In just one year, over 1,700 hotels spanning 70 countries have joined the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ initiative, demonstrating a significant commitment to enhancing sustainability efforts within the hospitality sector.
The initiative, designed to assist hoteliers in taking their first steps towards sustainability while providing consumers with an easily recognizable verification, focuses on a 12-step programme aimed at reducing carbon emissions, promoting nature conservation, and ensuring local communities benefit from hotel operations.
Hotel groups from various countries, including France, China, Mexico, India, Germany, South Africa, Philippines, and Norway, have embraced the initiative. Notable participants include Jin Jiang, Louvre Hotel Group, Choice Hotels, and Radisson Hotel Group, alongside travel brands like Intrepid and Abercrombie & Kent.
Additionally, the initiative has garnered endorsements from several destinations, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador.
Julia Simpson, President and Chief Executive of WTTC, emphasized the initiative’s goal of establishing a globally recognized trademark that signifies a hotel’s commitment to supporting the planet through energy conservation, plastic reduction, nature protection, and community support.
Simpson expressed enthusiasm for the initiative’s rapid uptake, highlighting its potential to bring about lasting change and create a positive impact on sustainability efforts within the hospitality industry.
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