Tag Archives: sustainable hospitality alliance

Partnership to drive sector to sustainability is announced between the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and GRESB

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) announced a new partnership between the Alliance and GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real assets, aimed at leading sustainability initiatives within the sector and paving the way for a more sustainable future. Founded in 2009, GRESB is a mission-driven and industry-led organisation that provides actionable and transparent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data to financial markets. Comprised of an independent foundation and a benefit corporation, this Netherlands-based organisation and B Corp collects, validates, scores, and independently benchmarks ESG data, offering valuable business intelligence, engagement tools, and regulatory reporting solutions for investors, asset managers, and the wider industry. The Alliance, consisting of global members, strategic partners, and industry stakeholders, collaboratively addresses critical challenges impacting the planet, people, and places worldwide, with the ultimate goal of reaching Net Positive Hospitality. Through this partnership, the two organisations will engage in ad-hoc activities such as working groups, events, and training sessions to provide support and leadership to members on their sustainability journey. Expressing his excitement for the partnership, Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said, “Working collaboratively with the team at GRESB, I am confident that our shared vision will accelerate our sector towards Net Positive through a wide range of initiatives and programmes. The data, insights, and tools held by GRESB will empower our network of members to decarbonise their real estate portfolio using a rigorous methodology and framework.” GRESB’s ESG assessments are guided by material issues identified by investors and the wider industry. These assessments are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, and major international reporting frameworks. Anna Olink, Director of Real Estate Engagement at GRESB, said: …

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Club Med joins the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

All-inclusive premium holiday resort leader, Club Med, announces its membership with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance). This move further cements Club Med’s commitment to industry-wide environmental sustainability, marking a significant stride toward Net Positive Hospitality. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global consortium representing over 50,000 properties and 7 million rooms, is eager to leverage Club Med’s experience in sustainable development and innovation. This partnership is a testament to Club Med’s motto, “The Place to be happy is here; the moment to be happy is now. But it’s also tomorrow,” signifying its implication in creating harmonious and nature-immersed experiences for travellers. For over 60 years, Club Med has championed sustainable practice with 70% of new or majorly renovated resorts since 2018 being built to globally recognised BREEAM standards. Most of Club Med Resorts are “Green Globe” certified, guaranteeing sustainable best-practices. Club Med’s “Bye Bye Plastic” programme, aimed at eliminating single-use plastic from its resorts, further underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship. In 2023, Club Med was named the best hospitality tourism company to work for by French economic magazine Capital, highlighting its commitment to employee well-being and development. CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Glenn Mandziuk, welcomes Club Med, stating, “Club Med’s sustainable credentials are widely acknowledged in the industry, and their innovation and sustainable practices will undoubtedly contribute to our five-year strategy to realise Net Positive Hospitality.” Gregory Lanter, Chief Development, Construction & Property Officer, says, “as we embark on the acceleration of our CSR strategy, we are thrilled to join the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. We believe that Club Med, born of a shared utopia that fulfilled the dreams of many, helped shape tourism in the 20th century. Therefore, …

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Amadeus brings travel technology expertise to membership in the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, with donor members including 27 world-leading hotel companies with a combined reach of over 50,000 properties, brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, such as owners, investors, and suppliers to address key challenges affecting people and places around the world related to hospitality. Through strategic initiatives and global networks, the organization develops practical programs to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that contributes to a positive net impact on destinations. As part of its membership, Amadeus will hold a permanent position on the Senior Advisory Council that was established to provide strategic advice, create a network of influential leaders and drive change towards Net Positive Hospitality. Key areas of focus for Amadeus include education, accessibility and helping travelers and guests make informed decisions. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “Having Amadeus’ broad, global travel expertise in the discussion with the Alliance is a game changer. Onboarding Amadeus to our Senior Advisory Council is an important step in tackling the challenges the hospitality industry faces. Having Amadeus as a member will help drive our collaborative approach on the journey to Net Positive Hospitality. The Alliance is built for the …

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WTTC and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance unveils stamp for hotels to verify sustainable practices

It was announced on the sidelines of COP 28 that WTTC and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance will launch ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ which is a verification (or stamp) for hotels and lodging accommodation to meet 9 out of 12 criteria which includes water, energy and treatment of employees to name a few in order to obtain this certification. This is aimed mainly at small and medium hotels as the bigger names already have their own schemes. Julia Simpson, President and CEO WTTC shared, ‘ I’m proud to say that with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance we have launched ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics stamp’. It is a verification that a hotel or a lodging accommodation that is used by tourists has met a certain standard and the reason we’re doing that is some of the big companies like Hilton’s and Intercontinental, the Marriotts have their very sophisticated sustainability schemes that look at water as well as other energy uses, but 80% of our sector we think are small and medium hotels. They don’t necessarily have access to the know-how or the resources. Some are very advanced but not all of them do so, hence, we wanted to create something created by the industry, for the industry so we reached out to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and created a stamp called the basics and part of that is a hotel will have to meet nine out of 12 criteria in different categories. One of them is water the other is energy use another is how they work with their suppliers and their communities and another really important part is how they treat their employees so it’s a really useful tool but it’s only a stepping stone …

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WTTC and sustainable hospitality alliance partner to accelerate the transition to net positive hospitality

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing both organisations to closer collaborative working, focusing on improving the environmental and social impact of the global hospitality industry. Through the MoU, WTTC and the Alliance have pledged to promote a united voice for a more sustainable future for the hospitality industry, cooperating on new research projects to foster understanding of the latest in sustainability innovation. The two organisations will also work together to raise awareness of new initiatives and suc-cess stories, launch new commissions and advisory bodies, further advance understanding of innovation and key sustainability indicators and partner on critical issues such as youth em-ployability, human trafficking, and climate action. Hotels and other tourist accommodation such as short-term rentals (STR) are at the heart of the hospitality industry, unlocking entire local economies through nearby restaurants, events, culture, and music venues. By working together, the industry can become a driving force toward a more sustainable future for the industry. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has been a valuable supporter of our Hotel Sustainability Basics which are the first step in the ladder to advance sustainability in the industry. Although the hospitality industry has transformed dramatically in recent years, we recognise that there is still more that we can do together. Our collective efforts will enable the hospitality industry to continue moving towards a greater positive impact through this new partnership.” Glenn Mandziuk, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance CEO, said: “We are proud to be partnering with WTTC on promoting sustainable growth. This partnership combines the Alliance’s sector-specific expertise with WTTC’s scale and reach to …

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