EUROPE: IHG Hotels & Resorts has added four more European hotels to its Low Carbon Pioneers programme.
According to IHG it is the first community of its kind in the industry and will help the global hotel group test, learn and share findings on sustainability measures.
The four European properties added to the programme, which launched last summer, are: voco Marylebone, UK, voco Milan, Italy, Holiday Inn Express Almere, Netherlands and Staybridge Suites Malaga, Spain.
Holiday Inn Express Asuncion Aviadores in Paraguay also joins the Low Carbon Pioneers community, marking the first in the Americas and the first outside of Europe.
The three original hotels in the Low Carbon Pioneers programme are: Kimpton BEM Budapest, Hungary, Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Spain, (partner) Iberostar Cristina Waves, Spain.
To be part of the programme hotels must:
- Enter all their energy data into Green Engage backed up by invoices monthly;
- Feature sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and hot water generation, as well as fully electric kitchens;
- Every property also has to have an operational sustainability certification, a programme recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (such as Green Key) or a sustainable building certification (such as LEED, BREEAM or EDGE);
- Have no fossil fuels combusted on site except for backup generators that fall below 5 per cent of the hotel’s total annual energy consumption. Bioenergy is permitted for smaller items (e.g. charcoal stoves or fire pits);
- Where possible, hotel roof space optimised for renewable energy or a 20kWp or larger solar system PV system or equivalent solar thermal system. The balance of the hotel’s energy requirements must come from an offsite renewable source such as a green energy tariff, power purchase agreement or Energy Attribute Certificates.
- In countries where renewable energy cannot be procured offsite the hotel must have its roof space optimised for renewable energy and where hotels are mandated to join a district heating or cooling network, the hotel must have its roof space optimised for renewable energy and the balance of the hotel’s energy requirements, excluding district heating or cooling, must come from an offsite renewable energy source;
- Ensure there are no plastic single-use water bottles in guest rooms and meeting and event spaces.
Karin Sheppard, SVP and MD Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “It is fantastic to see this group of hotels leading the way in our Low Carbon Pioneers programme across different parts of our brand portfolio. It demonstrates the opportunity that exists here in Europe to drive sustainability progress across the industry and allows us to inspire other properties to join the programme and encourage the wider adoption of carbon reduction practices.”
For IHG’s hotel owners, the Low Carbon Pioneers programme can play an important role in future-proofing their businesses. From driving preference amongst corporate clients looking to meet sustainable travel commitments and greater alignment with environmental regulatory changes, to better access to green finance for new projects.
Guests seeking more sustainable stays will find the hotels marketed as low carbon across the hotel group’s channels.
As well as the Low Carbon Pioneers programme IHG is developing solutions to help measure, manage and minimise the environmental impact of its thousands of hotels, from energy conservation measures as brand standards in areas such as lighting, heating and ventilation, to sourcing renewable energy and installing EV chargers.
IHG opened its first net zero carbon hotel earlier this month, in the UK.
Image: Top Left: Staybridge Suites Malaga, Spain, Top Right: voco Milan, Italy, Bottom Left: voco London – Marylebone, UK, Bottom Right: Holiday Inn Express Almere, Netherlands