IHG launches low-carbon hotel programme

IHG Hotels and Resorts has launched a new ‘community’ of low-carbon hotels to raise awareness of sustainable operations and drive further adoption across its portfolio.

The Low Carbon Pioneers programme features ‘energy efficient’ hotels that have no fossil fuels combusted on-site, are backed by renewable energy and regularly provide verifiable energy data, according to the group.  

Every property must also have an operational sustainability certification recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, such as Green Key, or a sustainable building certification, such as LEED, BREEAM or EDG.

The programme currently includes three properties – all based in Europe: Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport and Iberostar Waves Cristina, both in Spain, and Kimpton BEM Budapest in Hungary. However, IHG plans to add properties across all regions in an effort to “test, learn and share findings” to encourage wider adoption of carbon reduction practices across its portfolio.

In a statement, the group said “almost all” of IHG’s top global corporate accounts are setting net-zero or carbon-neutral targets, and that hotels in the Low Carbon Pioneers programme will be “attractive to corporate clients looking to meet their own sustainable travel commitments”.

The group is also developing a “low-carbon ready” group of hotels in preparation for when it becomes possible to fully back all energy with renewables in countries or districts where this is not currently available.

Commenting on the programme launch, IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Elie Maalouf, said: “This is an important next step in IHG’s sustainability journey but it remains one of many we must continue to take.

“Accelerating change at scale for both IHG and the wider industry also requires broader support from governments ranging from greater access to renewable energy and incentives for owners, to a reduction in the cost of technology that speeds up the industry’s transition to a greener, more resilient future.”

He added: IHG is committed to working with industry bodies and governments to help achieve this, alongside encouraging more owners to adopt carbon reduction practices and become Low Carbon Pioneers.”