CSR and Sustainability

🍴 San Francisco's Saison, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, launched a zero-waste menu in 2025, collaborating with Mill to recycle kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich grounds. Chef Richard Lee's initiative has diverted 5,919 pounds of food scraps, avoiding 6,274 kg of CO2 emissions. Ingredients like ice plant and finger lime are sourced from Kendall-Jackson gardens, creating a sustainable loop. Saison aims to inspire other restaurants by using local farmers, fermentation, and less popular ingredients to reduce waste.

📣 Emily Goldfischer hosts a 3-part podcast with Kempinski Hotels CEO, Barbara Muckermann, available this weekend. Topics include leadership, Kempinski’s future, and women’s empowerment. Access episodes on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow Hospitality Daily on LinkedIn for additional content.

🚧 Hotel owners are embracing microcement bathrooms for their modern aesthetic and practicality. This thin, seamless coating enhances small spaces, reduces cleaning time, and lowers maintenance costs by being impermeable and easy to clean. Popular among boutique hotels, it creates a luxurious feel without sacrificing space. Microcement's longevity and eco-friendliness appeal to environmentally conscious travelers, while wet room trays ensure durability. This trend meets both guest preferences and design needs, offering beauty and efficiency.

🍽 On 26 September 2025, Brown’s Hotel in London will host a Six Chefs’ Dinner at Charlie’s, featuring British Michelin-starred chefs Andrew Wong, Tom Kitchin, Mitch and Ben Tonks, Adam Byatt, and Ross Sneddon. Spearheaded by Executive Chef Andrew Sawyer, this event supports The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Tickets start at £275. Dishes include signature cocktails and courses with wine pairings. A live auction will raise funds for pioneering cancer research. Limited seats available.

🛒 Room to Reward celebrated its 10th anniversary with 80 guests at The Covent Garden Hotel. Since 2015, the charity has partnered with over 950 hotels, donating breaks to more than 3,500 volunteers nominated by 1,100+ organizations. Participating hotels include The Dorchester, The Savoy, and groups like Best Western. Unsold rooms are given to volunteers from groups like Samaritans and NSPCC. Founder Nicolas Roach aims to recognize people who selflessly help others.

📈 UK, 2023: The Headland Hotel in Cornwall has achieved EarthCheck Silver accreditation after a rigorous audit. Since the partnership with EarthCheck, they’ve reduced energy use by 4.5% and water consumption by 5% per guest night, with 95% LED lighting. Waste recycling is at 77% and food waste has been halved. Conservation efforts include rainwater harvesting and a lobster release scheme. This recognition underscores the hotel’s commitment to sustainability and environmental impact reduction.

🍽 Action Against Hunger and IHG Hotels & Resorts, after a year-long partnership, have provided screenings for over 4.5 million people in 55+ countries, including Ethiopia and Kenya. 1 million pregnant women and 3.5 million children under 5 were screened. With 6,700 hotels, IHG promotes awareness and supports Action Against Hunger. In Gujarat, India, the initiative helped in child nutrition screening, health worker training, and health center refurbishment. IHG's global reach enhances humanitarian action and community resilience.

🏨 Soneva Fushi in the Maldives won the SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort features 71 villas with private pools. The award, chosen by over 800 Academy members, recognizes excellence in hospitality service. The main ceremony is on 30 October in London. Soneva Fushi opened in the 1990s and exemplifies “barefoot luxury” with sustainable, wellness-focused services.

🏖 Boutique hotels and lodges boost local economies by creating jobs and supporting suppliers. These establishments preserve cultural heritage by showcasing regional traditions and crafts, while committing to sustainability helps protect the environment. Owners play a crucial role in community engagement and sustainable practices. Slovenia’s small accommodations contribute to the national sustainability standard, Slovenia Green. Effective management enhances guest experiences, boosts occupancy, and preserves cultural and natural environments, ensuring future-proof hospitality.