CSR and Sustainability

🏖 Accor and the World Monuments Fund have partnered for a three-year initiative to preserve cultural heritage sites in France, Latin America, Greece, and India. Sites include the Chapel of the Sorbonne, Qhapaq Ñan, Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, and Bhuj's historic water systems. The effort aims at sustainable tourism, climate adaptation, and community engagement, reflecting Accor's commitment to responsible hospitality and cultural stewardship.

🌞 English Lakes Hotels invested £195,000 in 385 solar panels at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, Windermere. In 2025, these panels will generate over 130,000 kWh annually, saving £1.3m in lifetime costs and reducing CO₂ emissions by 33 tons per year. Hydropower already provides 12% of the hotel's electricity, saving £36,000 in 2024. The project aims at carbon neutrality, with payback expected in six years and parallels the planting of 6,000 trees.

🌱 L’Occitane en Provence and Highgate Portugal have partnered to introduce sustainable luxury in hospitality with refill systems at nine Highgate Portugal properties, including Kimpton Atlântico Algarve, Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Conference Center, Cascade Wellness Resort, among others. The initiative supports sustainability, reduces plastic waste, and promotes a circular economy. Francisco Santos of Highgate Portugal and Fabienne Bourbonnaux of L’Occitane emphasized their commitment to eco-conscious luxury hospitality. L’Occitane has over 40 years of experience in natural beauty and more than 25 years in the hospitality sector.

🌿 In 2025, hotel designs focus on sustainability, integrating biophilic elements like indoor plants and natural materials to enhance wellness. Deepu Mahboobani of Wimberly Interiors highlights the blend of environmental responsibility and design aesthetics through repurposing and local engagement. A notable project by Ameublement Français and OKKO Hotels created two eco-friendly room concepts with local materials. Kathy Chavez notes the trend of incorporating local stories into hotel designs to offer authentic guest experiences, emphasizing local culture and history.

🌱 The Eden Project Collection by Hypnos Beds won the Sustainability Brand Licensed Product or Range Award at the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2025 in London. The mattresses, inspired by the Eden Project's biomes and gardens, use sustainable plant fibres and are recyclable, chemical-free, and fully natural. The partnership between the Eden Project and Hypnos Beds began in 2019, and this marks their second win, after claiming the award for Compostable Coffee Capsules in 2022.

🍽 In 2007, Matt and Nina Bigland opened a Gastro Pub in Kelham Island, Sheffield, where mains cost £15. They now run Blend Family, addressing food insecurity by opening food halls like Cambridge Street Collective in Sheffield and Kargo MKT in Manchester, and launching the Blend Culinary Foundation. Expanding globally, they announced Tower Bridge Collective in London, featuring 13 food partners offering diverse dishes.

🌿 Yeastup focuses on sustainable food through meat alternatives, addressing the 14.5% of human greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming. Targeting the sports nutrition sector, seen commercially as high-value due to the demand for quality protein, comparable to whey protein prices. In 2024, Yeastup's new factory is in the exploratory phase, aimed at product development and seeking partners to co-develop meat substitutes.

🌈 In 2024, Booking.com revealed that over half of LGBTQ+ travelers experienced discrimination, and 56% feel more insecure while traveling. Despite this, 67% value authenticity during their journeys. Travel Proud, launched in 2021 and available in 11 languages including Japanese and Thai, provides inclusive hospitality training in partnership with HospitableMe. The program aims to address the specific challenges and discrimination LGBTQ+ travelers face, with 62% in APAC reporting barriers to feeling welcome.