#31 | 09/05/2024

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A big reveal this week was the Alliance changing its name to the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance – a reflection of its global reach and continuing expansion. More below.

This news came in as the WTTC's Hotel Sustainability Basics programme reached 3,700 properties, nearly doubling its numbers since March this year. Basics aims to get every hotel, no matter its size, to reach a basic level of sustainability. It's part of the industry's efforts to increase basic standards and find alignment.

The GSTC's Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Stockholm looked at the environmental aspects of sustainable hospitality but also the social side and accessibility and inclusion across the travel and tourism industry. We have a roundup of the conference in our FOCUS ON section below, as well as a news story with Hyatt's survey focussed on the needs of neurodivergent guests.

The image above is for the story about Rotana, which is trialling food waste technology and has seen some positive results in the first quarter. See below.

And finally, look out for our webinar on sustainability data trends. Details will be shared on LinkedIn and in this newsletter next week. We'd love you to join us.

Until next time,

Felicity Cousins
Editor, Sustainable Hotel News

Image: Rotana

More than 3,400 properties across 80 countries have now joined the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics programme, nearly doubling its numbers since March this year. In March this year the Basics programme had 1,700 properties across 70 countries. Designed to help hoteliers on their first steps to improve their sustainability ratings and raise the bar of sustainability across the global hospitality industry, the independent global sustainability verification programme is overseen by internationally recognised verifiers Green Key and SGS.

Rotana has partnered with Chef’s Eye food-waste technology to help reduce its carbon footprint with positive results in the first quarter. With the technology the hotel group can segment food waste into categories such as production waste, buffet waste, and trim waste – to better manage waste. The technology was put into place in all of Rotana’s properties in the UAE at the end of last year and first quarter results show the hotel group has reduced food waste by 25g per cover. This includes a 63 per cent reduction in food waste from plated meals.

Radisson Hotel Group has released its 2023 Responsible Business Report, with highlights including the validation of net zero targets with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The report marks the 35th anniversary since the group published its first environmental policy, which it says was the first ever in the industry. It is split into three areas – Think Planet, Think People and Think Community. On the environmental front Radisson reported a 35 per cent reduction in carbon footprint per square metre since 2019, and said that 67 of its hotels now use 100 per cent renewable electricity.

Conscious Hotels is adding to its portfolio with a fifth property, which will open in Utrecht next spring. Located at the Tivoli Oudegracht, known for hosting legendary concerts like Pearl Jam in 1992 and Prince’s surprise show in 1998 the 46-room boutique hotel is right in the centre of Utrecht. The interior has been designed with recycled and upcycled furniture and food served at the hotel will be exclusively vegetarian and organic products. Solar panels are also being installed and the building will be upgrading its energy label to A+.

he Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has rebranded to the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance). The announcement was made on stage at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, marking a new chapter in the organisation’s mission to “advance Net Positive Hospitality for people, planet, place, and prosperity.” The Alliance, which has been around for 30 years, has evolved into a global charity encompassing the entire hospitality value chain. It now has more than 50 members representing more than 300 brands, 55,000 properties, and seven million rooms across every region of the world.

Preferred Travel Group’s Beyond Green has expanded its partnership with andBeyond Travel adding 23 new properties to its portfolio. The group, which is also adding new itineraries across Africa and the Americas to its website, will be adding the properties over the next year. Through partnerships with like-minded properties Beyond Green aims to support and amplify the impactful work of its member hotels that are “walking the walk of sustainability leadership” around the world.

Hyatt has collaborated with sensory inclusive training and certification firm KultureCity to survey neurodivergent individuals and caregivers on their hotel needs. The hotel group said that more than 90 per cent of neurodivergent individuals and caregivers of neurodivergent individuals in the US plan to travel at least one night this year, leading to the research into how hotels can make their journeys more seamless and inclusive.

The GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, which took place in Stockholm brought together 500 delegates from more than 50 countries. Hundreds of viewers from around the world also watched the live broadcasting of the conference. Participants included international and regional tourism stakeholders involved in the development and promotion of sustainable tourism, including the public sector, hotels, tour operators, academia, development agencies, NGOs, consultants, and more. The Conference themes were: Environment – Climate and Smart Management; Social – Welcoming and Inclusive; Governance – Thriving and Innovative; Credible Assurance.

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