Implementing an Integrated Energy Management System: A Hotel Case Study

To achieve multi-level sustainability targets in a recently launched hotel in Northern Italy, with only six months of operational history and limited energy consumption data, this study details the design and deployment of an integrated energy management system featuring a specialized monitoring dashboard. Facing a scarcity of long-term data, an audit was conducted to gather energy parameters, complemented by the collection of retrospective information for future strategic planning. The proposed model centres on a monitoring dashboard developed in alignment with the Sustainable Business Model Canvas for the HORECA sector. This dashboard integrates economic, environmental, and social dimensions, empowering management to monitor crucial sustainability indicators, detect inefficiencies, and implement timely solutions. The system extends beyond traditional energy consumption metrics to encompass stakeholder engagement, local sourcing, and staff training. Preliminary findings indicate that targeted short-term interventions can improve energy performance even with limited historical data, with key measures including intelligent lighting and climate-control systems, renewable energy, and structured staff training. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining rigorous data acquisition with a structured management framework to foster efficient resource management and environmental responsibility in hospitality, providing an adaptable methodology for implementing sustainability-focused energy management systems from a hotel’s inception.