Canada’s $100 billion tourism industry is inherently tied to our incredible wild spaces and outdoor recreation. That’s why climate change is a serious risk. Hotels have every reason to invest in decarbonization.
And municipal governments are well-positioned to convene hotel operators and coordinate a community-wide effort. “A strength of local government is the ability to collaborate and share learnings,” says Maria Thorlakson from the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
She helped lead an effort to engage Whistler’s hotel industry on decarbonization. Over three years, Whistler’s hotels have deepened commitments, from simply learning to undertaking feasibility studies and forming knowledge-sharing networks of engineers and maintenance staff.
Earlier this year, Whistler also supported the development of CEA’s short guide Engaging the Hotel Industry on Decarbonization.
“We heard from other local governments that were also interested in engaging this sector and felt there was an opportunity to share our work,” said Maria. “The guide is intended to share a replicable engagement process and lessons learned, so other local governments can leverage our experience.”
If you work in local government with a strong tourism sector, give it a quick read. We hope it inspires you to start thinking about convening conversations, developing tailored resources and education, and building capacity for change.
