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The hospitality industry contributes an estimated 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions — driven by energy-intensive facilities, food waste, and the transport footprint of international tourism. As pressure from governments, industry bodies, and consumers continues to intensify, hotels and resorts are finding that sustainability is no longer optional. This article examines the sector's emissions challenge and presents a case study of a carbon footprint assessment conducted for a luxury resort and spa in India.
The Hospitality Sector's Emissions Challenge
The accommodation sector's environmental impact is dominated by three sources: energy consumption across heating, cooling, lighting, and operations; food and beverage services including food waste and supply chain emissions; and transport emissions associated with tourism activities and fleet operations. Luxury properties face a particular tension — the features that define a premium guest experience (year-round climate control, pools, restaurants, spa facilities, extensive grounds) are precisely the elements that drive the highest energy intensity. Addressing this without compromising the guest experience requires a structured approach to understanding where emissions actually occur, which sources are material, and which reduction strategies are technically and commercially viable. Meaningful decarbonisation in the sector begins with measurement — and measurement requires a rigorous GHG assessment conducted against an internationally recognised standard.
The Client: A Luxury Resort and Spa in India
The client is committed to becoming a benchmark for responsible luxury in the Indian hospitality sector. Recognising that measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions is foundational to setting credible reduction targets, the resort engaged The Carbon Collective Company to conduct a carbon footprint assessment covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The client's objectives were specific: clarity on the principal emission sources within their operations, a verified baseline for future reduction planning, and the framework necessary to commit to SBTi targets and annual sustainability reporting. The engagement began with defining organisational boundaries using the operational control approach under the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard — covering stationary combustion, mobile emissions, process emissions, refrigerant leakages, fire extinguisher leakages, and electricity consumption.
The Assessment Process
The assessment process involved structured data collection across all operational areas, followed by a site visit to verify ground-level operations, ensure accuracy, and confirm compliance with the GHG Protocol methodology. Once all emissions data was collected and calculated, a comprehensive report covering all quantitative data and technical analysis was presented to the client. This gave the resort's leadership team a complete understanding of the metrics and their implications — and formally established a baseline for all future carbon reduction planning. The client's General Manager noted the team's ability to explain technical aspects in clear, accessible terms, and the thoroughness that gave the organisation a genuine understanding of its environmental footprint rather than simply a compliance document.
The Decarbonisation Roadmap
Following the assessment, a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy was developed for the resort. On Scope 1 emissions, the recommendations include transitioning from natural gas boilers to green hydrogen and natural gas blend-powered alternatives, converting diesel-based generators to PNG, electrifying the fleet with EVs, transitioning from charcoal and firewood to biomass briquettes, and adopting HFO-based refrigerants for cooling. On Scope 2 emissions, the path to reduction is clear: sourcing 100% of operational electricity from renewable sources and committing to the RE100 initiative. Sustainable procurement is also embedded in the roadmap — increasing the share of eco-friendly and recycled materials across operational inputs. The client has committed to SBTi and to achieving net zero by 2050, with residual Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions addressed through investment in nature-based carbon offset projects. Many of these recommendations are now incorporated into the resort's active decarbonisation roadmap — making the GHG assessment not an end point, but the starting line.