CSR and Sustainability

🚧 Hotel owners are embracing microcement bathrooms for their modern aesthetic and practicality. This thin, seamless coating enhances small spaces, reduces cleaning time, and lowers maintenance costs by being impermeable and easy to clean. Popular among boutique hotels, it creates a luxurious feel without sacrificing space. Microcement's longevity and eco-friendliness appeal to environmentally conscious travelers, while wet room trays ensure durability. This trend meets both guest preferences and design needs, offering beauty and efficiency.

🍽 On 26 September 2025, Brown’s Hotel in London will host a Six Chefs’ Dinner at Charlie’s, featuring British Michelin-starred chefs Andrew Wong, Tom Kitchin, Mitch and Ben Tonks, Adam Byatt, and Ross Sneddon. Spearheaded by Executive Chef Andrew Sawyer, this event supports The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Tickets start at £275. Dishes include signature cocktails and courses with wine pairings. A live auction will raise funds for pioneering cancer research. Limited seats available.

🛒 Room to Reward celebrated its 10th anniversary with 80 guests at The Covent Garden Hotel. Since 2015, the charity has partnered with over 950 hotels, donating breaks to more than 3,500 volunteers nominated by 1,100+ organizations. Participating hotels include The Dorchester, The Savoy, and groups like Best Western. Unsold rooms are given to volunteers from groups like Samaritans and NSPCC. Founder Nicolas Roach aims to recognize people who selflessly help others.

📈 UK, 2023: The Headland Hotel in Cornwall has achieved EarthCheck Silver accreditation after a rigorous audit. Since the partnership with EarthCheck, they’ve reduced energy use by 4.5% and water consumption by 5% per guest night, with 95% LED lighting. Waste recycling is at 77% and food waste has been halved. Conservation efforts include rainwater harvesting and a lobster release scheme. This recognition underscores the hotel’s commitment to sustainability and environmental impact reduction.

🍽 Action Against Hunger and IHG Hotels & Resorts, after a year-long partnership, have provided screenings for over 4.5 million people in 55+ countries, including Ethiopia and Kenya. 1 million pregnant women and 3.5 million children under 5 were screened. With 6,700 hotels, IHG promotes awareness and supports Action Against Hunger. In Gujarat, India, the initiative helped in child nutrition screening, health worker training, and health center refurbishment. IHG's global reach enhances humanitarian action and community resilience.

🏨 Soneva Fushi in the Maldives won the SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort features 71 villas with private pools. The award, chosen by over 800 Academy members, recognizes excellence in hospitality service. The main ceremony is on 30 October in London. Soneva Fushi opened in the 1990s and exemplifies “barefoot luxury” with sustainable, wellness-focused services.

🏖 Boutique hotels and lodges boost local economies by creating jobs and supporting suppliers. These establishments preserve cultural heritage by showcasing regional traditions and crafts, while committing to sustainability helps protect the environment. Owners play a crucial role in community engagement and sustainable practices. Slovenia’s small accommodations contribute to the national sustainability standard, Slovenia Green. Effective management enhances guest experiences, boosts occupancy, and preserves cultural and natural environments, ensuring future-proof hospitality.

🏨 Jimmy Peña founded Jordan's House, a nonprofit bed and breakfast, to support parents of children with special needs by offering luxury hospitality at no cost. Leveraging his experience in estate leadership and hospitality, Jimmy provides world-class food and spa experiences to help caregiving parents rest and rejuvenate. This initiative underscores the transformative power of hospitality in renewing and restoring exhausted families. Follow @ItsJordansHouse for more updates on this impactful mission.

🌎 Emma Cox, ClimeCo's chief commercial officer, highlights a surge in tech solutions aiding hotel sustainability. Over the past 5 years, automated processes have replaced manual ones, facilitating carbon emission calculations and offset purchases for hotels. ClimeCo's Digital Carbon Solutions offers customizable tools that integrate easily with platforms like Hilton's LightStay. Future enhancements may include app-based offset options and loyalty programs supporting decarbonization projects to attract eco-conscious travelers and align with corporate CSR objectives.

🌾 Founding Farmers, established in 2008, operates eight locations in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. The company emphasizes sustainability and employee well-being. Co-founder Dan Simons highlights menopause as a workplace issue, affecting 100% of women and over 50% of his workforce. Founding Farmers, farmer-owned, prioritizes health benefits. Simons advocates for addressing societal issues within the restaurant sector, fostering inclusive hospitality. Many environmental practices they championed are now industry standards.