ASIA PACIFIC: Accor, Australia’s largest hotel operator, now has 100 hotels in Australia with the Ecotourism Australia sustainable certification.
The milestone brings Accor closer to its goal of having 100 per cent of its network across the Pacific region achieve sustainable tourism certification by the end of 2025.
Adrian Williams Accor Pacific chief operating officer PM&E said: “Just over a year after announcing our partnership with Ecotourism Australia, we have proudly reached the significant milestone of 100 Sustainable Tourism Certified hotels across the country, with Novotel Sydney City Centre (pictured above) being the landmark 100th certification.
“This achievement aligns perfectly with the expectations of today’s travellers and our corporate clients, who increasingly seek responsible options and prefer hotels with third-party sustainable certifications.”
Certification can take up to twelve months and includes an independent third-party audit. Hotels must demonstrate ongoing commitment, with periodic independent audits required to maintain Certification.
Of the 100 certified hotels, 30 per cent are located in the central business districts of Sydney and Melbourne.
Ecotourism Australia chief executive officer Elissa Keenan said: “Achieving Certification is a rigorous process, involving over 200 key indicators across the four pillars of sustainability and strong business practices.
“It has been remarkable witnessing each of the hundred properties take up the challenge and demonstrate spirited enthusiasm toward their certification, implementing a range of creative and impactful solutions to sustainability challenges.”
In February 2024, Accor joined the ‘A-list’ of global environmental non-profit CDP, as part of the leading companies regarding transparency, management of environment risks.
As part Accor’s sustainability strategy it is committed to contributing to carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement and validated by SBTi.
The Group has also undertaken to reduce its carbon emissions by -46 per cent on scope 1&2 and -28 per cent on scope 3 by 2030. Accor was a founding member of HARP which focuses on sustainable hotel procurement. More on that below.
Accor announces co-founding of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement
Image supplied by Accor