INSIGHT
Why it’s time to choose sustainable hotels
Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm, it’s about doing more good.
Great words from German businessman Jochen Zeitz, who strives to grow environmentally and socially sustainable businesses.
Hotels are doing their bit to do more good. Are you ready to join them on the same path?
What is a sustainable hotel programme?
Minimise environmental impact. Uplift the social economic benefits of travel.
- Sustainable partners that share your values and pathway to a more sustainable future
- Educating your people on how to support your corporate sustainability targets
- Communicating the positive impact that travel can have and how to improve
- Global citizens that give back to local and global communities
- Decisions based on reducing the environmental impact of travel
Why bother?
Sustainability is a central feature of corporate governance. Consumers are 77% more likely to buy from a company with a CSR pledge, according to Forbes.
- Reputation: Sustainability is a key market differentiator and enhances brand loyalty
- Employee Engagement: Job satisfaction is elevated by doing good in the world; more attractive employer to new hires
- Targets: Travel is a key contributor to emissions for many organisations
- Value: Capture benefits without increasing spend. Align with a small number of suppliers who will offer preferential rates in return for commitment.
Sustainable hotels bring:
- Value through savings and traveller benefits
- Locations that match your global travel needs
- Shared vision, values and objectives that align with your culture
- Partnership that lasts, providing you with the support you need
Hotel chain pledges
IHG Responsible Business
- IHG Green Engage tracks the use of energy, carbon and water and waste management
- IHG Academy helps local people develop skills and improve their employment opportunities
- IHG Foundation helps make communities across the globe better places to be for all
Hilton Travel With Purpose
- Social impact: Foster inclusive growth by enabling everyone to travel and benefit from it
- Environmental impact: Operate and grow sustainably, reducing consumption of natural resources
- The Hilton Effect Foundation: international philanthropic charity
Marriott Serve360
- Nurture Our World: Contribute 15 million hours of volunteer service
- Empower Through Opportunity: Invest at least $5M to increase and deepen programmes and partnerships that develop hospitality skills and opportunity
- Sustain Responsible Operations: Reduce environmental footprint by 50% across the portfolio by 2025
- Welcome All and Advance Human Rights: All associates will complete human rights training
Accor Planet 21
- Be an inclusive company and ensure the welfare of its people
- Encourage guests to act as multipliers of the positive effects of actions
- Establish a lasting relationship with partners, who share commitments and are working with Accor to produce innovative solutions that have a positive impact
- Work hand in hand with local communities , because commitment does not end at the hotel door
- Healthy and sustainable food, with a ban on food waste
- A move towards carbon neutral buildings
How to change
Travel policy and programme
- Select sustainable suppliers
- Ensure your policy supports sustainability goals
- Lean towards suppliers highlighting sustainability
- Engage with suppliers to grow the partnership
People
- Communicate sustainability targets with employees
- Engage sustainable travel champions
- Make it easy to do the right thing
- Recognise improvement and change
- Inform travellers about the changes they have enabled
FCM Consulting can help
Analytics
- Hotel programme diagnostics
- Evaluation of current booking trends and sustainability score
- Recommendations on how to meet sustainability targets through simple changes
Sourcing
- Sourcing project management to identify best-fit suppliers
- Delivery of agreed KPIs including sustainability targets, savings and traveller satisfaction
Elevate
- Traveller engagement and feedback
- Travel policy review and recommendations
- Communications plan to engage travellers and effect change
- Ongoing programme management and reporting