Hotel Sustainability Application Case Studies
From Initiatives to Implementation
Buying from Local Vendors, but How Much Value Reaches the Local Community?
A 75-room hill resort with two restaurants, a banquet hall and lawn space for events. It purchases fresh vegetables from a few designated local vendors as part of its efforts to support the local economy, but does not systematically track the origin of the produce or the proportion of purchases sourced locally.
The resort wants to understand the extent of its local sourcing and its contribution to the local economy. Without a clear definition of "local" and systematic purchasing data, it cannot reliably assess its progress or identify opportunities to strengthen relationships with local farmers and producers.
Identifying the gaps
Defining what "local" means: Has the hotel established a practical definition of local procurement, for example, the surrounding community, district or region? Does it know where the produce originates, rather than simply where the vendor operates?
Measuring the extent of local sourcing: What proportion of eligible fresh produce purchases, by value or volume, comes from local sources? Is the hotel tracking this information over time to understand the scale of its contribution and identify opportunities to improve?
Strengthening responsible supplier relationships: Is local procurement part of a defined sustainability objective, or does it happen on an ad hoc basis? Does the hotel explore opportunities to work with local farmers and smaller suppliers while considering seasonality, quality, availability, fair business practices and operational requirements?
Applying the Provork framework
Define
Establish what local procurement means for the property, identify the relevant product categories and set an objective for increasing or strengthening local sourcing. Establish a baseline using purchasing records.
Implement
Identify existing and potential local suppliers, clarify how product origin will be established, assign responsibility for tracking purchases and explore practical ways to work with local producers.
Measure
Track the value or volume of eligible purchases sourced locally. Review supplier information and purchasing records to understand progress against the objective and identify gaps in the available evidence.
Improve
Review purchasing patterns, explore opportunities to broaden local sourcing where feasible and strengthen supplier relationships. Adjust plans to account for seasonal availability, quality, pricing and operational needs.
A clearer understanding of the extent and origin of local purchases.
Better visibility into the hotel's contribution to the local economy.
Opportunities to strengthen relationships with local farmers and smaller suppliers.
More informed purchasing decisions that consider both operational needs and local economic value.
Credible evidence to communicate progress on responsible sourcing.
Taking the next step
Move beyond buying locally to understanding and strengthening local economic contribution.
Provork helps hotels establish practical objectives for responsible sourcing, monitor purchasing patterns and identify opportunities to integrate local economic value into their wider sustainability approach.