IHG Hotels & Resorts is urging collaboration across the travel and hospitality industry to promote responsible and sustainable business practices. The tourism sector is massive, accounting for one in every ten jobs globally and contributing over $7.7 trillion to the world's GDP. With over a billion international travelers last year and even more expected, the industry plays a vital role in supporting local economies and communities worldwide.
However, this scale also presents a significant challenge - adapting existing infrastructure to be more environmentally sustainable as the industry continues expanding. IHG recognizes this need and has made corporate social responsibility a core focus for many years through initiatives like its Journey to Tomorrow 2030 plan aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The plan outlines commitments to foster an inclusive culture, improve the lives of 30 million people, and reduce carbon, waste, and water usage to protect the planet. While proud of its progress detailed in annual reports, IHG acknowledges one company alone cannot drive large-scale positive impact. Collaboration is key.
IHG is partnering with hotel owners by providing guidance and tools to measure sustainability metrics. It offers guests eco-friendly choices when staying at its properties. Expert organizations are supported in disaster relief, skills training, and fighting food insecurity globally.
But broader cooperation among businesses, trade groups, and governments is vital for major change. IHG is actively coordinating with bodies like the World Travel & Tourism Council and World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance toward this aim. As the tourism industry grows, so does the opportunity to make a lasting positive difference through collective responsible practices.
As international travel continues growing, having topped 1 billion travelers last year, IHG sees an opportunity to drive positive change through sustainable operations. However, the company acknowledges the significant challenge of adapting existing infrastructure to be more environmentally-friendly amid this expansion.
IHG has made corporate social responsibility a core focus through initiatives like its Journey to Tomorrow 2030 plan. Aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the plan outlines commitments to diversity and inclusion, improving the lives of 30 million people, and reducing carbon emissions, waste, and water usage.
While touting progress detailed in annual reports, IHG states that one company alone cannot make a large enough positive impact. The hotel group is therefore prioritizing collaboration to achieve lasting change, such as by providing guidance and tools to hotel owners for measuring sustainability metrics.
Prioritizing Guest Experiences
The company is also enabling more eco-friendly guest experiences across its portfolio of brands like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. This includes vegetarian/vegan food options, energy/water conservation practices, carbon offsetting contributions, and green meetings packages.
IHG claims to hold itself accountable through transparent reporting, third-party verification, and moving beyond just reducing negative impacts to creating positive value through food waste reduction, responsible sourcing and biodiversity protection initiatives.
Cross-Sector Collaboration for Change
Beyond its own operations, IHG is emphasizing cross-sector partnerships as critical for driving large-scale systemic change in sustainability for the industry. The company is coordinating with groups like the World Travel & Tourism Council and World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
It is further engaging policymakers to support legislation, public-private partnerships and aligned global standards and practices. IHG has called for a "Paris Agreement for Tourism" with clear sustainability targets and accountability measures.
The hotel group is funding research with universities and nonprofits and piloting solutions with social enterprises. Collaboration with industry peers is seen as vital for sharing best practices, co-investing in new technologies, and establishing common sustainability goals and responsibilities.
As tourism continues its upward trajectory, IHG believes the opportunity for positive change through unified, cross-sector action also grows. Working collectively across businesses, organizations and governments is viewed as the path toward meaningfully improving the hospitality industry's environmental and social impact for generations to come.
Source: Hospitality Net