Sustainability is the buzzword for today’s show. I have been wanting to do more on sustainability this year, it took me a little while to find the right people to talk to - and to lead the way, we have an amazing guest! As our industry grows, progresses and evolves, year on year, sustainability has become a major focus for travellers globally. Now more than ever, there is a huge opportunity to not only do the right thing but increase profits, as well as improve margin! Our guest today is very passionate about reducing the carbon footprint of the accommodation industry and develop energy-efficient frameworks for the STR industry. We are joined by David Whelan, founder, and CEO of Urban Rest Apartments, an eco-friendly company leasing accommodations catering to corporate travellers since 2017. David is an ex-finance professional who started Urban Rest Apartments after noticing the lack of quality serviced apartments available for longer stays when travelling for work. By focusing on quality, design, technology and sustainability, Urban Rest has created a product that improves mental and physical wellbeing for guests requiring temporary accommodation, while also helping to reduce the carbon footprint caused by the travel itself. Having scaled the business across multiple cities in Australia, Urban Rest is fast becoming one of the leading corporate accommodation providers in the country, while also helping asset owners to drive maximum value for their assets. David knows all the ins and outs of sustainable accommodation and has tremendous gems on how to make sustainable initiatives part of your guest experience and a peak as to what lies ahead for ethical and responsible travel. Today's podcasts will give you the edge you need or at least get your wheels turning on how to start or continue to make your accommodation sustainable. Enjoy! Notes 00:00 Growing sustainable and profitable Accommodation with David Whelan 01:39 Intro to David Whelan and his STR business 05:27 Corporate travels, understanding the avatar and benefits 10:19 600-10000+ Room nights through an RFP process - how? 17:03 Practical ways your accommodation space can become more sustainable 22:02 What's the priority checklist? 26:31 What's your sustainable messaging supposed to be? Contact Info http://urbanrest.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-whelan-86aa3840/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/18360066 https://www.instagram.com/urbanrestapartments/ https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRestApartments/

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.