The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has launched its Green Collection, bringing almost 200 hotels, resorts, and palaces under one umbrella. These brands are demonstrating their commitment to protecting people and the planet, as each property has attained at least one certification from a globally recognised environmental organisation.
The 15 leading certification bodies represented include EarthCheck, Green Growth 2050, Green Key and Green Globe, which require hotels to meet the highest international standards for sustainability initiatives and performance, with regular third-party audits conducted to retain certification.
Ranging from city hotels to beach resorts, the collection is represented in 112 destinations across 44 countries spanning every region. In the Middle East and North Africa, Green Collection properties account for half of the GHA DISCOVERY’s portfolio, while in Africa and Asia it accounts for 37% and 36% respectively. Countries with the highest density of Green Collection hotels are the Netherlands with 31 properties (97% of GHA hotels), Thailand, 16 hotels (52%); the UAE, 15 hotels (52%); China, 13 hotels (31%); Kenya, 10 hotels (77%); and Belgium and Argentina with seven hotels (54% and 50%, respectively).
Objectives and achievements among brands:
- Every property in the Avani Hotels & Resorts portfolio must hold an independently audited Green Growth 2050 certification. To become a nett-zero carbon organisation by 2050, it is introducing science-based targets for energy, carbon and water intensity, and is pledging to halve its organic landfill waste in the next eight years. Avani has pledged to reduce usage of single-use plastic by 75% by 2024, and every nature-based property will support long-term habitat or species conservation by 2023.
- More than 36 Anantara properties around the world have been awarded Green Growth 2050 certification, based on Global Sustainable Tourism Council-recognised hotel industry standards. These awards recognise excellence in human rights, child protection, employee protection, community development, environmental stewardship, tourism ethics and sustainability.
- Kempinski Hotels aims to measure 100% of energy emissions across all properties by the end of this year and has set out to fully implement science-based targets for emission reductions aligned with the Paris Agreement by next year. It is rolling out the EarthCheck-certified programme across its portfolio, with participating hotels actively monitoring and reporting environmental and social impacts from their operations, including energy and water consumption, carbon footprint, waste generation, community engagement and more. Economic concerns addressed include employment conditions, support for the local economy, use of fair-trade goods and services, and recognition of revenue stream seasonality.
