UK: IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG’s first branded net zero carbon hotel, in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality.
The 142-room hotel has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy.
voco Zeal Exeter Science Park also offers guests a mini gym, gardens, a meeting space and 12 EV charging points as well as a restaurant and bar.
The hotel building’s sustainable design earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating and it is the first building in the UK that has utilised the Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a rainscreen cladding system.
It also follows the Passivhaus standard for ultra-low energy buildings and uses adiabatic cooling and heat reversible heat pumps to reduce energy usage.
voco Zeal Exeter Science Park was constructed using materials chosen for their sustainable characteristics – for example, Ecocrete was used during construction, a low carbon concrete with up to 85 per cent less C02 than CEM1 (100 per cent cement).
Joanna Kurowska, VP, managing director UK & Ireland at IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “The hotel will bring a new sustainable hotel offer to our UK portfolio and build on our commitment to provide exceptional experiences for our guests.
“Together with Zeal Hotels, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park helps set the standards for net zero carbon hotels and marks a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future in hospitality, aligned with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan.
“By inspiring both industry leaders and our guests, we are demonstrating how comfort and sustainability can successfully coexist, benefiting both the environment and the communities we serve.”
Tim Wheeldon, founding director, Zeal Hotels said: “It has been more than a decade since we founded Zeal Hotels, with the intention of helping the hotel sector be net zero carbon by 2050.
“The decision to build our net zero hotel reflects our commitment to combating climate change and reducing our carbon footprint. By harnessing renewable energy sources, implementing energy-efficient designs, and utilising innovative technology, we have created a space that not only provides comfort and luxury but also prioritises environmental responsibility. We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge with others to help accelerate the net zero carbon process across the sector.”
Brian McCarthy, managing director, Valor Hospitality, said: “Valor has been a successful partner with IHG for over 10 years in the UK. We are really pleased to be working with them on this first branded net zero carbon hotel. Thank you to Zeal Hotels who chose us as their management partner and gave us an opportunity to work on this cutting-edge project. This is another step in our aspiration to grow our business with great owners.
Image: supplied IHG