CSR and Sustainability

🌍 Post-Covid travel surge strains environment, as European airports hit pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels in the first half of 2024, with tourism accounting for about 8% of global emissions. Sector's efforts include solar panels on hotels, electric car rentals, and plant-based restaurant menus to cut emissions. Air travel emissions remain high due to tech limits, challenging the International Energy Agency's 2050 net-zero goal. Solutions focus on clean tech deployment and demand management, with studies from Sweden and the Netherlands emphasizing reduced air travel.

🚧 Jennifer Krapp, head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares her journey and tips for avoiding burnout in an episode aired on Sept. 8, 2024. She talks about her love for hospitality beginning at a young age, a career inflection point (04:28), leading her team through a major setback (06:27), and her experience opening 14 restaurants in 3.5 years (09:26). Jennifer discusses her personal experience with burnout and recovery (10:09), including daily practices like morning exercise and work-life boundaries (11:49), emphasizing self-care's importance (14:57).

🍕 The "Becoming a B Corp" event at Pizza Pilgrims Canary Wharf on October 1 will feature interactive workshops with B Corp analysts and brands like Pizza Pilgrims, Big Mama, Hawksmoor, Blacklock, and Caravan. Aimed at aiding and inspiring hospitality businesses on their B Corp certification journey, the event includes 15-minute presentations, a ticket-inclusive lunch, and breakout sessions with B Corp assessors. Other hospitality firms with B Corp status include Grind and Fallow. Tickets available online.

🏡 Dina Belon, president of Staypineapple Hotels, highlighted sustainability's role in the hospitality industry on Sept. 1, 2024. Industry associations aim for a unified sustainability certification (01:47). Creativity and mental energy are as crucial as cost in sustainability (02:49). Business and group travel preferences drive sustainable practices (03:19). Data-driven sustainability reporting is emphasized (04:42), with third-party verification such as Green Key Global being important for marketing (06:18).

🛡 The hospitality industry generates 150 million tons of single-use plastic annually. Hotels implementing sustainable practices can attract guests, improve brand reputation, and save on costs by reducing single-use amenities and using refillable containers. Additional measures include setting up water refill stations for reusable bottles, using biodegradable trash bags, and making recycling easy for guests and staff. These eco-friendly practices contribute to environmental protection and can enhance a hotel's appeal to environmentally conscious travelers.

🏨 Choice Hotels International announced the first contract under the SOAR program with Damon Healey of Eternal Companies for converting two Georgia hotels to Suburban Studios, opened May 30. Suburban Studios Columbus Bradley Park has 92 rooms, and Suburban Studios Macon North has 73 rooms. In 2023, Choice's SOAR program signed 28 new franchises, including 9 with African American and 17 with female entrepreneurs. HERtels by Choice, since 2021, has led to 59 female-owned hotels.

🥕 IHG Greater China, Dossen Hotel Group, and Orange Hotels pledge to transform 30-70% of their menus to plant-based options by 2025. This shift will impact over 3,500 hotels in response to a survey where almost 90% of Chinese consumers plan to eat more plant-based foods. IHG was the first to set such a policy in June, while state-owned Dossen aims for 30% plant-based items across their 2,000 hotels and 1,500 in development. Huazhu Group's Orange Hotels targets 70% at over 750 locations.

🎂 Williams Refrigeration in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, celebrated 210 years of combined service with a lunch and awards on August 22. Ten employees, each with at least 20 years at the company, were honored. Purchasing manager Robert Smith, with 30 years at Williams, attributes staff retention to a supportive and dynamic work environment. Production operative Ian Wiggins notes significant technological advances and environmental improvements in their products. The company, a leading manufacturer in several industries, operates globally with manufacturing sites in China and Australia and sales facilities worldwide.

📖 With an 83% of global travelers deeming sustainable travel essential and 61% wanting to travel more sustainably post-pandemic, hotels are leveraging regenerative tourism to attract these conscious consumers. Regenerative tourism—going beyond sustainability—aims to actively enhance local communities and ecosystems. Hotels market these efforts through storytelling, highlighting projects like coral reef restoration or local artisan collaborations. Digital platforms, authenticity, and educating guests are key strategies. Challenges include costs and quantifying impact, but with effective communication, hotels can tap into a market that prioritizes environmental and ethical considerations.

🏆 The Champions of Sustainability award, part of the Travolution Awards 2024's Special Achievement category, will be announced on November 28 in London. The award recognizes companies making significant strides in environmental impact reduction. This year's shortlist showcases the industry’s efforts in sustainability and technology's role in this progress. Shortlist details are available on Travolution's website.