscores a potential revenue stream that many hotels are currently overlooking. With the majority of consumers placing high importance on quality EV charging points, hotels lacking in this area — whether due to outdated infrastructure, insufficient charging bays, or a complete absence of chargers — might be missing out on significant revenue opportunities.

As 2024 approaches, Virta's Suki Sangha emphasises the urgency for hotels to recognize and seize the revenue possibilities associated with catering to the EV-driving guest, particularly business day-trippers who seek to combine meetings with efficient car charging. Sangha points out the direct correlation between a positive charging experience and increased guest stay durations, ultimately leading to higher revenue for hotels. He suggests that to future-proof their operations, hotels should aim to make at least 10% of their parking spaces EV charge-enabled.

Ownership of the charging infrastructure is recommended to fully capitalise on the commercial opportunities it presents, ranging from accommodation and events to weddings and food and beverage services. This approach positions EV charging as an integral part of hotel operations, poised to drive significant business growth.

Leading the charge, some hoteliers, such as Novotel Hyderabad Airport Hotel, have already embraced EV charging stations, recognizing their value in attracting and retaining guests. Voco Hotels' general manager, James Bell, echoes the sentiment, stressing the importance of hotels adapting to meet today's demand for EV charging to secure their revenue and customer base in the long term.

The insights from Virta's survey serve as a clarion call for the hospitality industry to embrace electrification as a critical component of their service offerings. As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to grow, hotels equipped with modern, sufficient EV charging facilities are not only positioning themselves as forward-thinking but are also tapping into an emerging market segment with substantial revenue potential.