by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:10 PM ET, Wed February 19, 2025
The journey of hotels seeking to integrate more sustainable operations is rarely straightforward and in today’s constantly evolving landscape, it’s also not necessarily an easy path.
Amid this backdrop, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) recently shared its progress on carbon and energy reductions, which are a key part of the global hotel company’s ‘Journey to Tomorrow’ responsible business plan.
That plan, established in 2021, includes caring for people, communities and the planet and ideally, achieving related goals by 2030.
During an update this week, Catherine Dolton, chief sustainability officer for IHG Hotels & Resorts, detailed the notable progress the company has made on many eco-friendly efforts, but also revealed that the company has fallen short on its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, IHG is unlikely to meet its 2030 goals.
“In 2021, we set an ambition to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions and Scope 3 emissions from our franchised hotels’ energy consumption and Fuel and Energy Related Activities by 46% by 2030,” Dolton said.
But instead of getting closer tothat goal with the many programs and efforts the company has introduced, IHG’s overall emissions are up 7.2 percent since its 2019 baseline year.
Dolton attributed this reality to a combination of factors including:
- Slow progress towards reliable clean energy grids around the world
- The lack of a viable commercial and operating landscape to support energy efficiency
- Continued growth of IHG’s hotel brands (and thus its footprint) around the world
Since establishing its decarbonization targets, IHG has done extensive
mapping work to identify what’s needed to reach its goals. That effort
including a frank assessment of where the hotel company has control and
influence over actions.
But it also acknowledges the reality of the external landscape around the world.
“For
our hotels to decarbonize at pace…we need to see some really big shifts
in the external market,” Dolton said. “Unfortunately, a number of these
are not within our control and are not moving quickly enough, and so,
despite our ongoing efforts, we are not on track meet our 2030 target.”
The patio at Catalina, a restaurant inside the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman. (Photo Credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts)
It’s
not all bad news however. IHG’s extensive top-to-bottom efforts to
address carbon and energy has brought about some shifts.
For
instance, on an intensity basis, per available room, there’s been a 9.4
percent reduction in energy use and an 11.5 percent reduction in
emissions to date vs 2019.
What’s more, Dolton said that IHG’s leaders remain undaunted in their efforts to help protect the planet.
“Because
we are not on track to meet our target does not mean we will stop
trying,” Dolton continued. “We will continue our many initiatives and
dedication to assisting our hotel owners to reduce their carbon
emissions.”
The company also intends to maintain its ongoing,
transparent reporting of progress toward targets, and intends to
leverage its scale and market position “to influence change across the
hospitality industry.”
“In time, we will look to re-evaluate
these targets, including reviewing rapidly evolving standards, and
updates to carbon accounting and validation criteria,” Dolton explained.
“The sustainability landscape is rapidly changing, and it’s
important we take the time to reflect on the implications for IHG,” she
added. “Focusing on what IHG is actually able to control and influence,
and ensuring that our actions remain relevant across the geographies
that we serve, is essential.”
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