Stakeholders in the hospitality industry have been urged to leverage green technologies and sustainable practices to improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact and drive long-term growth.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Hospitality and Tourism Educators and Consultants (AHTEC) Africa, Dr Joseph Mensah-Ansah, said green technology presented enormous opportunities for innovation and transformation within the hospitality sector while contributing to environmental sustainability and economic performance.
He indicated that Ghana's abundant sunshine offers hospitality establishments a unique opportunity to invest in solar energy systems to reduce operational costs and improve energy sustainability.
"Our country enjoys abundant sunshine all year round. Hotels can significantly reduce their energy expenditure through the adoption of solar power systems," he stated.
Dr Mensah-Ansah was speaking at the 13th Annual Delegates Conference of the Institute of Hospitality Ghana (IH-Ghana) held in Tamale.
Organised by the Institute of Hospitality Ghana, the event was on the theme: "Leading Progress in Hospitality and Tourism: Innovation, Sustainability and Green Technology".
Evolving industry
Dr Mensah-Ansah further highlighted the importance of water conservation technologies, explaining that they would help address growing concerns about water scarcity while promoting responsible resource management across the sector.
According to him, the integration of smart technologies into hospitality operations could improve efficiency, minimise waste and enhance customer experience and satisfaction.
He stressed the need for hospitality training institutions to incorporate practical green technology education into their academic programmes.
"Students should not only learn about sustainability theoretically; they should see it in practice. Educational institutions themselves must become models of sustainable operations," he said.
Transformation
For his part, the President of the Institute of Hospitality Ghana, Dr Patricia Owusu-Darko, said the hospitality and tourism industry was undergoing rapid transformation driven by technological advancements and the increasing participation of young people and women.
She revealed plans to introduce initiatives, including youth ambassador programmes, hospitality and tourism startup boot camps, scholarships for hospitality education, and youth leadership forums aimed at nurturing future industry leaders.
