IHG Hotels & Resorts industry first Low Carbon Pioneers programme

Hotel group's CEO calls for broader support from governments

IHG Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the launch of its Low Carbon Pioneers programme, which brings together energy efficient hotels that have no fossil fuels combusted on-site* and are backed by renewable energy.

This group of low operational carbon hotels is the first community of its kind in the industry and will help IHG test, learn and share findings on sustainability measures. 

The chain hopes to inspire other properties to join the programme and encourage wider adoption of carbon reduction practices across IHG’s estate. 

The first Low Carbon Pioneer hotels span different IHG brands and locations including Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Spain, Iberostar Waves Cristina, Spain, and Kimpton BEM Budapest, Hungary.

Each Low Carbon Pioneer hotel will feature sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and hot water generation, as well as fully electric kitchens. 

Every property will also have an operational sustainability certification recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, such as Green Key, or a sustainable building certification, such as LEED, BREEAM or EDGE. 

To track and measure their energy data, Low Carbon Pioneer hotels will use IHG’s Green Engage environmental platform.

Additional hotels will join the Low Carbon Pioneers programme across all regions and the group develops a “low-carbon ready” selection of hotels in preparation for when it becomes possible to fully back all energy with renewables in countries or districts where this is not currently available.

Guests seeking more sustainable stays will find hotels marketed as low carbon or low carbon ready across IHG’s booking channels to make it clear which ones are energy efficient, have no fossil fuels combusted on-site and are backed by renewable energy.

Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are excited to launch our Low Carbon Pioneers programme as another innovative way in which we’re meeting evolving guest expectations, helping our hotel owners future-proof their businesses and reducing carbon across our estate.

“This is an important next step in IHG’s sustainability journey but it remains one of many we must continue to take.

"Accelerating change at scale for both IHG and the wider industry also requires broader support from governments ranging from greater access to renewable energy and incentives for owners, to a reduction in the cost of technology that speeds up the industry’s transition to a greener, more resilient future. 

"IHG is committed to working with industry bodies and governments to help achieve this, alongside encouraging more owners to adopt carbon reduction practices and become Low Carbon Pioneers.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts said it "recognises its responsibility as one of the world’s leading hotel companies to take decisive, practical action to reduce carbon emissions". 

The hotel chain is "excited to now be setting a new sustainability benchmark for hotels to help reduce operational carbon from its estate".