Sustainability That Pays Off: Cost Savings & Carbon Tracking with Green Key Certification
Background
Established in 1974 and located in the heart of Drummondville, Quebec, Best Western Hotel Universel is a 115-room, 5-Green Keys certified, full-service property that has long held sustainability as a core operating principle. With a large conference center and a diverse guest mix including international travellers, business guests, sports teams, and repeat locals, the hotel serves as a central hub in the region. Since joining Best Western Hotels in 2000, the property has focused on delivering not only excellent service but also aligning operations with responsible business practices.
The team at BWH Universel believes in building trust through transparency, supporting local communities, and integrating sustainability into their day-to-day decisions. With a hands-on leadership style, General Manager and President Susan Hu has championed a sustainability journey that empowers employees and drives measurable outcomes.
The Challenge
In 2023, the hotel set out to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and prioritize environmentally conscious procurement.
A key goal: Ensure at least 25% of their purchasing is with either local suppliers or green-certified vendors.
However, implementing this required cross-departmental collaboration, vendor sourcing knowledge, and a mechanism to track progress. While the team had the motivation, they needed a structured roadmap that was cost-effective and easy to activate without external consultants.
The Solution
Enter Green Key Global’s Eco-Rating Certification, which BWH Universel has held for more than a decade. The hotel completed its assessment within 3 months, and in 2024, decided to fully leverage the certification framework, especially the Sustainability Action Plan, procurement policy templates, and HCMI carbon tracking tools to bring greater discipline and focus to its initiatives.
How Green Key Global supported their journey:
- Assessment Framework: Provided clarity on sustainability performance benchmarks and priority areas, including conducting internal audits across departments
- Policy Templates: Access to Green Key Global’s “Tools & Templates” to guide initiatives that enabled quick adoption of written sustainability and procurement policies
- Member Services: Green Key’s team acted as an on-call resource
- Vendor Directory: Helped the hotel identify and prioritize local, sustainably certified suppliers to meet their procurement goals
- Carbon Emissions Monitoring: Through the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI), the hotel began tracking emissions per room, event, and square meter
“Having the tools and templates from Green Key meant we could move quickly without hiring a sustainability consultant. Everything was ready-made. It gave us the structure we needed”, said Sarah Illi, Director of Operations.
The Results
With Green Key Global’s framework, BWH Universel turned strategy into execution with results that spanned multiple departments:
Sustainable Procurement
- Goal surpassed: More than 25% of vendors are now either locally sourced or certified green suppliers.
- Vendors were identified through the Green Key Global Vendor Program, which accelerated the onboarding process.
Resource Efficiency
- Water reduction: Upgraded to efficient faucets and laundry machines, delivering a 2–5% drop in water usage
- Laundry operations: Streamlined linen reuse and staff training to reduce wash volumes and associated costs
- Over the 2024 fiscal year, the hotel has reduced its water-associated costs by 7%, exceeding its initial target range
Operational Cost Savings
- By optimizing procurement, reducing waste, and minimizing water/energy use, the hotel observed cost reductions in engineering, housekeeping, and laundry operations, all while maintaining guest satisfaction
- Over the 2024 fiscal year, the hotel saved an incremental 5% on its operational costs
- Avoided consultant fees by utilizing Green Key’s pre-built tools, estimated to save several thousand dollars annually
Carbon Tracking and Emissions
- Using Green Key’s HCMI tool, the property now tracks:
- Emissions per room night
- Carbon intensity per square meter
- Event-specific environmental impact
- This allows for quantifiable and credible reporting in RFPs and sustainability disclosures. The hotel has recently applied its sustainable policies to the terms and conditions, and it aims to receive a 10% increase in RFPs within the near future.
Team Engagement
- The certification process helped align internal departments around a shared mission, fostering cross-functional communication and accountability
- Sustainability has become a regular topic in internal meetings and team check-ins
According to Grace Chen, Sustainability Coordinator, “Green Key certification isn’t just a label or a badge, it’s the infrastructure that helped us mobilize our team, streamline our strategy, and get real ROI on our efforts.”
Key Takeaways
- Green Key Global’s Eco-Rating certification serves as more than a credential; it’s a complete sustainability playbook. From procurement to waste reduction, it offers a path to measurable ROI and guest goodwill.
- With Eco-Rating certification, hotels are better positioned to qualify, compete, and stand out in business travel RFPs.
- Green Key’s practical tools, out-of-the-box templates, and guidance eliminate the need for external consultants.
- The Vendor Program played a strategic role in helping the hotel identify and onboard suppliers that matched its values and operational needs.
Mélizande Baillargeon, Lodging Manager, said, “Our partnership with Green Key Global has brought significant benefits to the property. By keeping us informed of the latest tools, best practices, and evolving sustainability regulations, we have been able to access available government incentives and programs, ensuring we do not miss valuable financial opportunities. In doing so, Green Key Global has gone above and beyond in supporting the financial sustainability and overall well-being of Best Western Hotel Universel Drummondville.”
Looking Ahead
The hotel plans to continue evolving its Sustainability Action Plan, with a new focus on guest-facing communication and accessibility initiatives.
With the certification framework in place, the property is now working to integrate these elements into future hotel upgrades and events.
Susan Hu, General Manager and President, said, “We’re just getting started. Now that we’ve proven the model, we’re ready to scale our sustainability impact, and Green Key will be central to that growth.”