INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose mission is to accelerate the path to net positive hospitality through strategic industry leadership, collaborative action, harmonization of metrics and regenerative solutions, issued several announcements in the last two months.
First, in December it announced that Green Key Global has joined the Alliance. With standardized programs and resources tailored for the hotel and meetings industries, Green Key Global supports over 1,600 hotel properties and brands, as well as 350 venues, in their commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable initiatives. Through their Green Key Eco-Rating Program, hotels and lodging facilities are recognized for their dedication to improving environmental and fiscal performance, while the Green Key Meetings Program provides comprehensive assessment tools for hosting sustainable meetings of any size.
Early last month, it was announced that Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality—ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes.
Alliance Partners with World Travel Awards
Late last month, the Alliance announced a partnership with the World Travel Awards. This collaboration aims to oversee a high integrity and clear award submission collection process for the inaugural World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) and to serve as a significant member of the Advisory Board for the WSTHA. The announcement was made at FITUR in Madrid in anticipation of the WSTHA Ceremony set to take place in Belize on September 27, 2024.
Also, late last month, the Alliance announced that d2o has joined it as an affiliate member. The company will help the Alliance’s members to collect data and reduce carbonization. Specifically, d2o’s technological tool, PMI GoGreen, advances sustainability progress in the hotel industry, which aligns with the high-level goal of d2o and the Alliance’s affiliation. PMI GoGreen enables hoteliers to drastically reduce operating costs and manage their resources, ultimately helping to decarbonize the industry. Long-term environmental goals for a hotel are incorporated within the monthly targets set, ensuring that these objectives are actionable and trackable. This tool, therefore, supports the industry’s sustainability journey and complements the Alliance’s Net Positive Hospitality Simulation efforts.
Earlier this month, the Alliance announced several additions to its board. Daniella Foster, Executive Board Member and Global Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Market Access and Sustainability for Bayer’s Consumer Health Division, has been appointed as Vice Chair. In addition to Foster becoming Vice Chair, the Alliance has appointed three new trustees including: Denise Naguib, VP, Sustainability & Supplier Diversity, Marriott International; Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior VP Sustainability, Security & Corporate Communications, Radisson Hotel Group; and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & Founder, The Bench.
Finally, the Alliance just announced that Club Med has joined the Alliance. For over 60 years, Club Med has championed sustainable practices with 70 percent of new or mostly renovated resorts since 2018 being built to globally recognized BREEAM standards. Most of Club Med Resorts are “Green Globe” certified, guaranteeing sustainable best-practices. Club Med’s “Bye Bye Plastic” program, aimed at eliminating single-use plastic from its resorts, further underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship. In 2023, Club Med was named the best hospitality tourism company to work for by French economic magazine Capital, highlighting its commitment to employee well-being and development.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
