Industry leaders to discuss the pathway to net zero at FHS World

This year’s Future Hospitality Summit World to be held in Dubai from 30 September to 2 October will focus on industry leaders discussing pathways to net zero and what the industry can do further in order to balance and maintain standards of the industry. TravTalkME as media partners for the event will be looking at conducting interviews with the key leaders of the industry who can share in depth details on how the industry thrives on ESG practices. From decarbonisation to data management and sustainability to staff training, ESG is at the top of the hospitality sector’s agenda, with People, Planet and Profit a key conference track at the upcoming FHS World. With input from Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Radisson Hotel Group; Duncan O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific, Accor; Richard Williamson, Chief Operating Officer, Considerate Group; Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, and Dr. John Blakey, CEO, Executive Coach and Founder, The Trusted Executive.
According to Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, the transition to a net zero and equitable hotel industry is essential. “Hotel groups need to use proven, transparent and verifiable methodologies to collect data and calculate their scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprints. The focus here is increasingly on auditability of the data and the decision processes, for example as prescribed in regulations such as CSRD. The next step is setting targets to move towards net zero, and report progress regularly. A widely recognized framework is SBTi – the Science Based Targets Initiative. Part of the data for any company will be a combination of accurate actuals and extrapolations. The trick is to get started and gradually decrease the extrapolated content,” she said.
Duncan O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific at Accor, said that doing just enough is not enough anymore, because sustainability is a growing expectation from all stakeholders, be they owners, clients, guests or team members.
“The first step in any sustainability action is assessing your current position through data and benchmarking to help identify the most impactful measures to be taken as a region or group when it comes to decarbonisation and commitment to net zero.
“At Accor, we operate over 1000 properties in MEA APAC with 282 properties across all brands in the Middle East as well as 111 properties in the pipeline including branded residences and immersive resorts. This requires us to consider our current portfolio, understand the projected growth and deploy energy efficiency measures alongside looking for green energy substitutes,” he said.
Accor has clear objectives to reduce carbon emissions by 46% on scope 1&2 and 28% on scope 3 by 2030; eliminate single-use plastic; reinforce actions to reduce food waste in hotels; and continue to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion.
“Achieving these goals requires strong collaboration while understanding the unique nature and requirements of each property, country and region,” added O’Rourke.
Considerate Group has its own hospitality-specific data insights platform, Con-ServeTM, built by hospitality experts for the hospitality sector. Chief Operating Officer Richard Williamson believes that decarbonisation should be a data-driven exercise, best tackled at the asset level. By assessing energy, water and waste consumption, the exercise improves operational efficiency through actionable insight and targeted efficiency measures.
“Accurate data measurement is critical. Best practice requires a sector-specific, automated data monitoring platform that offers real-time tracking, integrates with existing hotel systems, is compliant with relevant certifications and aligns to global standards like the GHG Protocol/SBTi. In terms of platform, key considerations include auditable data, transparent methodologies and strong customer support,” he said.
Hilton, which has led the way in the advancement of responsible travel and tourism globally, also feels that data is paramount in managing environmental impact. In 2018, the company introduced its 2030 Travel with Purpose Goals, becoming the first major hotel company to institute science-based carbon reduction targets. Hilton raised the bar in 2022, launching ambitious new targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, for more sustainable future and focus on the collective impact of its hotels and team members.
Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa for Hilton, said: “We have reported externally on our Travel with Purpose strategy since 2012, with the aim of providing a transparent, credible account of progress towards our 2030 Goals, and to engage our stakeholders around the value of responsible travel. We measure our performance through LightStay, our proprietary ESG management system – a brand standard for all our hotels that allows us to measure, manage and report our environmental and social impact across our global portfolio – including our hotels in the Middle East.”