Page 156 - Sustaining Accommodation SMES

8 Implications for Policy and Practice

• Disseminating the mast Protocol and tool.
• Organising training sessions.
• Mobilising smes across regions.
• Coordinating collective sustainability initiatives.

Clusters also serve as platforms for joint procurement and initiatives,
shared investments, and cooperative marketing strategies.

strengthening local authority engagement
Municipalities and regional governments play a central role in shaping
the conditions under which accommodation smes engage in sustain-
ability transitions. Through their proximity to local businesses and des-
tinations, local authorities are well positioned to translate strategic sus-
tainability objectives into tangible incentives and support mechanisms.
In this context, local authorities can:
• Provide locally tailored incentives that lower the financial and ad-
ministrative costs of sustainability adoption for smes.
• Integrate sustainability requirements into destination branding and
marketing strategies, reinforcing demand for verified sustainability
performance.
• Establish recognition schemes and local certification initiatives that
complement international standards and increase visibility of sus-
tainable practices.
• Mobilise community stakeholders, including residents, destination
organisations, and local networks, to support collective sustainabil-
ity efforts.
When local authorities actively champion sustainability within des-
tination governance structures, the adoption of sustainability practices
among smes ismorelikely toaccelerate andtobecomeembeddedin
local development pathways.

engaging communities and social actors
The social dimension of sustainability, which is central to iso 21401,
depends on meaningful engagement with local communities, non-gov-
ernmental organisations, and cultural actors. For accommodation smes,
collaboration with social stakeholders supports both effective implemen-
tation of social sustainability requirements and broader social legitimacy.
In this context, smes benefit from:

156