LONDON—IHG plc. (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, announced a series of new corporate responsibility (CR) targets for 2013 to 2017. The new targets will continue to focus on driving impact through IHG’s three core CR Programs—IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Program and IHG Academy—and will see IHG track and report supply chain diversity and integrate CR criteria into the selection and evaluation process for all preferred suppliers. IHG has also published an update on progress made against previous targets, as well as its 2010 to 2012 carbon footprint results.
IHG Green Engage is an online system that helps IHG manage and minimize its impact on the environment by tracking the use of energy, carbon and water and the management of waste in properties along with the associated costs. A key feature of IHG Green Engage is more than 200 Green Solutions which hotels can implement to reduce their environmental impact and achieve energy savings of up to 25 percent.
Key Achievements
• A total of 2,554 hotels are now signed up to IHG Green Engage—about 50 percent of our IHG properties;
• Exceeded three-year target (2010 to 2012) to reduce energy per available room by between 6 percent and 10 percent in managed and owned estate with a reduction of 11.7 percent;
• Reduced carbon footprint across global estate by 11.7 percent per occupied room over a two-year period (2011 and 2012);
• Launched a carbon calculator based on the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) methodology; and
• Updated Green Solutions with comprehensive implementation guides.
2013 to 2017 Targets
• Reduce carbon footprint per occupied room by 12 percent; and
• Reduce water use per occupied room in water-stressed areas by 12 percent.
IHG Academy
The IHG Academy is a global partnership program between IHG hotels and either a local community or education organization that provides local people with skills development and employment opportunities at IHG.
Key IHG Academy Achievements
• Expanded the IHG Academy to more than 250 program globally to date;
• Launched the IHG Academy website, which includes an IHG Academy toolkit;
• Awarded the Business in the Community Work Inspiration Impact Award in 2013; and
• More than 10,000 people have benefited from the IHG Academy since it was established in 2006.
2013 to 2017 IHG Academy Target
• Provide skills and improved employability to 20,000 people via IHG Academy
Shelter in a Storm Program
The IHG Shelter in a Storm Program helps hotels support guests, colleagues and local communities in times of disaster with financial support, vital supplies and accommodation. A core part of the program is the IHG Shelter Fund made up of hotel and corporate employee fundraising. It means IHG has the resources to help those impacted right away. IHG also provides hotels with guidance on when and how best to respond when disasters occur.
Key Shelter in a Storm Achievements
• Raised $545,000 for IHG Shelter Fund (target of $150,000) in 2012;
• Responded to 10 disasters across six countries, providing $240,000 in disaster relief funding in 2012;
• Hotels and corporate offices held a total of 198 fundraising events, including a global “IHG Race Around The World” event to support the IHG Shelter Fund; and
• Launched the IHG Shelter in a Storm Program website, which enables online donations.
2013 to 2017 Shelter in a Storm Target
• Contribute a total of $10 million to communities through monetary donations and in-kind support including funds deployed through the IHG Shelter in a Storm Program.
“Being a Responsible Business is part of IHG’s DNA,” said Richard Solomons, chief executive of IHG. “It is at the heart of everything we do. Our three flagship corporate responsibility initiatives—IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Program and IHG Academy—continue to go from strength to strength. We are very proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but there is always more to be done. These targets are a clear signal of our commitment to doing business responsibly and to creating shared value for IHG, our owners, the environment and the local community.”
Go to IHG.
