Photo Credit: IHG Hotels & ResortsGuided by a longstanding commitment to responsible operations, IHG Hotels & Resorts is currently engaged in a 10-year action plan called Journey to Tomorrow, with a goal of shaping the future of responsible travel through various initiatives that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The plan aims to achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, waste and water usage, while also fostering diversity and inclusion within the company and supporting local communities.
More immediately, the chain’s Meeting for Good program provides participating hotels with the guidance and resources to foster digital sales agreements and signage, linen and towel reuse programs, plastic-free water service, reduced HVAC and lighting policies and more. In addition, each participating property has a Food Waste Reduction Action Plan that includes reusable serviceware and menus, and alternate banquet menu offerings featuring locally sourced and plant-based options. The idea is to foster a more sustainable future for events by improving the experience for guests and promoting a sustainable hospitality environment.
With over 400 properties in some 40 countries, Meliá Hotels International has been implementing an environmental management system since 2007 to track and reduce energy and water usage, now powering more than 80 percent of its hotels with green energy. The company’s roadmap includes a 71 percent reduction in emissions by 2035 and the attainment of full carbon neutrality by 2050. Corporate responsibility and responsible tourism are core to the development of Meliá’s luxury portfolio, leading the chain to be named the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe for three consecutive years.
When it comes to Kimpton Hotels, a dedication to sustainability is perhaps best exemplified by the 264-room Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, the Cayman Islands' only LEED Silver-certified resort, where every element, from the open-air architecture to the use of eco-conscious materials and solar panels, works to reduce energy consumption. Groups meeting in any of the resort’s total 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space also can enjoy immersive ecotourism experiences that highlight Grand Cayman’s natural wonders, including sunrise bike rides, conservationist-led nature trails and bioluminescent night kayaking. In all, Seafire offers a luxurious, sustainable stay deeply connected to its island home.
In the heart of the Papagayo Peninsula, the 292-room Planet Hollywood Costa Rica, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, delivers a sustainability model that is deeply embedded into every guest and event experience. Surrounded by one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, the resort holds multiple certifications that reflect measurable outcomes in areas like energy performance, waste diversion and guest education. A partnership with the Iguanita Wildlife Refuge has resulted in reforestation projects, beach cleanups and sustainability training. On-site meeting space includes the 1,915-square-foot Guanacaste room, and the hotel offers a number of group perks and incentives including upgrades, discounts and more.
Opened in late 2023, the Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill, has 274 guest rooms across five floors within 20 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., a cutting-edge mixed-use destination. Designed with sustainability in mind, the building has earned LEED Gold certification and features sustainable heating and cooling systems, natural gas generators and a vegetated green roof with trellis. The hotel itself practices water conservation, reduced plastic use and features locally sourced provisions. For meetings, 10 versatile spaces include a 3,100-square-foot ballroom accommodating up to 200 guests, plus a 10-story atrium and impressive art installations around the property.