How Weeva Is Reshaping Sustainable Tourism

weeva sustainability managemet — Photo by: Weeva

As the clock ticks on the climate crisis, sustainability is quickly moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have. The hospitality and tourism industry, with its global footprint and significant environmental impact, stands at the forefront of this change. Recent climate events have underscored the urgency of making this shift. The devastating floods in Libya and the destructive wildfires in Indonesia, which are causing chronic haze across Southeast Asia, are not just headlines; they are stark reminders of how deeply our planet is hurting. They bring into sharp focus how the climate crisis is not some distant phenomenon but a reality that intersects with our human experience daily.

The tourism industry is responsible for approximately 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, it also provides employment for around 10% of the world's population. This vast community has the potential to make a significant impact. Accurate and holistic data collection plays a crucial role in this endeavor.

Enter Weeva, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to empower tourism businesses to monitor its impact and drive change. More than just a tool, Weeva serves as a trusted guide and partner for tourism businesses who are on their sustainability journey. It is here to help businesses navigate the choppy waters and challenging terrain of sustainability, ensuring that every decision a business makes is a step towards building a more equitable tourism and hospitality industry while preserving our planet.

Uga Escapes Weeva Sri Lanka — Photo by: Uga Jungle Beach, Sri Lanka

Weeva’s Response to the Tourism Industry’s Urgent Need to Be Sustainable

In the face of our escalating climate crisis, sustainability has swiftly transitioned from a buzzword to a business imperative in the hospitality and tourism industry. But why has this shift become so crucial?

Firstly, let's consider the industry's footprint. The hospitality sector, with its energy-guzzling hotels and carbon-intensive travel, bears a significant responsibility for our planet's health. It's an uncomfortable truth that can no longer be ignored.

The rising tide of eco-conscious travelers is demanding more than just lip service to green practices. They are voting with their wallets for businesses that not only preach but practice sustainability.

But there's more to this story.

Sustainability isn't just about appeasing customers or avoiding bad press. It's about future-proofing your business. A commitment to sustainable practices today can save your business tomorrow.

From reducing operational costs through energy efficiency, retaining the best staff in your area to attracting a loyal base of eco-conscious customers, sustainability is a long-term investment with tangible returns.

However, there's a gap in the market that needs addressing. Many sustainability management platforms focus predominantly on Planet—measuring carbon emissions from energy usage and transport fleets. While this is undoubtedly crucial, it misses out on the other two Ps of sustainability: People and Prosperity.

People are at the heart of the hospitality industry. Any sustainability strategy that overlooks the human element is missing a vital piece of the puzzle.

Similarly, Prosperity — the economic viability — is of paramount importance. Businesses need to thrive, not just survive.

A holistic approach must balance environmental responsibility with social equity and economic viability.

Weeva understands this.

It's not just another carbon calculator. Weeva is designed to guide businesses on a comprehensive sustainability journey, tackling all three Ps — Planet, People, and Prosperity.

Weeva: Your Ally in the Journey Towards Sustainable Tourism

As you navigate the winding paths of sustainable tourism, you need a trusted ally by your side. That's where Weeva comes in. This innovative platform offers a comprehensive solution to the industry's sustainability challenges, guiding businesses through every step of their journey. It’s more than just a fancy dashboard—it's an actionable roadmap to a greener future.

A 360° Approach to Sustainability Management

Imagine having an eagle-eye view, and then zooming in on every aspect of your sustainability efforts. Weeva gives you exactly that—a comprehensive 360° perspective. All aspects of your business's sustainability journey are consolidated into one user-friendly dashboard, making it easy to manage and monitor. It's like having a personal eco-concierge, making sure you're not just ticking off the boxes, but truly making a difference.

Unlike other systems that focus solely on carbon footprints, Weeva provides a holistic view of sustainability.

"Weeva's 360° Framework incorporates 18 parameters that were originally developed based on The Long Run's balanced-scorecard approach, known as the 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. While carbon is hugely important, we recognize that sustainability cannot be solely measured by this metric. Therefore, at Weeva, we are committed to ensuring that our approach reflects this broader perspective," explains Julie Cheetham, Weeva's Founding Member and Managing Director.

Actionable Insights Based on Real-time Data

In the world of sustainability, data is king, and real-time data? That's the crown jewel.

Weeva offers businesses the ability to make timely, informed decisions based on real-time data. This platform doesn't just present numbers; it provides actionable insights, enabling businesses to respond swiftly and effectively to their sustainability challenges.

"Weeva offers a centralized data repository for hospitality businesses. It provides guidelines on what to measure and how, along with tailored recommendations for enhancing overall impact and implementing sustainable practices across the conservation, culture, community, and commerce spectrum. Weeva empowers users to take charge of their sustainability journey, track their progress, and continuously improve at their own pace," Cheetham elaborates.

Customizable Sustainability Goals

Every business is unique, and so are its sustainability goals. Weeva supports businesses in setting, tracking, and achieving their specific sustainability targets. Whether your goal is to decrease water consumption, support local sourcing and ethical procurement, or boost employee engagement and well-being, Weeva is there to assist you at every stage. The platform provides useful guidance notes on best practices, templates, downloadable surveys, and toolkits.

For example, if you're a hotel aiming to reduce plastic waste, Weeva will help you set your goal, monitor your progress, and gain a clear, real-time perspective on your business’s direction and the effort required to reach your goal.

Community Engagement

Sustainability isn't just about what happens within a business; it's also about how that business interacts with its community. Weeva encourages businesses to engage with their local communities, promoting a culture of shared responsibility and collective commitment to sustainability.

By promoting local initiatives and partnerships, Weeva helps businesses become not just sustainable enterprises but valued community members.

In a nutshell, Weeva is your all-encompassing, integrated platform for holistic data management, measurement, analysis and reporting. It takes the daunting task of transitioning to sustainability and breaks down the journey into digestible, achievable steps, making the path towards a greener future clear and navigable.

Weeva's Impact: An Inspiring Case Study of Sustainable Sri Lanka

Sustainable Sri Lanka, a sustainability consulting and advocacy group that assists organizations in the Sri Lankan travel and tourism industry, has made leaps and bounds in assisting their clients such as Barberyn Ayurveda Resorts, Teardrop Hotels, and Uga Escapes by harnessing the power of Weeva.

The platform's omnipresence in its consulting business and operations has been a true game-changer. It's akin to having a brilliant assistant who never sleeps, rigorously monitoring energy, water consumption, waste management, and purchasing practices. This diligent oversight helps them identify and address any excessive practices that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

“Before implementing Weeva, managers would need to wait till the end of the month or the quarter for a report; now, reporting is live and up-to-the current date," shared Miguel Cunat, Sustainable Sri Lanka's Senior Partner and Sustainability Consultant.

"From a sustainability management perspective, not having to wait for and compile information saves us a tremendous amount of time and puts the focus on interpreting the data and implementing changes or taking action.”

Cunat appreciates Weeva’s comprehensive nature that extends beyond just environmental parameters. It encapsulates aspects of social issues, HR, community engagement, and governance — the whole nine yards of sustainability in a single, user-friendly platform.

“Each parameter comes with an explanation and a list of suggested tasks which is very useful. It not only gives you a placeholder for information but provides you with ideas you can implement and a tracking mechanism for you to do so.”

Cunat emphasizes the importance of saving money and optimizing resources as the foundation of sustainability.

According to him, the timeless adage "You can't manage what you cannot measure" is the key to achieving significant savings using Weeva.

He explained that once they started inputting data into the system, they discovered unexpected anomalies and were able to optimize resources in various areas. The platform transforms data into clear and comprehensible graphs and charts, providing managers with guidance to identify spikes and implement new procedures. It's like having a meticulous accountant thoroughly examining the financials to help save on utilities, cleaning products, and food expenses.

Cunat highlighted the importance of implementing an online sustainability management system for mid-sized to large companies, as the system serves as the key to unlocking the door to sustainability.

"It’s the tool that underpins the implementation of your action plan, allowing you to assign tasks and track progress across various sustainability areas. It becomes your reporting tool as well which is incredibly useful and efficient as opposed to having to spend hours compiling information into a comprehensive sustainability progress report, it creates the report for you.

"I strongly recommend getting started sooner rather than later. It's as simple as activating a parameter and inputting basic data, such as monthly KHW consumption."

“Before implementing Weeva, managers would need to wait till the end of the month or the quarter for a report; now, reporting is live and up-to-the current date.

Each parameter comes with an explanation and a list of suggested tasks which is very useful. It not only gives you a placeholder for information but provides you with ideas you can implement and a tracking mechanism for you to do so.”

— Miguel Cunat, Sustainable Sri Lanka's Senior Partner and Sustainability Consultant.

Teardrop Hotels Camellia Hills — Photo by: Teardrop Camellia Hills, Sri Lanka

TL; DR

The hospitality and tourism industry is at a crossroads, where sustainability can no longer be just an expectation but a necessity. Navigating the complexities of sustainability can be challenging.

Those who embark on this transition will gain a wide range of benefits, including an improved reputation, enhanced employee retention and loyalty, increased operational efficiency, compliance with regulations, and a positive impact on the environment.

Weeva is an invaluable ally on the journey to sustainability, providing businesses with the tools, insights, and guidance to set, track, and achieve their sustainability goals.

With a holistic approach to sustainability management, Weeva helps businesses run responsible and ethical operations. The true power of Weeva lies in simplifying sustainability into a step-by-step process, making the path to a greener future clear and navigable.

Ready to embark on your journey toward sustainability? We invite you to experience the power of Weeva platform firsthand, with a free trial.

There's never been a better time to take proactive steps towards a more sustainable future.

Sign up for your free trial now.