CSR and Sustainability

🏨 Tokyu Hotels and Resorts joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) this week, becoming the first Japanese hotel chain to enroll all properties with this non-profit organization. This follows their 2019 sustainability policy and 2022 action plan. The Tokyo-based company aims to align with GSTC standards, focusing on human rights and community relations. President Takashi Takei emphasizes their commitment to international standards, while CEO Randy Durband supports their sustainability efforts.

🌳 Sopwell House, a country house hotel and spa, received the EarthCheck Silver Benchmark for its eco-friendly practices. The hotel has a strict 0% landfill policy, repurposing waste like coffee grounds as garden fertilizer. Managed by an ESG team and a Green Team taskforce, they prioritize local and Fairtrade products. Community initiatives include encouraging guests to bring their own spa footwear. Hotel director Rafi Bejerano praised the award, highlighting their commitment to sustainability in St Albans.

📍 Castlebridge Hospitality's Hotel Indigo sites in Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon earned their first Green Key certification in 2026, meeting 130 sustainability criteria. Managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education, this aligns with UN standards. To commemorate, 100 trees will be planted in Kenya, estimated to absorb 181 tonnes of CO2. This achievement, praised by COO Jane Kendrick of Mission Net Zero, marks a significant step towards reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable guest choices.

💸 The Belfry Hotel and Resort, Sutton Coldfield, plans to exceed its 2025 charity fundraising of £120,000 in 2026. 📅 It partners with St Giles Hospice in Lichfield, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Hospitality Action. Funds will be raised through events like car washes and marathons. St Giles Hospice provided care to over 2,600 people in 2024-25, mostly at home, relying on partnerships for funding, with less than 25% from government sources.

📅 Whitbread aims to employ over 500 care-experienced young people annually by 2027 through a partnership with Barnardo’s. Operating in Glasgow, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, with plans for Swansea and Newcastle, the program offers an eight-week training on employability skills. Already, 18 participants secured jobs, from an initial 35. Roles include housekeeping and management in Premier Inn hotels. The initiative aligns with the Care Leaver Covenant, enhancing job opportunities for care-experienced youth across the UK.

🌱 Corby of Windsor is transforming sustainability in the hospitality sector by prioritizing eco-friendly product design and manufacturing. From August 2023 to September 2024, 82,000 toxic chrome-plated items were replaced with polished stainless steel. Their battery-free bathroom scales and Skye hair dryer use 58% less energy. Launching early 2026, the Buxton BUSA™ bamboo range offers sustainable guestroom accessories. Corby aims for net zero status and is recognized by EcoVadis and Alcumus SafeSupplier for sustainability and safety.

📍 OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island, Fiji, earned Green Key Certification in December, becoming the first in the South Pacific to do so. Managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education, this certification highlights their sustainability efforts, including hiring locals and coral conservation. OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort was the first in OUTRIGGER’s global portfolio to gain this certification. OUTRIGGER aims to achieve Green Key Certification for all its 31 properties worldwide, enhancing their commitment to environmental responsibility.

💸 Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of Sonesta ES Suites Charlotte Arrowood, located at 7925 Forest Pine Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina. The hotel will be transformed into affordable housing for veterans and families by a nonprofit organization. This property is on a 3.39-acre site, near Interstate 77 and Carowinds amusement park. The hotel includes suite-style accommodations, a fitness center, a business center, a convenience store, and offers complimentary breakfast.

📋 Hotels are partnering with sustainable suppliers for property design, focusing on responsible flooring choices. GREENGUARD Gold Certified and FSC-certified products are emphasized. Signature Flooring products meet low-VOC and other standards, contributing to healthful indoor environments. Sustainable flooring offers better durability and lower lifecycle costs, narrowing price gaps with traditional options. Woodura technology, using 1/10th the lumber, increases durability and ease of maintenance. Future trends include circular economy principles, lower embodied carbon, and multifunctional performance.

🏃‍♂️ Leaders in hospitality launch "Hospitality Beats Cancer" with Cancer Research UK to fund life-saving research. The campaign aims to raise £10 million through global events such as a cricket match in Papua New Guinea and a charity walk along Hadrian’s Wall. The launch at Mishcon de Reya, London, saw over 150 senior figures. Current partners feature Castlebridge Hospitality and STR, among others. Cancer Research UK supports over 4,000 scientists.