LONDON — IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing together energy-efficient hotels as part of a new initiative that will allow the company to test, learn and share findings on sustainability.

Comprising hotels that are backed by renewable energy and have no fossil fuels combusted on site, the Low Carbon Pioneers program aims to encourage wider adoption of carbon reduction practices across IHG’s estate and inspire other properties to join the program.  

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

Each 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 recognized 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 program across all regions. IHG is also developing a ‘low-carbon ready’ group 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. 

“We are excited to launch our Low Carbon Pioneers program 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,” said Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts. 

Maalouf goes on to call on governments to provide broader support: “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 hat 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.”

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. 

The full criteria for a Low Carbon Pioneer hotel is available here. 

For more information click here.