A water-conservation project brief should define where water is used, what outcome matters and how the hotel will know whether a change worked. A list of efficient fixtures is only a starting point: irrigation, laundry, kitchens, pools, leaks and guest behaviour can contribute differently across a property. The brief needs to make those conditions visible before procurement. For the wider operating context, see hotel owners | hotel operations | the Feathers Hospitality approach.
This decision should reflect the property’s specific operating context. Learn about the Feathers Hospitality approach.
At a glance
- Set a baseline by use area and occupancy measure.
- Separate technical options from assumptions about savings.
- Include guest comfort, maintenance and verification in the brief.
State the problem and the property boundary
Describe the building, facilities and activities included. Decide whether the project covers guest rooms, kitchens, laundry, pools, landscaping, staff areas or all of them. State which meters and bills are available and what is missing. A project cannot compare options reliably if its boundary changes halfway through.
Identify constraints such as water quality, pressure, seasonality, occupancy and local supply conditions. Name the owner of the brief and the operational teams who will use the result.
Build a baseline with an honest denominator
Collect meter readings, invoices, occupancy and operating periods. Track water per guest-night if the data allow, but also keep total use and note irrigation, events or facilities that do not vary with room occupancy. A single intensity ratio can improve while total demand still rises.
The EU Ecolabel criteria include monitoring water consumption per guest-night as one performance measure for tourist accommodation. Treat this as a framework example, not a claim that every hotel is certified or subject to the label. Check boundaries and data definitions before comparing sites.
Find losses and uses before choosing devices
Inspect leaks, irrigation schedules, flushing, shower and tap flow, laundry cycles, kitchen equipment, pool backwashing and cooling systems. Ask staff where equipment is left running or where repeated repairs occur. Identify which findings are measured and which are hypotheses to test.
Prioritize a quick repair separately from capital upgrades. A lower-flow fitting can require pressure or usability checks; a control can create maintenance or accessibility issues if it is poorly selected. Record manufacturer guidance and technical constraints.
Compare interventions by total operating effect
For each option, estimate purchase, installation, maintenance, replacement, water and energy effects, and any room closure or disruption. Include staff time and guest-facing communication. Use low, central and high savings scenarios only where evidence supports them.
The European Commission’s criteria reference flow rates and management practices, but the project should confirm current specifications and legal requirements for the property. Do not transfer a label threshold into a universal engineering rule.
Plan procurement, installation and guest experience
Set minimum performance evidence, compatibility, warranties, spare parts, training and commissioning requirements. Ask suppliers to identify assumptions behind claimed savings and how the hotel can verify them. Sequence works around occupancy and any required access or shutdowns.
If a measure asks guests to reuse towels or change a routine, explain it transparently and retain service alternatives. Avoid placing responsibility on guests for system inefficiency. Train housekeeping and engineering teams to report defects and unusual consumption.
Set verification and an owner for the result
Specify who reads meters, how frequently, what occupancy or weather factors are logged and when the project is reviewed. Compare actual performance with baseline using the same boundary. Document failed measures and reasons rather than reporting only successful pilots.
ADENE’s water-efficiency commitment shows how tourism operators can monitor performance and improvement. Its programme context does not set a savings expectation for this hotel. Keep the project brief, data sources and decision record together for the next budget cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Should savings be measured only per guest-night?
No. Track total use and relevant operational drivers as well as an intensity measure.
Does installing efficient fixtures prove the project saved water?
No. Verify consumption after installation and account for occupancy, weather and other changes.