1. Policy Scope and Purpose

This Policy is part of the Footprint Adventure Sustainability Policy and governs the selection, recommendation, and engagement of accommodation suppliers. It becomes effective upon approval by the Managing Director and will be formally reviewed every two years. The Managing Director or designated officer must authorise any deviation.

2. Guiding Principles

2.1 Right Comfort, Right Price

Accommodations must be clean, safe, and provide a quality guest experience. We identify the most sustainable options available across all price tiers to suit clients’ budgets.

2.2 Fair Business Conduct

Suppliers must comply with legal standards, respect human rights, promote inclusion and equitable treatment, and uphold animal and environmental protection values.

2.3 Minimizing Environmental & Social Impact

Preference for establishments demonstrating active measures to reduce resource use, waste, pollution, and support local community development.

3. Sustainability Evaluation Criteria

Accommodations are assessed on-site by our Sustainability Coordinator or guided by observations and client feedback. Evaluation domains include:

• Human Care & Labor

  • Staff receive fair wages and working conditions (e.g., appropriate hours, breaks).
  • Respectful and inclusive workplace practices aligning with child protection standards (children under 14 only in safe, part‑time or internship roles).

• No Plastic Policy

  • No single-use plastic bottles are provided to guests.
  • Guests can refill water from communal jug stations.

• Waste Management

  • Separation of organic waste (for composting) and recyclables (plastic, glass, paper).
  • Exceptional performers may practice full zero‑waste systems.

• Energy Efficiency

  • Use of LED or CFL lights, energy‑efficient appliances.
  • Guest prompts for switching off appliances or global automated shutdown systems.

• Water Efficiency

  • Dual‑flush or water‑safe bucket system toilets.
  • Low‑flow showerheads and regular leak monitoring.

• Child Protection

  • Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation or harmful child labor under 14 years of age. 
  • Safety protocols in contracts allow for immediate termination in the event of violations.

• Local Sourcing & Community Engagement

  • Preference for community- or locally-owned accommodations.
  • Local food sourcing, purchases from community­‑based suppliers, fair‑trade products.
  • Incorporation of local culture or heritage in the property design, artwork, and cuisine.
  • Respect for the intellectual property rights of local communities.
  • Support of community activities or heritage efforts.

• Biodiversity Protection

  • No use of endangered/red‑listed species in menus or décor.
  • Positive contribution or at least no harm to local natural ecosystems.

4. Engagement Strategy with Accommodation Partners

4.1 Selection & Contracts

  • Provide potential suppliers with our Code of Conduct and sustainability requirements.
  • Use sustainability addendums within contracts specifying clauses for child labour, anti‑bribery, waste, and biodiversity protection.
  • Prioritize establishments with recognized certification (e.g., GSTC, Travelife, EarthCheck) where available.
  • Require self-declaration, sustainability questionnaires, or evidence of ongoing practices.

4.2 Development & Continuous Improvement

  • Conduct regular site visits by our sustainability manager for evaluation and guidance.
  • Share self-assessment tools, training materials, and sample certification frameworks.
  • Provide feedback loops and improvement plans for suppliers.

4.3 Incentives & Sanctions

  • Reward compliant or highly sustainable establishments with marketing promotion on our platforms or better contractual terms.
  • Issue formal warnings if practices are found inadequate. Continued non‑compliance leads to immediate termination and blacklisting.

5. Customer Communication and Education

  • Include sustainability criteria in marketing material so clients understand why certain accommodations are recommended.
  • Encourage clients to follow sustainable behaviours during their stay (e.g. towel reuse, water and energy conservation, waste sorting).
  • Collect client feedback via surveys and incorporate insights into supplier assessments.

6. Governance, Reporting & Review

  • Position a Sustainability Coordinator or Manager to oversee vendor engagement, evaluations, and policy adherence.
  • Document all assessments, audits, and client feedback.
  • Conduct a formal policy review every two years or earlier if circumstances change.
  • Annual internal reports summarise compliance, key performance indicators, and improvement measures.

7. Support & Collaboration Initiatives

  • Facilitate training workshops or peer-learning groups for accommodation suppliers.
  • Encourage group certification initiatives among local partners.
  • Collaborate with NGOs, local government, or industry groups to support sustainable tourism in Nepal, e.g., local standards development and awareness drives.