Portugal Leads in Hotel Sustainability, Study Finds

During the Bolsa Turismo Lisboa (BTL) event in Portugal this week, Mabrian Technologies revealed that over half of Portugal's hotels are committed to sustainability. The study examined 2,485 hotels and found that 52% have a sustainability certification, with prices 19% higher on average for these eco-friendly options.

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Study Shows Portugal's Hotels Lead in Sustainability

A recent study conducted at the Bolsa Turismo Lisboa (BTL) tourism show in Portugal has brought good news for the country's tourism industry. Mabrian Technologies, a firm specializing in tourism intelligence, analyzed 2,485 hotels across Portugal to see how many are using green practices. The results? A promising 52% of hotels in Portugal have some kind of eco-friendly certification.

The study, which looked at hotels listed on major online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, categorized these certifications into five levels: none, bronze, silver, gold, and external certification. Breaking Travel News revealed that most hotels with a certification, 58%, earned the bronze level, indicating basic sustainable practices. Another 31% reached the silver level, and 8% achieved the gold standard. A small portion, 3%, boasted external certifications, showing top-notch green efforts.

Mabrian's findings also showed that the more luxurious the hotel, the more likely it is to be eco-conscious. Seventy-one percent of five-star hotels have some certification, followed by 61% of four-star hotels and 41% of three-star establishments.

Additionally, the study linked sustainability efforts to higher room rates. Hotels with eco-friendly certification charge about 19% more than those without, suggesting that going green can also mean making more money.

Carlos Cendra, from Mabrian, highlighted the positive impact of these findings for Portugal. With more than half of its hotels taking steps towards sustainability, the country cares for the environment and sees economic benefits. This might encourage more hotels to pursue green certifications, enhancing Portugal's reputation as a sustainable travel destination.

Tourism Booms in 2023

Portugal's tourism industry had a fantastic year in 2023, with foreign visitors playing a big role in this success. The sector made a whopping 6 billion euros, up 20.1% from last year and 40.2% more than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The National Statistics Institute (INE) of Portugal shared these numbers, showing big gains across the board.

As per Tourism Review News, the country welcomed 30 million guests, 13.3% more than in 2022, and saw 77.2 million nights booked, a 10.7% increase. This booking jump brought in 6 billion euros from stays, dining, and other services. Money from staying overnight was 4.6 billion euros, up 21.3% from 2022.

The amount earned for each room booked shot up by 9.2%, reaching 113.1 euros. The Azores, Madeira, and the Lisbon area saw the biggest rises. However, the Algarve and Alentejo areas had smaller increases.

INE pointed out that Porto, Funchal, and Lisbon led in overnight stays, while Albufeira lagged behind its pre-pandemic numbers. Despite being a top spot, the Algarve was the only area not to beat its past records. Also, Portugal's airports saw 67.5 million travelers, an 18.9% rise from 2022. This boom shows Portugal's tourism sector is thriving again.