An electric bike (e-bike for short) is a motorised bicycle with an integrated electric motor that is used to provide propulsion. This means that less power, or in some cases even no power at all, is required to move forward. The support works based on power from a battery, the capacity of which determines the time and distance that can be covered with the bicycle before the battery has to be recharged. E-bikes can also be called pedelecs, which means that the power is activated by pedalling instead of by throttle. 

The bicycle market 

In 2019, the global e-Bike market was estimated at $14,4bn with growth prospects at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2020 to 2025, to generate $25.9 billion revenue by 2025 

In the Netherlands, Europe’s largest adopter of bicycles, 17 million inhabitants together have 23 million bicycles, and more than a quarter of all daily trips are made by bike. In 2021, for the first time, more new electric bikes were sold than ‘regular’ bikes. Of the new bicycles sold in 2021, 52% were e-Bikes.  

This trend is seen across Europe – in 2020, some 500,000 new bicycles were sold in Belgium, 50% of which were electric.  

Reduce environmental impact 

To support the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change created in 2015, businesses around the world are doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

E-bikes are a sustainable mode of transport with considerably less environmental impact than other forms of transport. According to research by Mirjan Bouwman of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, an e-Bike uses only about 10 per cent of the energy needed to power a car, is 13 times more energy efficient than a typical four-door sedan and six times more efficient than rail transport.  

Providing e-bikes for guests to explore the area around your hotel will help your business reduce its environmental impact and attract guests looking for a more sustainable stay. 

Travel economically and efficiently  

The e-Bike is the next evolutionary step in cycling, allowing for longer rides and greater distances without the cost of hiring a car. And with fuel prices at record highs, providing your guests with a more economical solution can make them look favourably upon their stay. 

Cycle tourism  

Both technological progress and growing environmental awareness, improved bicycle infrastructure and changing mobility rules in favour of bicycle-users mean that the bicycle market, and especially the pedelec market, is booming. The growing popularity of e-Bikes means that more and more customers are using the availability of e-Bikes as one of their selection criteria when choosing a hotel.  

Cesano Group e-Bike solutions 

Cesano Group provides a total e-bike solution for the hospitality and hotel market: e-Bikes including insurance, maintenance and repairs, roadside assistance and financing. Cesano can also advise hotel managers on their choice of e-Bikes and the corresponding rental models.  

Cesano Group takes the burden away from hospitality operators – who simply promote and rent out the e-Bikes as much as possible, and Cesano Group does the rest. Any repairs and bike-care activities are done by Cesano Group. The rental income is then divided between the hotel and Cesano Group according to prior agreements. The profitability resulting from renting out e-Bikes can generate additional income in the years to come, and provide a sustainable and fun option for guests without imposing an additional burden on your hotel staff. 

If you are interested in learning more about Cesano Group’s e-bike solutions, please contact your Relationship Manager or news@trinitypurchasing.com.  

Sources: Statista, https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/e-bike-market; www.government.nl/topics/bicycles; www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news 

The hospitality industry collectively plays an important role in creating a more sustainable future. The food system is estimated to be responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, with the tourism sector accounting for around 8% (hotels around 1%). Therefore, it’s important to regularly review your businesses current environmental impact and identify opportunities for operational improvements.  

If you are just starting your sustainability journey, or are simply looking for ways to do better, here are some ideas to help your hospitality business reduce its carbon footprint. 

1. Local produce

There are many aspects to food sustainability, but why not start with where the food you buy comes from? Planning your menu around what is available locally and is in season will reduce transport and your carbon footprint. Trinity can assist with our contracted options – and if you have specific needs or ideas, your Relationship Manager will help assess additional opportunities. 

It is now broadly accepted that a meat-free diet tends to have a lower carbon footprint. So be sure to offer some plant-based alternatives on your menu – as many meat eaters are more frequently ordering plant-based options in their effort to help the planet!  

2. Waste and plastic reduction

There are plenty of ways to reduce packaging and plastics across your business. If you’re offering or selling water to drink, rather than plastic bottles – use branded glass bottles or jugs or use water dispensing solutions through Trinity’s supplier partner BRITA. This is not only a greener solution, but it feels more luxurious too. In the kitchen, try to buy larger containers where possible without any impact on waste. In bathrooms move away from miniature shampoos – many large chains today are using refillable, wall-mounted dispensers. Find these from suppliers such as Groupe GM, Guest Supply and Bunzl.  

In the chemicals category, you can reduce plastic and transportation impacts by looking into concentrated product solutions from our supplier partner Ecolab. 

3. Energy conservation

A quick energy audit from our supplier partner PEM will often uncover some easy wins, including parts of your premises still not converted to LED lighting; lights left on; heating set too high; and defective seals on fridge doors. With energy costs rising, revisit modest investments that previously looked not worth the return – they may well be more worthwhile now. From thermostatic valves from our supplier partner VanMarcke, to key card light switches in rooms and new, more efficient electrical equipment from suppliers including True Refrigeration, Meiko or Electrolux, the payback is likely to have halved, compared with a year ago.  

4. Promoting sustainable transportation

There are plenty of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and encourage greener transportation. Consolidating your purchases to a smaller number of suppliers and reducing the frequency of your delivery drops will reduce trips from suppliers. Consider greening your own company’s vehicles and install EV chargers from our supplier partner DKV to encourage your staff and your guests to drive green. And if you’re in an urban environment, you can encourage non-car travel by providing e-bikes from Trinity’s supplier partner Cesano.  

5. Minimising water waste

A review of water use within your property could easily uncover ways to cut back on consumption by staff, as they carry out their daily tasks. Persuading guests to cut down may be harder, but you can use several tactics. When swapping shower taps, look for new models from Van Marcke that use technology to reduce water use. As an interim measure you could fit restrictors to outlets, to reduce flow rates. And it’s always worth gently encouraging guests to make sustainable decisions, such as reusing towels and considering the water saved by a shorter shower.  

Sustainable supply chains

Questions are being asked of all businesses about their sustainability initiatives. So, no matter where you are in the supply chain, it’s worthwhile asking your suppliers what they are doing – and learning best practices from their responses.  

Trinity is helping members to reduce their carbon footprint by looking across the broad range of critical commodities that the group regularly sources – from paper and chemical usage to food/agriculture and plastic use. By identifying those commodities that have the most impact on our environment, we can work on an alternative, and suggest more sustainable options.   

Further support

There are a number of recognised sustainability initiatives across the hospitality sector globally, some of which you may wish to tap into. These include:  

• the Green Key Eco-Rating Programme – a graduated rating system designed to recognise hotels and lodging facilities for their commitment to improving environmental and fiscal performance 
• the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance – building a collective effort, with the support of major global hotel brands 
• the Energy & Environment Alliance – a self-help group working on adapting BREEAM to measure hospitality business sustainability 
• the World Travel & Tourism Council recently developed a list of “Hotel Sustainability Basics” in March 2022 – an initiative which provides globally recognised basic sustainability indicators for hotels 

It doesn’t matter where you start – it matters that you take the first step. And we are here to help. We have teamed up with leading suppliers that have products and solutions that will help you reduce your carbon footprint. If you need support on your sustainability journey – please contact us at news@trinitypurchasing.com. 

Sources – Carbonbrief.org, UN News, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Green Key   

After the covid-19 pandemic, most people had hoped for a return to normal – and expected that it would feel distinctly like pre-pandemic times. While this has, unfortunately, not been the case, Graham and Olivier share how the Trinity team supports its members to help them overcome their current/new challenges and reduce costs.

New challenges

While businesses in hospitality and catering have seen their customers return, they have been faced with a raft of fresh challenges, as they run their operations. Supply chains remain fragile, many face staff shortages, and conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated issues of inflation and energy price hikes. Most recently, the heatwave across Europe has affected crops, adding to issues of product availability and price.

Sourcing alternatives

At Trinity, the team helps its members face these challenges head on by helping members mitigate cost increases in a time of rising prices. The Trinity team is learning about each member’s challenges and needs and shares alternative ways to help them reduce their purchasing costs without losing on quality or customer experience.

“We’re helping our members think smarter to reduce their input costs,” adds Graham Coles, Procurement Director, Avendra Group. “We work hard for our members, on product substitution, for example.”

The Trinity team actively engages with suppliers to negotiate proposed price increases and, where it makes sense, works closely with suppliers to identify “good, better, and best” options they can in turn communicate to members.

Supplier partnerships

The procurement team at Trinity ensures a strong supply chain through supplier partner relationships.

“Prices are rising for everyone due to inflation, and it’s easy to go where the cheapest pricing is,” says Olivier. “However, with the unpredictable state of the current supply chain, it’s not just about pricing, and a company with cheaper pricing today may not have the same pricing tomorrow in such a volatile market.”

“Having strategic supplier relationships is critical,” he says. “Our long-term relationships with supplier partners help ensure our members are prioritised for sought-after products. And during the covid period, we started to introduce some additional contracted supplier options in certain categories where necessary to secure supply.”

Sustainable choices

There’s also a renewed focus on sustainability to not only reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint, but also to further cut down on costs.

“Our members are now reviewing their current systems for energy efficiency and food waste to help them reduce costs,” says Graham. “And they are now more receptive to menu engineering, perhaps moving to a more plant-based offering or one that flexes according to which proteins provide best value on the market week to week.”

To help members, the Trinity team sources solutions in key sustainability focus areas such as energy and water consumption, as well as waste reduction and management.

Digital tools

Technology helps operators to streamline their processes and free up their resources. As the saying goes, time equals money!

Trinity’s in-house e-procurement system Pi helps operators place online orders with multiple suppliers, manage supplier invoices, record supplier deliveries, and more – taking care of otherwise time-consuming tasks.

We are here to help

If you need support with any issues or challenges you are currently facing, please contact your Relationship Manager or reach out on news@trinitypurchasing.com.