The tourism industry is set to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2024, which is great news for service providers and their employees. However, as travel and tourism account for almost 8% of carbon emissions and global greenhouse gasses (according to Greenly), it’s not great news for the environment. With global warming becoming a bigger issue every year, it’s past time to ask ourselves as individuals and service providers, what can we do to reduce our carbon footprint without negatively affecting the experience? Choosing a more eco-friendly and conscious accommodation choice is a simple way to make a big difference. Contact PREMIER SUITES and learn what we’re doing to become a more climate-friendly accommodation option in Amsterdam.
Travel Off-Peak
Prepandemic, visitors to Amsterdam often squeezed as much as possible into a short and expensive weekend break, paying high prices for flights and accommodation during peak weekend travel times. These days, with the rise in remote and hybrid working, visitors can enjoy the best of the city for a longer period without using too much of their annual leave. Midweek is a great time to visit Amsterdam, avoiding the rowdy weekend crowd and enjoying a more realistic experience of life in Amsterdam. A slower pace allows for a better experience with more exploration and a better understanding of our culture and traditions.
Slow Travel
We’re used to getting to places in as little time as possible, opting for environmentally damaging jet travel to make the most of our time. When you choose slower travel, you’ll get where you’re going eventually but experience a lot more along the way. Travelling between cities by bike, bus, train, and tram is a great way to see the sights of the destination and experience cities without the mad dash. If you’re planning onward travel after your trip to Amsterdam, we have an excellent and reliable train service that can connect you with many other parts of Europe in no time, and you don’t have to worry about baggage restrictions. Your carbon footprint will be lowered and you’ll save yourself hours of waiting around in a boring airport.
Avoid Over Tourism
While there are some main sights in Amsterdam that travellers should definitely have on their bucket lists, there are so many others which are slightly off the beaten track. Supporting small, local and independent businesses gives back to the community, encourages better quality and helps local people stay in employment. As tourist numbers rise, food prices increase driven by higher demand and the introduction of products tailored to tourist preferences. This economic shift can make a living in tourism-centric areas expensive for locals encouraging a higher cost of living and lower availability of housing. Seeking out lesser-known and more environmentally conscious places to eat drink and shop has a bigger impact than you realise. Cultural heritage sites also suffer from over-tourism, with historical landmarks and monuments facing wear and tear from excessive foot traffic.
Choose Sustainable Accommodation
One of the easiest ways to improve your carbon footprint while travelling is to make an informed and educated choice about where you stay. Choosing accommodation in Amsterdam with facilities to refill water bottles, cook your own meals and commute via public transport makes your stay more enjoyable without much effort. Switching off lights, unplugging appliances and reusing towels are small ways that guests can help a property meet its environmental goals. Guests can recycle, reduce their energy consumption and single-use plastics, and opt to travel via more environmentally conscious means throughout their trip too. Shopping local and avoiding busy times in the tourist season can also aid in lowering a carbon footprint.
Sustainable Accommodation in Amsterdam
At PREMIER SUITES serviced apartments in Amsterdam and all of our serviced apartments in Ireland, the UK and wider Europe, we strive to reduce pollution to its lowest practicable level and are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and associated guidance. At our Amsterdam accommodation we are very proud of our Gold Certification with Green Key, the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. The high environmental standards expected at PREMIER SUITES Amsterdam are maintained through rigorous documentation and frequent audits. Small changes like changing to environmentally friendly, biodegradable cleaning products, making city bikes available to guests and selecting local suppliers are small changes that have made a big difference.
Visit Amsterdam and enjoy our city in the greenest way possible when you book your accommodation at PREMIER SUITES. To learn more about our climate-friendly plans or to book our best available rates, browse our official website.
