Sustainability is on every hotel’s agenda in 2023. Travellers are placing greater importance on sustainability, and hotels that prioritise and communicate their sustainability initiatives are more likely to attract and retain environmentally conscious guests. We spoke exclusively to David Young, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of ESG, Accor about sustainability in the industry and driving impactful change.
Q: You have extensive experience in sustainability in the aviation industry before moving to Accor. How would you define sustainability in the context of the hotel industry?
A: For Accor, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our sustainability framework has people and nature as its central core. We define the way we operate by this central core and through the lenses of stay, eat and explore. This way, sustainability is integrated into all our actions. For me, the end goal for hotels is that we operate with as minimal an impact on the environment as possible and are connected with our communities. That means zero emissions, no single-use plastics, food sustainability, local employment and community support and greater diversity & inclusion.
Q: Can you share any notable successes or achievements Accor has accomplished in terms of sustainability?
A: In 2022, in over 82% of our hotels we removed 43 single use plastic items from the guest experience. This was a great start but we remain ambitious. This year we plan to remove single-use plastic water bottles from all rooms and public spaces, reduce our emissions by 10%, start independent Sustainable Tourism Certification of our hotels, measure and manage food waste and significantly increase the number of women in General Manager and Leadership positions to over 40%.
Q: What tips can you give to hotel and accommodation owner/operators that are interested in enhancing their sustainability practices but may be unsure of where to begin?
A: The Sustainability challenge is tough and can be confusing . We know guests and corporate clients want to see change and sustainable practices but where to start is always the challenge. I would recommend starting with single-use plastics as these are more visible and also easier to start to replace. Emissions reductions means thinking about use of renewable energy when looking at energy supply contracts, investigating what can be done with lighting (including government grants to support change), and focusing on more localised supply chains, particularly for food. Also I would recommend considering the size and range of menus and whether they inherently drive food waste. These are all things hotels can start with their existing teams.
Are you one of the growing majority of hoteliers looking to prioritise sustainability in 2023 and beyond? If so, join David at NoVacancy 2023, where he will be sharing more of his insider knowledge at the Sustainability Summit. Alongside dozens of leading names in sustainability, this summit will delve into impactful initiatives that truly make a difference. From top tips to reduce waste & effectively measure progress, to leveraging sustainability as a revenue booster and overcoming conflicting interests with multiple stakeholders. Don’t miss this opportunity – register now!
