I was in Switzerland getting ready to catch a train when I saw Trump's slow and slightly surreal inauguration. And then just three days later he addressed the World Economic forum in Davos by video link: "I terminated the ridiculous and incredibly wasteful Green New Deal — I call it the “Green New Scam”; withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord; and ended the insane and costly electric vehicle mandate... I declared a national energy emergency to unlock the liquid gold under our feet... The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we’re going to use it." President Donald J. Trump, January 23rd, 2025.
Welcome to 2025. We have some better news below, so let's focus on that.
We are really pleased to partner with Sarah Habsburg sustainability consultant for the Sustainability Marketing course for SMEs. While large hotel groups may have the resources to employ sustainability managers and create strategic frameworks, the course is aimed specifically at hotel owners and employees in the SME market and offers short, concise videos packed with invaluable practical advice on how independent hotels can evaluate and promote their sustainability actions within the remit of the Green Claims Directive.
Readers of Sustainable Hotel News booking onto the €197 course will also benefit from the partnership with an additional 30 minute one-on-one call with Habsburg, once the course has been completed. See the story below for how to join the course.
As well as news from Radisson Blu, Adagio, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Beyond Aparthotels, we have a couple of features from the end of the year, including our Sustainability Bites: Circularity in Action roundup and our What the industry could have done better in 2024, expert insight.
Until next time,
Felicity Cousins
Editor, Sustainable Hotel News
Image: Boodle McDougall, Chillon Castle, Montreux
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Sustainable Hotel News is pleased to partner with Sarah Habsburg, sustainability consultant, to offer a short course on marketing sustainability initiatives for the SME hotel market.
Aimed specifically at hotel owners and employees in the SME market, the 90 minute course offers short, concise videos packed with invaluable practical advice on how independent hotels can evaluate and promote their sustainability actions within the remit of the Green Claims Directive.
Readers of Sustainable Hotel News booking onto the €197 course will also benefit from the partnership with an additional 30 minute one-on-one call with Habsburg, once the course has been completed.
During the call Habsburg will help hotels analyse a chosen sustainability initiative and answer any questions they might have from taking part in the course.
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Felicity Cousins, editor of Sustainable Hotel News, launched Sustainability Bites with Michael Mason-Shaw, regional director of operations Cycas Hospitality UK, to bring together experts to discuss sustainability topics impacting the hospitality and tourism sector.
Hosted by Hyatt Place London City East, the second Sustainability Bites took place at the end of November with a select group of leaders from the industry invited to a round table chat about circularity in the hospitality space.
Joining Michael Mason-Shaw and Felicity Cousins were; Tommie Eaton, Clean the World and founder Bambuu Brush, Bryan Oknyansky, head of sustainability, Studio Moren, Juliane Caillouette Noble, managing director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association, Debbie Hindle, chair of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism global (ICRT global), Joanne Taylor-Stagg, general manager, The Athenaeum Hotel, London.
The event took place in Pocket Square, a modern, bright and airy space on the 9th floor of the hotel, with doors opening onto the terrace. The rain was falling fast (as it was at our last gathering), so we sat together in the warmth of the room focussing all of our efforts on the topic in hand.
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The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has today named Peter Andrews as its new director of programmes & chief of staff.
Andrews will bring his expertise in sustainability, consumer insights, and ethical trade, to the Alliance to help with its commitment to driving sustainable transformation across the global hospitality sector.
Andrews previously worked as director of consumer rights, innovation & impact at Consumers International, which saw him take the lead on initiatives on sustainable consumption, energy transition, and the future of food, amplifying the consumer voice and driving systems change to address global challenges.
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Aparthotel brand Adagio has been awarded 37 Green Key labels as part of an initiative to gain the certification for all directly managed aparthotels in the portfolio by 2028.
The aparthotel giant, which began in France in 2007 as a joint venture between Accor and Pierre & Vacances Centre Parcs, has 129 sites and 14,733 apartments across 16 countries.
Adagio aims to gain the Green Key label for all directly managed sites by 2028, regardless of country, while also encouraging franchised sites to join the initiative, offering support throughout the process.
Last year the aparthotel brand aimed for 40 properties to achieve Green Key and this week it announced 37 Adagio-managed establishments and 10 franchised or master-franchised sites have received the label.
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Radisson Blu Hotel, Bengaluru Outer Ring Road has become the first hotel in Radisson Hotel Group’s global portfolio to be awarded the LEED Net Zero Carbon Certificate by the US Green Building Council.
Issued by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bengaluru Outer Ring Road property has achieved the certification through its building technology, control and operations, reduction in carbon footprint and investments in renewable energy.
LEED Net Zero Carbon certification looks at lessening the impact of buildings on the environment and LEED has provided a framework for high performance buildings and spaces, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through strategies impacting land, energy, transportation, water, waste and materials.
USGBC has developed LEED Zero, an addition to LEED that verifies the achievement of net zero goals in existing buildings and Radisson Blu Hotel, Bengaluru Outer Ring Road is the first hotel in Radisson Hotel Group’s global portfolio to achieve it.
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Beyond Aparthotels will open another low impact property in London after planning was approved for the conversion of Kinsgway House in Holborn.
GMS Estates received planning permission in December, by the London Borough of Camden, for the eight storey office building to be converted into the apartments. The approval gives a nod towards the recognition that historic buildings can be adapted for longevity with the right sustainable design.
Studio Moren will be behind the design to deliver the 58-suite aparthotel in Holborn and the development will retain the external envelope and key structural elements of the current building.
The Beyond Aparthotel will offer a cafe, lounge and basement gym, with the project expected to be completed late next year. The project will be Beyond Aparthotel’s fourth offering in the capital. It already offers carbon neutral apartment stays in Fitzrovia, Soho and Waterloo.
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Instead of a trends piece for next year we wanted to reflect on what could have been done better this year. Throughout 2024 we have reported on what hotels, suppliers and organisations across the sector have done regarding their sustainability initiatives and strategies, but there is little dialogue about what could have been done better – or what lessons have been learned. We put the following question to some leading voices in the travel, hotel and sustainability arena.
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