by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:19 PM ET, Mon September 24, 2018
For the second year in a row, InterContinental Hotels Group has been named an industry leader in sustainability.
The multinational hotel company was recognized by the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious benchmarks for corporate economic, environmental and social performance.
The achievement means that IHG will retain its listing on the 2018 S&P Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index.
"As the gold standard for sustainability performance, we are very proud to be listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the second year running. This serves as recognition for the hard work and dedication of our people, owners, and partners around the world," Yasmin Diamond, IHG's executive vice president, Global Corporate Affairs said in a statement.
"At IHG, our purpose is to provide true hospitality for everyone, and this is central to our long-standing commitment to operating our business responsibly in all aspects of our work," Diamond added.
In addition to the Dow Jones recognition, IHG also achieved first place in RobecoSAM's Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines industry group, with the highest score for the industry on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment.
IHG scored highly in areas related to its culture of responsible business, including environmental criteria, human rights, and risk and crisis management.
The hotel company was also recognized for stakeholder engagement, which it said has been key to identifying the four areas where we feel we can have the most positive impact: environmental sustainability, community impact, our people and responsible procurement.
Those four categories are the basis for IHG's 2018-2020 Responsible Business Target goals. Launched earlier this year, the goals are designed to support several of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the 2018-2020 environmental goals outlined by IHG is reducing its carbon footprint by six to seven percent per occupied room and launching two water stewardship projects per year for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
IHG's community impact goals for the coming years include providing 30,000 to 40,000 people with hospitality skills training through the IHG Academy and raising $3 million to support communities through the IHG Foundation.
As for its people goals, the company intends to increase the percentage of diversity among employees both in terms of gender and nationality/ethnicity. The company has also said it will work to increase the percentage of women working in general management and operations roles.
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