The Future of Hospitality Is Waste-Free—But Technology Alone Won’t Get Us There
The hospitality industry is at a tipping point. Costs are rising, sustainability commitments are under greater scrutiny, and hotel operators are being held to higher standards by regulators, corporate clients, and guests alike.
Food waste, long seen as an unavoidable part of running a hotel, is now recognized as one of the industry’s largest hidden costs. Winnow tracks food waste in over 3000 locations worldwide: our data shows that 5-15% of all food purchased ends up in the bin. We’re seeing progress in policy, too. This February, the EU Parliament and Council agreed to the first-ever legally mandated EU-level targets to reduce food loss and waste. Once formally adopted, member states will need to cut food waste at the retailer and consumer levels by 30% by 2030. The message is clear: businesses that cannot measure and reduce waste face financial, reputational and regulatory threats.
Thankfully, our industry has the solutions. Forward-thinking groups like Hilton, Marriott, and Mandarin Oriental are already proving the value in tackling food waste - and tackling it at scale. Ten years ago, tackling food waste at scale was far more difficult. The technology wasn’t there yet. Most kitchens relied on manual tracking, guesswork, and outdated processes to manage waste. Today, we’re in a completely different world. AI has transformed what’s possible. Winnow’s own technology now operates using a dataset of over 500 million images of food waste, built up over 10 years and providing chefs with unprecedented insight into their kitchens.
HYB 2025 Sustainability Tech Edition
The upcoming edition of the Hotel Yearbook, titled "Sustainable Technology for Hospitality," offers essential insights into the transformative role of sustainable technologies within the hospitality industry. Arriving at a critical moment, a decade after the Paris Agreement, this edition emphasizes the growing urgency for intensified sustainable practices. It explores a broad range of themes, including sustainable hotel architecture, energy- saving designs, and nature-based solutions. The yearbook delves into carbon management tools for Scopes 1, 2, and 3, circular economy practices for waste minimization, water conservation techniques, sustainable supply chains, and AI-driven ESG reporting. Additionally, it covers green finance for real estate and addresses implementation challenges across diverse regions. Through a rich compilation of thought-provoking articles, case studies, and expert opinions, this publication serves as a valuable resource for industry leaders, providing the insights, strategies, and forecasts necessary to advance sustainability through innovative technologies. The HYB 2025 edition aims to guide, inspire, and challenge professionals in the hospitality sector to embrace and drive sustainable technology in their operations.