Hospitality emissions–seeing the bigger picture
It’s becoming more common for hospitality brands to measure and offset emissions generated by their operations, with a focus typically limited to Scope 1 (direct emissions from burning fuels like gasoline and natural gas) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions that come from using grid supplied electricity).
But not including Scope 3 (indirect emissions from everything else that makes a hospitality experience possible), and guest travel emissions–can grossly underestimate a hospitality brand’s true climate impact.
Learn more about emission scopes and the GHG Protocol standard
Land travel
Outdoor enthusiasts typically drive and rent SUVs and larger vehicles. Gasoline emits roughly 19.4 pounds CO2 per gallon when burned, so driving 1,050 miles (150 miles daily average for rental cars) @ 20mpg emits about 1,020 pounds CO2.
Hotel stays
The average hotel room night stay across the US emits about 21.9 pounds CO2 per night, and vacation rentals typically go unmeasured. This varies based on the carbon intensity of the electricity grid a property is connected to.
Air travel
Flights are typically the biggest source of emissions for travelers. A round-trip flight in the US (coach seat) can emit up to 1.3 metric tonnes CO2 per passenger. Direct flights typically emit less than flights with a stop.
10 day Alaska holiday - estimated emissions for two travelers
Total: 8,053 pounds CO2–that takes 173 mature trees an entire year to draw down.
*Estimate based on HCMI 2021 hotel carbon footprint benchmark M1 upper quartile, ICAO flight emissions estimate for two round-trip flights from continental US to Ted Stevens International Airport and applying RFI of 1.9 , rental car average 150 miles driven per day @EPA 2020 US average 22.9 mpg.