SHA unveils ‘Pathway to Net Positivity Hospitality’ plan

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, which unites leading hospitality companies comprising 30% of the industry, has announced the development of a Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality for the planet. 

It said The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) also supports the ambition and plans a sustainability framework accessible to the global hospitality industry.

It said The Pathway aims to enable every hotel to improve their impact, “whatever their starting point on their sustainability journey”. It will encompass four clear stages and practical tools that guide the industry towards a regenerative impact on our planet.

The SHA added The Pathway recognises the “wealth of initiatives and resources” designed to support the industry, from external partners as well as the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, and it aims to build on these to develop a “holistic, action-based approach for sustainable hospitality, regardless of whether hotels are part of a large international brand or independent”.

To lead inclusive positive action on climate change, WTTC, which represents the global Travel and Tourism private sector, said it will support the initiative by uniting hotel companies and industry partners with the ambition to raise the global basic level of hotel sustainability.

The global tourism body will create a set of fundamental sustainability actions for hotels, with “demonstrable positive impact” for those businesses that are at the very beginning of their journey.

WTTC said the hospitality value chain will play a “key role” in achieving the vision set out by the Pathway, including hotel developers, owners, investors and franchisees, who can all “powerfully impact” sustainability at different life cycle stages of an individual hotel property. 

As such, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is therefore launching an Affiliate Membership. This will create a forum for industry asset owners and investors to join with the leading hotel operators to lead a “consistent approach” to responsible hotel management and advance the sustainability of hotels across the buildings as well as their operations.

Wolfgang M. Neumann, chair of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “The world is without a doubt at a crucial tipping point. But it’s not too late to avert an environmental catastrophe. We need to act fast and we must collaborate as we double up our efforts. 

“The dialogue needs to go beyond having ‘zero’ impact and look towards what we can be putting back into the natural world to ensure we have a lasting positive impact on our planet and its people.”

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO added: “We recognise both the major challenges we are facing and the urgent need to restart our sector safely and responsibly. We fully endorse and support the Pathway, an initiative which complements WTTC’s own ambition to move the entire sector to net zero. 

“WTTC is in a unique position to connect the entire industry and encourage the many SMEs and others within the industry to begin their journey with a solid sustainability framework.”

The pair revealed the Pathway has now entered the consultation phase and details will be launched in March 2022.

Brune Poirson, chief sustainability officer, Accor: commented: “Climate change calls for collaboration, not competition. We believe that working with our peers and partners from the hospitality sector is the most effective way to make substantial change happen. The pathway is an important step in that journey.”