CSR and Sustainability

🏨 Since 2011, GCSTIMES has supported hotels in cultural sustainability. With centers in China, the US, UAE, France, and Australia, they empower over 100,000 international hospitality groups in 140+ countries. Through storytelling key cards, custom cultural souvenirs, and audit documentation, GCSTIMES helps hotels integrate local culture. They use sustainable materials like plant-based leather and collaborate with local artists. Their efforts align with GSTC Section C requirements, promoting environmental and social responsibility.

🏨 Innside by Meliá Manchester completed refurbishment of 52 premium rooms, including City View rooms, Studio Suites, and eight Townhouse Suites, marking its 10th anniversary. The upgrades, focusing on design and sustainability, introduce bedside USB charging and smart TVs. With a commitment to local partnerships, like BlackJack Brewery, all rooms will be updated by Q1 2026. Garry Fortune emphasized enhancing comfort to create a "home away from home" for guests.

💰 St Michaels Resort in Falmouth secures an £8m loan from Triodos Bank UK to invest in sustainability and infrastructure. The resort, overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach, holds a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Plans include energy-efficient upgrades, e-bike hire, and ecological initiatives. Triodos Bank, supporting sustainable tourism for over 20 years, backs only certified businesses. Owner Nigel Carpenter and manager Tony Kear highlight the resort’s role in promoting sustainable tourism in Cornwall.

🏌️ Vancouver, B.C. — In July, Coast Hotels Limited hosted the 23rd Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic. The event, with over 30 sponsors, a sold-out field, and 175 dinner guests, raised over $100,000 for the ALS Society of BC and Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Since inception, it's raised over $1.4 million. Coast Hotels is a subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc., known for its rapid growth across North America. APA owns over 620 properties in Japan.

📚 Since 2011, GCSTIMES, with five centers in China, US, UAE, France, and Australia, and 14 offices worldwide, aids hotels in adopting sustainable procurement. Hotels must meet GSTC standards, proving sustainable and traceable procurement. GCSTIMES offers ESG due diligence, sustainable material sheets, and carbon data packs for compliance. Their solutions support over 100,000 hospitality groups globally in 140 countries, focusing on reducing emissions, plastics, and waste through technology and innovation.

🌿 Guests increasingly seek reconnection through integrated health and wellness offerings. Properties enhance appeal by closely linking these services to nature and local environments, providing calming and authentic experiences. This holistic approach serves as a strategic advantage, allowing properties to stand out sustainably. The market is driven by meaning, well-being, and personal balance.

🌍 Many hotels now prioritize environmental impact. CO₂ emissions reduction, biodiversity preservation, and marine conservation are integral to daily operations. This shift is driven by growing expectations from guests, partners, and investors, who seek enhanced environmental resilience and credibility in hotel operations and development.

📌 Chamboa Farm in Alentejo, Portugal, owned by SHIADUhotels, spans 41 acres with 800 olive trees, 3,000 fruit trees, and 500 chickens, producing over 11 tons of organic harvest annually. The farm is 75% solar-powered, supported partly by the EU’s PDR 2020 program, and aids refugee integration. The Heritage Marine Education Centre in Mauritius opened in 2024, welcoming 3,500 participants in six months to protect the lagoon’s biodiversity. Sheraton Lisboa processes 300 kg of food waste daily and offsets 207 tons of CO₂ through various initiatives.

🏨 Hotels are prioritizing social responsibility, emphasizing environmental footprint reduction, local integration, and community engagement. These practices are reshaping daily decisions and strategic directions, aligning with increased demands for transparency and ethics. This transformation not only contributes to a positive societal impact but also enhances operational performance.

🏨 Emmanuel Macron, President of France, supported the 25th Hospitality Awards in 2025. Recognizing pioneers like Robert H Burns and others, the event highlighted Kempinski's Flourish program, Meliá's sustainability initiative, and Marriott's anti-trafficking efforts. VisitBritain's campaign drove £20 per £1 spent. Club Med's anniversary reach included 16M impressions. Rotana co-founders Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr were honored for their 33-year legacy. Sofitel's transformation emphasized sustainable luxury.