Hotel guests view EU Ecolabel as proof of quality

Chambre des Moulins is a one-room bed and breakfast (B&B) in the town of Poitiers, France. After obtaining the EU Ecolabel, they noticed a change in the types of clients that the B&B attracted. Having the EU Ecolabel logo visible on their website, as well as onsite around, the B&B appealed to people who are more aware of the environment, and open to accepting measures that conserve resources. After each visit, the manager sends out a questionnaire asking for feedback on their environmental actions. Overall, 73 % of guests said they were aware that the B&B had been awarded the EU Ecolabel, and 93 % said that they felt it was a sign of the B&B's quality. Following their stay, 84 % of guests declared having engaged in one or two environmentally friendly actions, with 14 % engaging in over three actions. The most common action was in waste management, followed closely by water management, electricity and heating. In addition to the positive guest satisfaction survey outcome, the measures implemented as part of the EU Ecolabel certification process between 2010 and 2014 led to energy savings on heating of around 24 %, reduced electricity for lighting and hot water of 18 %, and lower water usage by 12.5 %.