Sustainability goals... is the window of opportunity for hotels closing?
C-SUITE World Panel
— 12 C-Suite executives shared their view



Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deutsche Hospitality
There is no doubt that the hospitality industry needs to play its part in the global efforts to protect the environment and act responsibly. At Deutsche Hospitality, we have chosen a proactive approach by making sustainability a top priority. For example, all our leased and managed hotels and sites across Europe work according to ISO 14001 – the very latest standard in environmental management. Many of our hotels outside of Europe also use ISO 14001 environmental management systems, Green Key Certifications or local standards. This enables us to have a positive environmental impact. see more

President & CEO, Radisson Hospitality AB
As an active member of the International Tourism Partnership and in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has taken a global commitment to focus on carbon, water, youth employment and human rights. We recognize the hotel industry must reduce its absolute carbon emissions by 66% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 to ensure that growth in the sector is sustainable. see more

Group CEO at Dusit International
Considering the collective impact the hospitality industry has on the environment, especially in terms of resource consumption and waste, going green is no longer a debate – it's a priority – and we believe that every effort, by every hotel company, counts towards bringing a carbon-neutral future. see more

President & Chief Executive Officer at Hilton
The hospitality industry is in the midst of what I call a Golden Age of Travel. As middle classes expand around the world, more people are traveling than ever, and they are craving unique, authentic experiences. That's an incredible business opportunity that we are rising to meet. The flip side of that opportunity is the critical responsibility we have to protect our communities and environment, so we can ensure destinations remain vibrant and resilient for generations of travelers to come. see more

COO and Founding Partner at citizenM
The call for sustainability is becoming louder and louder and is totally justified. It is our individual and collective responsibility to bring our environmental footprint down and aim for a more carbon-neutral future. see more

CEO at Viceroy Hotel Group
The reach of sustainability in the hospitality industry is appropriately growing in response to changing guest expectations. We have our work cut out for us to make progress toward a carbon-neutral future. There is no single solution, but rather a network of strategies, systems, and efforts to chip away at our energy demands and reduce our material usage. Our consumers are demanding and forcing the shift to occur and the hospitality industry must holistically embrace the challenge. see more

CEO of North & Central America at Accor
We are entering into a new chapter for all businesses that demand a sense of urgency and the attainment of meaningful results on the sustainability front. Accor has long taken the view that we're stewards of our incredible locales, and mitigating our impact is a key priority for Accor, and a responsibility the Group has fully embraced. Our key stakeholders are educated and aware, seeking an authentic connection between our sustainability programs, and our other CSR initiatives, and the results we drive to mitigate our impact. see more

Chief Executive Officer of the Kempinski Group
Kempinski Hotels is fully aware of the challenges presented by climate change to the planet, and to the tourism industry in particular. We recognize our role in mitigating the changes of climate through significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and we are taking immediate steps in acting upon it. As the highest impact related to greenhouse gas emissions in the hospitality industry is linked to the energy use in the hotel buildings, our primary focus is directed on reducing energy consumption in already operated buildings, and incorporating best available technologies that provide the most efficient energy use in newly constructed buildings. see more

Chief Executive Officer at Dream Hotel Group
I hope the window of opportunity for hotels isn't closing. At Dream Hotel Group, we are great supporters of sustainability and see a need for it in our industry. As a company, we're already taking the necessary steps to start making a difference in our world, such as offering guests the choice to reuse their towels, sheets and other linens versus washing daily. These are small things that make a big impact. see more

Chief Executive Officer at NH Hotel Group
More and more, guests, institutions and employees are demanding that companies pay more attention to environmental aspects as a key part of their decision-making and business strategy, clearly showing a shift in the general perception of the importance of climate change and responsible behavior. see more

CEO of Kerten Hospitality
For us, sustainability aligns with the innovation introduced by the future generation of hoteliers, such as the thought-provoking ideas presented at #GENIO2019 which so inspired a large hospitality leadership team last month. see more

Founder and Partner of CityHub
The decade that is about to start is going to be a decisive one for sustainability. A shift in priorities seems therefore unavoidable, firstly for ethical reasons but also because it is going to be demanded both by stakeholders and consumers. On the other hand, I don't see the fact that tourism is responsible for a large share of carbon emissions as a deterrent to traveling itself. Instead, statistics show that Millenials are the generation driving growth in the hotel industry and that Gen Z isn't far behind (source: Expedia). see more