If you’ve opened a newspaper, looked at any social media, or just walked down the street recently you’ll have no doubt noticed that there has been a huge boom in veganism and everything vegan-related. The travel and hospitality industry is no exception, and we’re starting to see a rise in the number of vegan hotels, but what does this actually mean?
What is Veganism and Why Is it Popular?
First, veganism is nothing new — people have been adhering to this diet for hundreds of years. What it basically involves is avoiding the consumption or use of any animal products at all. That means no meat, fish, eggs, dairy (milk, cheese, etc) as well as avoiding the use of products such as leather or even wool.
Traditionally, veganism has been very closely tied to the animal rights movement, but in recent years it has gained traction for health reasons and, most popularly, the positive impact it can have on offsetting climate change. And this last reason is why many travellers in 2020 might be looking for vegan alternatives on the eco-friendly trips.
How Can a Hotel Be Vegan?
The obvious area to think about is the food it serves (no dairy, eggs or meat) but when it comes to hotels it goes well beyond the walls of the kitchen. Hotels that are turning vegan mean all décor has to be carefully considered to adhere to the animal-free rules. That means no silk sheets or wool-covered pillows. Additionally, when running the resort you also have to think about the products that you use — many cleaning products may well have been tested on animals.
So, What Can You Do and Should You Do Anything At All?
Eco-resorts do not need to be vegan resorts, but accommodating people who adhere to an animal product-free lifestyle could benefit you in the long run. While it may not be worth revamping your entire resort to remove animal products, you should certainly consider having vegan options available in any onsite kitchens and bars as well as looking into some vegan alternatives to silk sheets, if you use them.
