Online event “Energy transition of the Hotel sector”, 30th September 2021

This event will be held as part of the Hotels4Climate (H4C) project, which aims to reduce the GHG emissions caused by the hotel industry in Cyprus and Greece, by building capacities, raising awareness of GHG and cost-saving potentials and appropriate mitigation measures, as well as facilitating the exchange of knowledge and access to the financial sector. The project is funded by the European Climate Initiative of the German Government and is implemented by a consortium consisting of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, the Institute of Greek Tourism Confederation and the public policy consultancy Adelphi from Germany. The tourism sector is one of the most important economic sectors both for Greece and Cyprus. The continuously increasing number of tourists in both countries results in higher energy demand and consequently, in growing GHG emissions generated by the hotel industry. This event will start with a presentation on the “structural characteristics, energy and GHG emissions performance of Cyprus and Greece hotels”, as part of a study conducted by the H4C project. This study aimed to assess and give an update of the current situation of the hotel industries in both counties, using an integrated methodology which includes design of questionnaires, hotels’ on-site visits, data collection, data analysis and results reporting. An outline of the most appropriate GHG reduction measures for hotels and the available financing options to support these measures will be presented. 21 measures were identified in various categories, classified according to three criteria: Investment cost; Energy and GHG emission savings; Pay-back period. The event also includes a presentation of the main effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hotel industry, providing at the same time various policy recommendations that might be required for a green restart. Finally, a Web-based tool “Virtual hotel” that was developed in the framework of the project H4C will be presented.