CSR and Sustainability

🌍 Many hotels now prioritize environmental impact. CO₂ emissions reduction, biodiversity preservation, and marine conservation are integral to daily operations. This shift is driven by growing expectations from guests, partners, and investors, who seek enhanced environmental resilience and credibility in hotel operations and development.

📌 Chamboa Farm in Alentejo, Portugal, owned by SHIADUhotels, spans 41 acres with 800 olive trees, 3,000 fruit trees, and 500 chickens, producing over 11 tons of organic harvest annually. The farm is 75% solar-powered, supported partly by the EU’s PDR 2020 program, and aids refugee integration. The Heritage Marine Education Centre in Mauritius opened in 2024, welcoming 3,500 participants in six months to protect the lagoon’s biodiversity. Sheraton Lisboa processes 300 kg of food waste daily and offsets 207 tons of CO₂ through various initiatives.

🏨 Hotels are prioritizing social responsibility, emphasizing environmental footprint reduction, local integration, and community engagement. These practices are reshaping daily decisions and strategic directions, aligning with increased demands for transparency and ethics. This transformation not only contributes to a positive societal impact but also enhances operational performance.

🏨 Emmanuel Macron, President of France, supported the 25th Hospitality Awards in 2025. Recognizing pioneers like Robert H Burns and others, the event highlighted Kempinski's Flourish program, Meliá's sustainability initiative, and Marriott's anti-trafficking efforts. VisitBritain's campaign drove £20 per £1 spent. Club Med's anniversary reach included 16M impressions. Rotana co-founders Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr were honored for their 33-year legacy. Sofitel's transformation emphasized sustainable luxury.

🏖 RCP Finance has secured a €20 million senior construction loan from Novo Banco for the Fogo Ecolodge, opening in 2027 in São Miguel, Azores. The 42-unit, 86-bed, 3,480 m² 4-star ecolodge will feature a spa and restaurant. This initiative supports the Azores' sustainable tourism goals as a UNESCO Global Geopark, with EU subsidies under Construir 2030. The project reflects investor confidence and aims to enhance eco-friendly hospitality in the region.

🏨 Mercure Newport celebrated its third anniversary by winning its third consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. Since opening in 2022, the hotel, located in Chartist Tower, Newport, hosted 70,000 guest stays. It supports community events and has partnered with Dragons Rugby Football Club. The hotel contributes over £24 million to the local economy and features 135 rooms, three meeting spaces, and a restaurant. A local artist's work raised £500 for charity.

🍴 URBA and artists Esteban de la Torre and Judit Eszter Kárpáti designed Onyx Æther, a Budapest restaurant, to emphasize sustainability. The restaurant features furniture made from melted aluminum and compressed wool. Shortlisted for the 2025 Dezeen Awards, it offers an 11-course menu reflecting historical and futuristic themes. The interior uses local, repurposed materials and integrates motion and lighting for a multi-sensory experience, honoring local culture and minimizing environmental impact.

💵 Arlo Hotels, through the Kind Traveler partnership, will contribute $0.50 per night per guest to local charities across New York, Chicago, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Locations include Arlo SoHo, Arlo NoMad, Arlo Midtown, Arlo Williamsburg, Arlo Chicago, Arlo Wynwood, and Arlo Washington DC. The program, supported by Kind Traveler's ESGB, provides real-time metrics on local impact. A 2025 report states 73% of travelers want spending to benefit local communities, with sustainability influencing 84% of travel choices.

🌿 The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences, London, completed an £80,000 reinvestment in its 329-square-meter living wall, first installed nearly 20 years ago. The wall contains plant life equal to 16.5 medium-sized trees, removing 757 kg of CO₂ and producing 559 kg of oxygen annually. It enhances biodiversity with new species like Viburnum tinus and Ligustrum vicaryi and uses recycled textiles. Over 1,000 Narcissus bulbs were added for spring.

🚀 Emirates and ENOC Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Dubai Airshow to explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiatives at Dubai Hub. The partnership aims to address supply chain and infrastructure needs, with a goal of supplying 1% of jet fuel from locally produced SAF by 2031. SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% and be blended with conventional fuel. This collaboration supports UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 ambition.