Stephen Farrant, Director of the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) will lead a session at the Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin (IHIF)
The hotel industry and carbon: Is collaboration or competition the key to success?
On the 6th March 2013, Stephen Farrant, Director of the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) will lead a session at the Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin. ITP will be joined by industry leaders to discuss how the industry is working together to address carbon and sustainability, and where the future opportunities lie. As one of the only sessions on sustainability at IHIF Berlin this year, it promises to be a highly engaging and lively debate.
Speaking about the session, Stephen comments:
"As a number of recent reports have shown, the global
news on carbon only seems to be getting worse as time goes by – and yet the active role of the private sector is our best opportunity for achieving the sort of step change we all want to see. The hotel industry has been doing some impressive work behind the scenes, both at an individual company level and collectively. This event is a unique opportunity to debate what has been achieved so far and to explore the customer demand, the innovative design and the investment that will be required to drive further improvements."
Stephen Farrant will be leading the discussion but accompanied by high profile industry leaders from both the hotel and environmental sector including:
- Gregoir Chikaher has over 25 years of international experience in the design of hotel and resort projects and speaks regularly on the design of sustainable hotels. He is currently Director of Arup and the Global head of Hotels and Leisure Sector
- Inge Huijbrechts was responsible for the launch of Rezidor's ambitious energy saving initiative Think Planet in 2012 and during the last 15 years has held cross-sector sustainability roles. Inge is currently Director of Responsible Business at The Rezidor Hotel Group
- Klaus Lengefeld is currently advising the World Tourism Forum Lucerne, the World Economic Forum's Aviation and Travel Direction in Switzerland and the WTTC, World Travel and Tourism Council on tourism as major driver of a climate-friendly and inclusive Green Economy. He is representing GIZ in the Pacific Asia Travel Association PATA Board of Directors and is Vice-Chair of PATA's Sustainability Advisory Committee.
- Faith Taylor has overseen Wyndham Worldwide's sustainability program since 2006. She is Chair of the American Hotel and Lodging Association's Environmental and Engineering Committee and an Executive Committee member of the World Travel & Tourism Council and International Tourism Partnership organizations where she has participated in setting industry standards like the Hotel Carbon Metric Initiative and policies.
- Maury Zimring is the director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability for InterContinental Hotels Group. Maury is responsible for execution of the global environmental sustainability strategy across IHG's more than 4,000 hotel locations.
The session will kick off with a discussion around the pros and cons of a collaborative approach towards carbon and sustainability, and how the industry can build on the existing collaborative project, the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI). More than 20 hotel companies within the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and International Tourism Partnership (ITP) memberships came together last year to launch the HCMI, as the first industry-wide solution to carbon reporting on a hotel stay, meeting or event, for the benefit of the customer.
Beyond this focus, the following questions will be addressed:
- How important is the carbon agenda to companies now and in the future? What is driving this?
- To what extent is the customer (and especially the corporate customer) focused on environmental credentials? How will this evolve in the future?
- How do you balance competitor versus collaborative approaches in this area? What are the opportunities for the industry to work together?
- How does the owner / operator dynamic play into this?
- What is the role of finance and design when looking at carbon reduction and environmental efficiency?
- What are other sectors doing?
As part of the conversation there will be the opportunity for audience to ask their own questions on the topic.
For more information about how to attend the event, please go to http://www.berlinconference.com/index.php/programme/day-three/
About the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, along with strategic partners, to address key challenges affecting the planet, people and places around the world.
Through their strategic initiatives and global networks, they develop practical programmes and resources to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes.
Their members represent over 50,000 hotels spanning 270 brands – totalling over 7 million rooms – and include world-leading companies including Accor, Choice Hotels International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, as well as regional brands. Their network also includes other parts of the hospitality value chain, including owners, investors, suppliers, and other partners to further drive joined up action on sustainability, and accelerate the industry on the path to Net Positive Hospitality.
