CSR and Sustainability

🏚 Mazzard Farm Holiday Cottages in East Hill, Ottery St Mary, East Devon, are on the market for £1.99 million. The estate includes a 17th-century farmhouse and five holiday cottages, converted in 2008. In 2023, it won the South West England Tourism Award for sustainability. Current owner, Ruud Venneboer, purchased the property in 2007. The UK staycation market is growing, with a 11% increase in domestic holiday trips in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024.

🌎 The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has partnered with ZEERO Group to tackle waste and emissions in the hospitality industry. This collaboration enables hotels to integrate small climate contributions within booking processes, funding clean energy projects like wastewater conversion into biofuels, reducing emissions by up to 81%. The partnership aims to scale regenerative energy projects, enhance brand value, and support global communities, driving substantial positive impacts on the environment and local economies.

🌳 GHL Hoteles, aiming for eco-friendliness in Latin America, released its first sustainability report at Sheraton Bogota Hotel. GHL operates 61 hotels in nine countries, with 100% certified under ISO 20141, ISO 45001, and GMP standards. In 2024, it achieved a 6.18% carbon footprint reduction, planting over 6,000 trees and reducing energy use by 3.41%. GHL targets a 15% carbon footprint reduction by 2030 and 100% gender pay parity by 2030. Notable awards include the AIM2Flourish Award for BIOHOTEL Organic Suites.

💰 €19,000 allocated for disaster relief in 2023 by Mews' Disaster Relief Fund. Initiatives funded include €5,000 each to the Community Foundation for the Texas Hill Country and Médecins Sans Frontières for Texas floods and Myanmar earthquake relief, respectively. Additionally, €1,000 supported Direct Relief for California wildfires, and €8,000 assisted World Central Kitchen in Gaza famine efforts. The fund aims for long-term, equitable crisis response, reflecting community priorities in hospitality.

🌎 Whatley Manor, a Wiltshire hotel, achieved EarthCheck Silver certification for the fourth year, recognizing its energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. In 2024, it recorded 907 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, a 14% reduction from 2023. Since 2022, the hotel collaborates with Greenly for emissions tracking. It retired 1,000 carbon credits from Mexico's San Jerónimo Coatlán project, supporting local communities and biodiversity. The hospitality sector contributes nearly one-sixth of Britain's greenhouse emissions.

💸 De Vere raised over £100k for charity partners at its inaugural gala dinner in July at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, attended by around 400 guests. Funds went to the British Heart Foundation, Hospitality Action, and the Willow Foundation through ticket sales and an auction. The top auction item, a sculpture by Ed Elliott, sold for £6k. Laurie Nicol and Alan Corlett, De Vere's co-chief executives, expressed pride in the event's success.

🏨 Premier Inn plans to open a 152-room hotel in Bath by 2028. Located within a 10-minute walk from Bath Spa station and the Roman Baths, the hotel will increase Bath's budget room supply to over 250. Construction starts in 2026. Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, aims for a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. This expansion is part of Whitbread's strategy to reach 125,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland.

🦋 Horwood House hotel in Buckinghamshire launched the UK’s first “butterfly resort” on its 38-acre estate near Milton Keynes. This initiative supports eight native butterfly species, developed with local schools' input. A “butterfly butler” uses surplus hotel fruit to feed the insects. The hotel also collaborates with Urban Bee-lievers to install beehives, engaging youth in beekeeping and cooking with on-site honey. The project aims to enhance biodiversity and conservation education.

💸 Founded in 1996, Rusticae manages 210 properties in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Andorra, and Italy, focusing on upscale rural tourism. Barceló's acquisition marks a strategic expansion into this niche. CEO Sara Sánchez retains 20% ownership, continuing leadership as founders Carlota Mateos and Isabel Llorens step down. Barceló reported a €7.5 billion turnover in 2024, a 56% net profit increase, and debt elimination. Rusticae emphasizes sustainability and cultural tourism, offering over 100 local experiences.

🐶 Staypineapple partners with Zoundz and VEG ER for Pets to enhance pet wellness at its hotels. Guests booking the Pineapple Pup Package receive a 14-day Zoundz app trial, designed to reduce pet anxiety. This aligns with Staypineapple's pet-friendly goals, addressing increased separation anxiety in 76% of dogs. VEG ER for Pets offers 24/7 emergency care, available at over 100 locations near Staypineapple hotels, ensuring expert veterinary support for traveling pets.