Introduction

The City of Gijón has recently increased its economic activities related to the tourist sector. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a sustainable energy policy targeted to growing sector.

Objectives and target audience

The main objectives of this initiative are:-

• To reduce water and energy consumption;
• To reduce fossil fuel energy sources consumption;
• To improve energy efficiency;
• To reduce CO2 emissions;
• To promote Renewable Energy sources;
• To achieve behaviour change in clients and employers regarding water and energy use.

Target audience:-

Costumers and employers of Gijón’s hotels: in total 42 hotels and 2368 rooms.
Financial Resources and Partners involved
Budget: 3.487.10 €
Funded by: Gijón Local Energy Agency
Organisations involved: Municipality of Gijon/, Local Energy Agency, Municipal Water Company; Hotel Association and the Public-Private Company Capital Tourism

Process

This campaign has been developed in 3 phases:
Phase 1: Design and elaboration of the campaign’s brand: 3 elements:

• Folder with general recommendations for saving water and energy;
• Notice recommending the reutilization of  towels;
• Card to avoid the daily washing of bed linen, in the case of a guest staying for several days.

Phase 2 Information and distribution of campaign’s elements:

• Presentation of the Campaign by the Councillor for Economic Promotion and Innovation, the president of the Public Private Company Capital Tourism and the director of Gijon City Council Environmental Department.
• Send information about the Campaign to Hotel managers.
• Distributing elements: 2.368 rooms in 42 Hotels.

Phase 3: Evaluations and monitoring results.

Results

This campaign is currently under phase 3, working on recompilation of information and analysis of results. Therefore no results are yet available. Every 3 month, the Local Energy Agency contacts the hotels in order to gather their feedback and to distribute new elements in case they are needed.
Some of the reactions have been:-

• Good acceptance of the campaign, mainly by small hotels;
• Scepticism regarding the clients’ implication;
• Customers are participating in the Campaign, mainly with the reutilization of towels.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Not yet available