HOSPITALITY GOES VEGAN – THE NEW TREND

The vegan travel industry has been booming for some time. There are tour operators providing new eco-friendly accommodation with a vegan menu and sustainable amenities. Moreover, several online platforms have already been found to take advantage of the growing vegan trend.

Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst comments: “The view that a vegan diet reflects a more sustainable form of lifestyle is gaining increased traction and is no longer considered a market niche”.

In a GlobalData survey (2020), 76% of over 5,700 global respondents identified they were influenced by how ethical/environmentally friendly/socially responsible the product/service is.

Prior to COVID-19, only 46% of global respondents identified that they actively buy products that are ‘better for the environment or animal friendly’ in GlobalData’s Q3 2019 consumer survey.

This suggests travelers’ perceptions are changing during COVID-19 and many may decide to make more environmentally friendly decisions – including going vegan.

Hotels have reacted on this trend and hospitality industry offers accommodations 100% vegan using natural and plant-based materials not just for its breakfasts, but also for its bedding and furnishings.

Hotels such as Hilton London Bankside offering a vegan suite or Saorsa 1875 – claiming to be UK´s first vegan hotel – offer a plant-based keycard, eco-friendly feather-free bedding, chic Piñatex made from pineapple-leaf-derived-leather, wool-free eco-cotton carpeting and plant-based toiletries that have not been tested on animals.

At Saorsa 1875 floors are natural, the bed linens are made from Fairtrade organic cotton and Tencel, the mattresses are plant-based and biodegradable and the cosmetics are all-natural and vegan.

source: COCO-MAT