CSR and Sustainability

🏨 Dalata Hotel Group raised over €40,000 (£34,800) in September through its Difference Makers Month, featuring over 200 events across 56 locations, benefiting charities like The Marie Keating Foundation. Highlights included a 500km cycle from London to Amsterdam and a 3,000km charity run. The campaign aligns with their 2025 fundraising goal of €380,000 and a long-term €1m target by 2028, showcasing their commitment to community investment across Ireland, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland.

🏨 HOSPA's Inspirational Leader Awards shortlist is announced for 2025, highlighting UK hospitality sector leaders. Categories include Revenue Management, Technology, Finance, ESG, and Commercial Success. Sponsored by major companies, finalists span Cheval Collection, Valor Hospitality, and more. Winners will be revealed on November 13, 2025, at the Royal Lancaster London during the HOSPACE Gala Awards Dinner.

🌎 Oct 8, 2025, Europe. Aviation's carbon footprint is rising faster than decarbonization efforts. Governments prioritize economic growth with new airport projects despite climate targets. Sustainable aviation fuel is limited and costly, while hydrogen-powered planes are not yet viable. The ICAO's Corsia system faces credibility issues with carbon credits. Global carbon tax proposals collapsed due to U.S. resistance. Airlines push for growth, and AI-assisted contrail avoidance is being tested. Hotels face increasing sustainability scrutiny as aviation's footprint grows.

💦 In 2025, Andrew Eversden, co-founder of Bottle Up, launched a sustainable solution for the hospitality industry with reusable sugarcane-based bottles filled with UK-sourced water. Amid COVID-19, Bottle Up faced challenges but emerged offering eco-friendly options to hotels like Strand Palace, reducing single-use bottles from 15,000 to 4,000 weekly. For each bottle sold, 100 liters of clean water are donated to the Made Blue Foundation. Over £42,000 has been donated, supporting water projects globally.

🌞 The Falls Hotel and Spa in County Clare has generated over 5 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity through its hydro-electric turbine. 🌍 The hotel, carbon neutral since 2021, now has 90 solar panels, aiming for self-sufficiency. 🏨 Located by the River Inagh, it's part of the Burren Eco-tourism Network and has won multiple environmental awards. 🏆 Clare is the first Irish county with Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination Certification, promoting sustainable tourism in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

☕ Macdonald Hotels and Resorts saw a 10% rise in coffee sales across 32 UK sites over the past year, preparing over 737,000 cups by September. Founded in 1990, the group operates in the UK and Spain, investing in food and beverage services. Partnering with Suffolk-based Paddy and Scott’s, they funded 8,100 meals in Meru, Kenya, with a goal of 12,160 by year-end. The initiative supports coffee-growing communities through direct trade.

🏨 White Lodging, a well-respected hospitality company, now operates The Shepherd Hotel in Clemson, S.C., near Clemson University. Open for three years, the hotel employs individuals with intellectual disabilities, with about 30% of its staff participating in ClemsonLIFE. The hotel has gained national attention and plans expansion. It features two food-and-beverage concepts, a rotating art collection, and a rooftop with views of Death Valley Stadium and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

🏨 McKeever Hotels, a family-owned group in Northern Ireland, partnered with Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) as their charity for 2025. Fundraising began on October 1 across six hotels, including Armagh City Hotel. Notably, their 2024 drive for NI Children’s Hospice raised over £20,000. Initiatives include the “Green Rooms” scheme and donating 5p per cup sold. NICHS supports 400,000 people with heart conditions, relying on public donations for nearly 90% of its income.

🏨 Family-run Hotel Sheraton in Blackpool celebrated its 10th anniversary with a ROSE Award from VisitEngland, placing it among the top 100 UK hospitality providers. In September, the award was given in Berkshire. The three-star hotel, employing 90 staff, ranks third among 92 Blackpool hotels on TripAdvisor and was recognized at the Lancashire Tourism Awards. Over 80% of guests return. It has raised over £50k for local causes and renovated 90% of its 109 rooms.

📚 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, speaks with Danica Smith about her leadership philosophy centered on "caring deeply." This conversation highlights how aligning personal values with guest experience, culture, and sustainability is key to creating meaningful memories and leading with conviction. Dina emphasizes that leaders must embody their beliefs to inspire their teams effectively. Hospitality leaders can gain practical insights from her value-driven approach to leadership.