Ecology
Viktor Dotsenko, D. Sc., Olena Shydlovska AP., Tetyana
Ishchenko AP., Olena Ohorodniichuk
ECO-HOTELS – INNOVATIVE CONCEPT OF
HOSPITALITY IN UKRAINE
Annotation. The
article argues the relevance and importance of environmental development of the
hotel industry in Ukraine.
The current state of the eco-hotels in Ukraine, their features,
challenges and opportunities for development were also analyzed
in this article.
Key words: eco-hotel, greening, hotel
industry, environmental certification.
I. Introduction. The greening means that the hotel is becoming more aware of environmental issues. Green hotels focus on preserving the purity of harmony in nature to improve the natural balance of life. With the rapid growth of the world population is increasing urgency of environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
Ecological hotels appeared as a resalt of increased femand for nature
recreation, which has formed at the hotel market in the lfst two dacades. Today
eco hotels become more and more popelar and open everywhere. Some of them offer
servises in megalopolises, providing guests with 100% clean water, food and
nutural materials of room decjration [2].
Sociological researches showed that people are willing to pay extra for environmental cleanliness and helped to promote environmental ideas in the hotel industry. Thus, the survey, conducted at Cornell University during the recent economic crisis has shown that, despite the recession, people do not forget about environmental issues and are willing to pay more for “green” products and services. According to a survey conducted by a European company, the curiosity of tourists to eco-hotels is increasing.
The survey involved 66 thousand guests, who lived in the
hotels of North America during 20011-2012. The
study found that significantly increased the awareness of visitors about environmental initiatives
in hotels (66% in 2012 compared with 57% in 2011), 72% of clients involved in environmental programs organized by hotels. Demand creates supply and eco-hotels already conquered many countries in Europe and America and is gradually emerging in Ukraine, but very slowly [5].
II. Statement of the problem. Over the past few years the hotel market of Ukraine is undergoing active development. Many hotels were
built and constructed in preparation
for the Euro 2012. As a result, the problem of luxury
hotels was almost solved, but
the eco-hotels are not enough. Although
Ukraine has sufficient ecotourism
resources, the use of which naturally lead to an
intensification of infrastructure development and
the territorial organization of ecotourism
activities. So the main task is to
determine the causes inhibition of
greening local hotels
and opportunities to address them.
III. Results. Ukraine gradually marching towards adaptation of technical regulations with EU requirements, where state mandatory requirements combined with voluntary certification system that meets the requirements of a unified international and European standards.
The system of environmental certification in Ukraine began to develop much later than in the EU, U.S., Canada,
Japan, but has some achievements. Ukraine was the first country in the former Soviet Union, which began to develop a system of environmental
certification and labeling, following international standards ISO 14000. Ukraine joined
the Global
Ecolabelling Network - an international organization that brings together 27 certification systems 60 countries and 43 harmonized standards for environmental goods and services. European Commission for granting the status of ecological hotel requires adhere to 37 criteria and 21 conditions.
However, the voluntary environmental certification and a large number of conditions for obtaining this certificate become an obstacle to the emergence of a sufficient number of eco-hotels in Ukraine. Hoteliers are not seeking to receive a certificate of environmental as this procedure requires not only additional costs but significant alteration of thinking, conceptually new approaches to organizing activities.
But according to the practice of foreign hotels, costs of environmentalizing recouped in less than 5 years. The status of eco
hotel can be awarded to those who save electricity, heating and water; who sort
their trash and encourage their guests to help protect the environment. For
example, key card systems switch off electricity
automatically when guest rooms are vacated, and thus avoid useless consumption
of electricity (TV, lights…). These and many other innovations help eco-hotels to use less
water and electricity than other hotels.
Although the process of greening the
hotels has some problems in Ukraine, but we can identify
the major players among them. In 2011,
the hotel complex “Artemida” (Crimea, Yalta,
the village Ponizovka) became the first institution
in Ukraine for temporary accommodation,
which is certified according to the international environmental standard ISO 14024. This hotel uses energy-saving lamps
and air conditioning system /
heating. Also it uses the saving program of fresh water, waste water is treated with a special installation without the use of chemicals.They buy electrical
equipment and computers class “A”, “A+”, as a part of the complex they have
special system for paper saving. This hotel offers all guests ecological
food from local producers.
Another well-known eco-hotel “ShyshkiNN” with Turkish bath is located on the shore of the lake, near the pine forest in an ecologically clean area in the village Snov'yanka Chernihiv region.
The hotel is located in an ecologically clean area and
uses environmentally friendly materials to design rooms.
Ecohotel
“Friend House” is located on 3 hectares plot in forest resort zone aside of
Orel river bank, 30 km far from Dnepropertrovsk. It is a single-floor group of
buildings with open yards, parking, terraces, garden and park zones (covered
area 1750 square meters). During process of siting, an ineologycal analysis of
the region was used, taking into account Earth energy-information field
conception. It is space, reflected in details, surrounded by wildlife. In this project were used
exclusively ecological harmless materials: clay, reed and wood. Construction’s
carcasses designed from wood and shell stone. Cobwork
cocoons of room are united by the roof plate [4].
These
are the most famous eco-hotels in Ukraine. In most
cases they use natural materials for
construction and design of buildings,
organic food production,
location in an environmentally friendly natural areas to show their environmental trend. Ideally, all
this should be complemented by innovative technological systems for the conservation of natural resources. Hotels in Ukraine also use other methods of greening (Table 1).
Table 1 – Tips for Greening the Hotel
|
ENERGY |
WATER |
IAQ |
WASTE REDUCTION |
|
Lobbies
& Public Areas: |
|||
|
Install energy-efficient
lighting in lobbies, bathrooms, and hallways Use LED exit signs. |
Use low-flow toilets, faucet
aerators, and touchless faucets in public bathrooms. Don’t over-water your lobby
plants. |
Strategically place entrance mats
to keep dirt out of the building. Install hardwood or resilient flooring
to reduce particles and allergens commonly trapped in carpet. Specify green paints and
wallcoverings. |
Make sure recycling bins are
available for public use. Use hand dryers in public
restrooms. E-mail check-out information to
clients to avoid unnecessary printing. |
|
Guestrooms: |
|||
|
When rooms are unoccupied, make
sure drapes are closed, lights are off, and AC is set to a higher
temperature. Install only energy-efficient electrical appliances. Provide guests with in-room
thermostats. Install occupancy sensors. Encourage the cleaning staff to
leave the TV off while preparing the rooms. |
Use towel/sheet reuse cards to cut
down on laundry. Install low-flow toilets and
showerheads, faucet aerators, and touchless faucets in guest bathrooms. Post signs encouraging guests to
take brief showers. |
Use cotton, bamboo, or other
natural bed linens, towels, and curtains. Specify green paints and
wallcoverings. Avoid using air fresheners. |
Have recycling bins in each room. Don’t put newspapers at each door
– have them available in the lobby or dining area. Use soap/shampoo dispensers in
bathrooms instead of individual bottles. Have hotel stationery available on
request only. Don’t line garbage cans with
plastic bags. |
Ukraine currently offers several
different eco-regions. The
most popular is the peninsula
of Crimea located on the northern coast
of the Black Sea. Here, in a large variety of features hiking,
biking and horseback riding. So it is very appropriate place
for eco-hotrls building. Carpathians mountiens are also region with a
great eco-resource. The Carpathian
Mountains are considered to be the Green Pearl of Ukraine. It is one of the
most popular resorts and tourist centers of the country. A beautiful mix of
natural areas, forests, meadows, shepherds and humans living in harmony with
nature is what makes the mountains so attractive to tourists. This place with
original nature of territory, beauty of its Alpine meadows and woods, rough
rivers and mountain lakes, soft climate, curative mineral sources, the historical
and architectural monuments is the best place for development of eco-hotel
infrastructure [3].
IV. Conclusions. The largest number of eco-hotels located in Kyiv region, 10 areas have one eco-hotel and 13 regions do not have any.
Number of eco-hotels is low, although environmental services is a significant advantage for attracting visitors.
Despite the voluntary environmental certification in Ukraine hoteliers need to understand that passing international certification that meets the international standards ISO 14024 makes it possible to obtain a certificate of accreditation, which is recognized in 27 countries of the world.
Hotels receive documentary evidence, which can be
effectively used in applications for marketing and increasing workload accommodation facilities, as well as successful participation in tenders. In addition, the title of eco-hotel offers
significant investment opportunities for business development [1]. For Ukraine, it is very important to meet existing demand for eco-hotels, which today is the most popular and have great prospects for the future.
Literature
1. ISO 14001:2004 “Environmental Management System”.
2. Drozdov A.
Modern eco-tourism. Concept and Practice. /
/ Theory and Practice international tourism: Sat. scientific. May. ed.
AJ Aleksandrovoy. M.: KnoRus, 2003.
3. Maslyak PA
Recreational Geography: teach. important among. / PA
Maslyak. - K.: Knowledge, 2008. - 343 p.
5. http://deshevihoteli.com/novyny/2009/08/10/turysty-staly-bilshe-tsikavytysya-eko-hotelyamy