Free Online Sustainability Courses for Accommodations

Booking.com and UNWTO Launch New Online Training Series to Support Accommodations to Become More Sustainable overview

AMSTERDAM, 5 December 2023 - Leading digital travel platform Booking.com has partnered with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) of the United Nations to launch a new series of free online courses designed to support accommodations on their journey to operate more sustainably. Geared towards accommodation providers globally, but accessible to the general public as well, a pilot version of the first course, which is focused on community engagement, is now available on partner-courses.booking.com/sustainability. After this initial optimization period, all four courses will be rolled out and available via the Tourism Online Academy (TOA), managed by UNWTO and IE University.Providing practical knowledge around sustainability for accommodations, each course will focus on a different topic: local community engagement, energy usage & greenhouse gases, food management, and water management. The modules share actionable recommendations that accommodation providers can immediately start integrating into their practices, ranging from how to calculate a property’s energy consumption and reduce its emissions to best practices for community engagement.The series is led by respected subject-matter experts and academics, providing strong technical expertise, deep industry knowledge and a data-driven approach. Booking.com accommodation partners are also included in the modules as a way of sharing practical success stories from their own individual sustainability journeys. Experts and course voices include stakeholders from ERM (a global sustainability consultancy), Xavier Font from the University of Surrey, and accommodation partners from across the globe.

Top points from the source

• AMSTERDAM, 5 December 2023 - Leading digital travel platform Booking.com has partnered with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) of the United Nations to launch a new series of free online courses designed to support accommodations on their journey to operate more sustainably.
• Geared towards accommodation providers globally, but accessible to the general public as well, a pilot version of the first course, which is focused on community engagement, is now available on partner-courses.booking.com/sustainability.
• After this initial optimization period, all four courses will be rolled out and available via the Tourism Online Academy (TOA), managed by UNWTO and IE University.
• Providing practical knowledge around sustainability for accommodations, each course will focus on a different topic: local community engagement, energy usage & greenhouse gases, food management, and water management.
• The modules share actionable recommendations that accommodation providers can immediately start integrating into their practices, ranging from how to calculate a property’s energy consumption and reduce its emissions to best practices for community engagement.
• The series is led by respected subject-matter experts and academics, providing strong technical expertise, deep industry knowledge and a data-driven approach.
• Booking.com accommodation partners are also included in the modules as a way of sharing practical success stories from their own individual sustainability journeys.
• Experts and course voices include stakeholders from ERM (a global sustainability consultancy), Xavier Font from the University of Surrey, and accommodation partners from across the globe.
• “Supporting partners, and the wider industry, to integrate more sustainability practices into their operations is a core component of our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.
• By increasing the supply of more sustainable accommodation options, we are also enabling travelers to make more mindful travel choices.

How to use this ranking

Use this guide as a structured discovery starting point. Compare the listed options by travel style, season, location, time available, and practical booking needs before making a final decision.

Best for

• Readers comparing several destinations, places, or ideas in one topic.
• Travellers who want inspiration before narrowing down the final plan.
• Users who need a fast overview before checking detailed offers or local conditions.

Things to check before deciding

• Current prices, availability, opening times, and travel conditions.
• Seasonality, weather, local holidays, and peak demand periods.
• Distance from the main arrival point, accommodation area, or planned route.
• Whether the option matches the traveller’s budget, pace, and expectations.

Frequently asked questions

How should I use Booking.com and UNWTO Launch New Online Training Series to Support Accommodations to Become More Sustainable?

Use it to compare options, identify the most relevant ideas, and decide which places or services need deeper research before booking.

Is this ranking enough for final planning?

No. A ranking is a discovery layer. Final planning should include current prices, availability, travel dates, local conditions, and provider terms.

Does 4ME TRAVEL sell these options directly?

4ME TRAVEL provides editorial discovery and may connect readers with relevant partner offers. Final booking, payment, availability, and service conditions are handled by the selected provider.

Conclusion

Booking.com and UNWTO Launch New Online Training Series to Support Accommodations to Become More Sustainable is useful as a comparison starting point. The safest approach is to shortlist the most relevant options, then verify current conditions and booking details before making a final choice.