Taking Practical Steps Toward Sustainability at Sandman Hotel Group

At Sandman Hotel Group, we recognize the impact that hospitality can have on the environment, and we're working to do better. Over the past year, we've taken steps across our hotels to make more sustainable choices, with a focus on practical, measurable change.

 

Small Shifts That Add Up

Across our properties, we're revisiting the everyday details that can make a difference. We are in the process of transitioning our hotels to more sustainable toiletries to reduce single use plastic. Another initiative currently in progress to reduce single-use plastic is the installation of refillable water stations. Simple changes, that over time, contribute to less waste.

 

Supporting Change Through the Eco-Fee

We've introduced a $2 per night Eco-Fee at participating Sandman locations across Canada, in collaboration with GreenStep Solutions EcoFund Verified Program. The funds go directly into a Sandman Hotel Group EcoFund, which supports sustainability changes through our hotel group. This helps us invest in changes like energy upgrades and emission reduction efforts, that would otherwise be difficult to fund through regular operation budgets.

 

We're also proud to take part in the British Columbia Hotel Association's 'Go Green' Program, in partnership with GreenStep Solutions.

Go Green's focuses include:

  • Energy, waste and water audits
  • Carbon footprint measurement
  • Investment in eco-certified products and services
  • Management of food waste

 

Property-Level Improvements

A number of our hotels have taken on infrastructure upgrades to lower energy consumption. Some examples of these include LED lighting retrofits in Lethbridge, Penticton, and Victoria; boiler upgrades in Vernon, Regina, and Kelowna; and more efficient HVAC systems in Edmonton. These aren't flashy changes, but they're important steps towards operating more efficiently and reducing our footprint over time.

 

GreenStep Sustainability Certifications

Across North America, 46 Sandman Hotel Group properties are now GreenStep Sustainability certified, with another 15 hotels currently in progress.

Here’s how our certifications stack up so far:

  • 5 Gold – Sutton Vancouver, Signature Prince George, Sandman Prince George, Sandman Squamish, Sandman Calgary South, and Sandman Victoria
  • 37 Silver – 13 Sandman Signature hotels, 19 Sandman hotels and 4 Sandman Inns
  • 4 Bronze – Sandman London, Sandman Inn Smithers, Sandman Inn Blue River, and Sandman Castlegar

Each of these certifications represents our commitment to responsible, sustainable travel accommodations and a shared goal: for every Sandman hotel to become Sustainability Certified. 

 

Continuing the Work

Sustainability is an ongoing process, and we know we still have a lot to learn and improve on. The goal is to keep moving forward, making informed decisions, supporting our teams at the property level, and being transparent about what's working and what's still in progress.

 

We're committed to doing the work, listening, adapting, and being part of a more sustainable future—one step at a time.