Sustainability

Seedling Sole slippers

LNH made the conscious decision in 2021 to change to Seedling Sole slippers which are natural, plant-based and 100% biodegradable. Costing the hotel more per unit than our previous generic white hotel slipper, this change, whilst costing us more, means a better outcome for our environment and something that can be thoughtfully discarded into the compost where they will completely decompose. In addition to the slippers themselves decomposing, the packaging is paper which can be recycled, not individually wrapped plastic ending up
in landfill.

Pump Bottles

Without compromising on our luxurious Byredo and Appelles amenities, Little National Hotels opted to rid the hotel of single use plastics wherever possible in 2021. All bathroom amenities are now delivered via wall mounted pump bottles which present multiple benefits. Byredo and Appelles Bottle pumps are guest friendly, re-filled tamper proof, easily cleaned and replaced as needed. When replaced the large bottles are recycled and product waste has been significantly reduced, especially from one-night stays.

Samsung Tablets by Tapendium & Chyma

All guest rooms are fitted with a Samsung tablet which has replaced our paper hotel guide, alarm clock and phones. The tablet operates as a digital compendium enabling real time property updates. In addition to the compendium function, it doubles as the in-room phone using Chyma technology enabling us to remove the traditional phones from the rooms. The old, yet still perfectly operational phones, were then transferred to another Doma Hotel in need of a phone upgrade. This prevented 120 phones going straight to landfill.

We also use the tablet as a means to communicate our environmental practices with our guests. Presented as a main tile on the home page, our sustainability messages are easily accessible for in house guests to review.

Contactless Check in/Check out kiosk.

In conjunction with our paperless practices, LNH spent over two years developing our guest kiosk and launched the service in 2020. The kiosk enables efficient, contactless check in and check out and is perfectly aligned with our paperless practices which have been in place since hotel conception. With guests opting for contactless experiences more recently, the kiosk is a great addition to our hotel lobby.

Paperless Property

Little National Hotels has seamlessly embraced hotel software to operate efficiently through electronic invoices, confirmations, folios, and reporting.

This approach eliminates the need for storing archive boxes filled with registration cards and guest information, maximising space and streamlining processes.

Beyond financial savings, this shift has significantly enhanced the guest experience. By removing the requirement for guests to complete registration forms upon arrival, the check-in process begins with genuine, face-to-face interactions—a refreshing and increasingly rare personal touch in today’s digital age.

Energy Saving Practices

The Orion Energy Management System (EMS) was implemented in the planning stages of the hotel. The program works cohesively with the hotel software system to ensure electricity is only utilised when needed. With technology that identifies the difference between a staff and guest key, lights and air-conditioning are activated when a guest checks in at reception, eradicating unnecessary usage when staff enter rooms and eliminating the possibility of lights and air conditioning remaining on when a room is unoccupied. Once inside the guest room, motion sensors detect movement to enable the system to stay active or turn off if there is no movement.

Solar Panels

Most recent annual output was 76,285 kWhs. (Less than previously possibly due to the La Nina weather system generating less solar energy.)

Our paid energy consumption of that same period was 317,213 kWh, so over this particular period has really only covered 20% of our consumption requirement.

The financial savings for this period come to 15.7K

Who Gives a Crap (WGAC)?

Who Gives a Crap? We do!

Fifty percent of all profits made in product sales from WGAC toilet paper are given back to communities through the construction of sanitation amenities in developing countries. Although less financially viable than our previous toilet paper, WGAC shows greater environmental and charitable benefit making LNH a proud supporter despite the higher cost of this guest amenity.

SoapAid Recycling

Little National Hotel Sydney has been involved with SoapAid for five years now and continues its partnership despite this moving to a paid program (previously this was a complimentary program.) This initiative involves our used soap bars being collected in bulk and taken for processing and repackaging. SoapAid then ship boxes of newly packaged soap to third world countries.

For five years Little National Hotel Sydney committed the $1000 annual fee but now has the support of amenities suppliers, Vanity Group who support this program and pay the annual fee on behalf of Little National Hotel Sydney

Nespresso Pod Recycling

NPR

Aligned with Nespresso’s corporate recycling initiative, Little National Hotels in Canberra and Sydney partner with Nespresso to ensure used coffee pods are collected and sent to a dedicated recycling facility. Here, the aluminum is recycled, and the coffee grounds are transformed into compost—a far better outcome than ending up in landfill! Staff are also encouraged to participate by recycling their used pods at home, extending the positive impact beyond the workplace.

Sustainable Tourism Accreditation

Australia’s largest and longest-running tourism sustainability program, with over 3,000 businesses accredited, integrates environmental, cultural, social, and commercial sustainability practices.

Accredited businesses deliver high-quality, memorable visitor experiences that exceed expectations while showcasing sustainability.

The program covers key areas of sustainable tourism, including:

• Environmental Management
• Social & Cultural Responsibility
• Ethics & Professional Conduct
• Customer Service, Safety & Protection
• Staff Wellness & Human Resources
• Sustainable Operations
• Regulatory Compliance
• Sustainable Marketing & Promotion

Source: Sustainable Tourism Accreditation – Quality Tourism Australia