The first rule of management: "What is not measured, cannot be managed."
That means we need KPIs, and ideally, lots of them. The more, the better... right?
To KPI or not to KPI assumes that metrics are the lever. But in real estate and hospitality, the real lever is sequencing. We don't have a KPI problem, we have a decision logic problem. KPIs are just the output of upstream workflows. Yet in 2025, asset upgrades still rely on fragmented, manual processes that break long before reliable data is even available. We have seen how KPIs can backfire, especially when short-term metrics or legacy certifications are mistaken for long-term assurance. One of our clients proudly achieved BREEAM Excellent just a few years ago, only to now face an EPC E rating and a multi-million-pound retrofit bill. The upgrades were superficial, the certification held weight at the time, but the building is now non-compliant. KPIs weren't wrong: they were simply disconnected from science-based targets and emerging regulation. At SustainCRE, we are not optimising metrics. We are codifying the system logic that gets buildings upgraded faster, cheaper and with measurable yield. Think of it like a self-driving car. You feed it inputs — destination, weather, traffic — and the system determines the best path, recalibrates in real time, and gets you there more efficiently. The result? Optimised KPIs as a by-product:
If we want KPIs to reflect meaningful progress—not just numbers in a dashboard—we need to start at the top. That means rethinking how we incentivize leadership. Most hotel bonus structures are still tied exclusively to revenue. But what if hitting sustainability KPIs—like reducing waste, engaging local communities, or improving staff well-being—was also rewarded?
Share price and value are correlated to current and expected future profits, which can depend on decisions from governments with short term priorities who legislate for GDP growth as a solution to most of their problems. We should be pushing for a lasting global commitment to change the collective vision of success, and to accept that success shouldn't be measured in purely economic terms.
What do KPIs, certificates, and ESG ratings have in common? They're all tools we use to measure impact and performance. But can one metric, or even one system, capture everything at once? Probably not. As we navigate ESG reporting, the challenge isn't just what to measure, but how much, how specifically, and how meaningfully.
Staypineapple, the national boutique hotel brand, has continued to build on its sustainability achievements over the past year. The company is expanding green practices across all properties and at the corporate level. With these efforts, it is positioning itself as a forward-thinking leader in the hospitality space.
In June 2024, on World Refugee Day, over 120 million people and counting have been forcibly displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This number is higher than ever before, as global conflicts and humanitarian crises–including the climate crisis–continue to force people around the world to flee their homes. As families who have had their lives upended resettle in new communities across the US, finding employment is one of the most pivotal, challenging, and rewarding steps in being able to provide for their families and reestablish roots.
Reflections after fifteen years of driving sustainability in Europe, North Africa and Asia's hospitality sector.
We waste time, money, and momentum repeating mistakes that others have already made, simply because no one talks about them. I truly believe that sharing failures, in any operational capacity isn’t a weakness, it’s a responsibility, and not just the responsibility to speak up, but for leaders to actively create an environment where others feel safe doing the same. This won’t happen in a business where there is a culture of blame. Line managers and directors need to encourage learning opportunities over finger-pointing.
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, a collection of independent resorts and hotels by Pyramid Global Hospitality, announces a new partnership with the leading ocean cleanup company and Certified B Corporation, 4ocean, to remove thousands of pounds of trash and plastic from the world's oceans, rivers, and coastlines. Kicking off just ahead of Earth Day (April 22) and continuing through 2025, a dozen of Benchmark’s coastal escapes – from Chatham Bars Inn in Cape Cod to Wayfinder Waikiki in Hawaii – will roll out experiences that encourage guests to explore and enjoy the local waters while supporting cleanup around the globe.
In my experience, most of the independent SME accommodation owners with whom I have worked start on their sustainability journey with positivity and engagement, yet few continue to maintain both over time. The problem seems to lie in the underestimation of the time and commitment required to overhaul the operational processes in every department, a procedure essential to achieving continuous sustainability outcomes over time. Despite making business owners aware that their sustainability journey will require fundamental changes from the outset, it seems they do not fully grasp what this actually means until we move forwards. Then as we do, and awareness sets in, so does what I can only describe as reticence, or is it really fear?
What a great topic, indeed 'failures' are great learning opportunities for the organisation itself as well as others when shared publicly. A mindset of continouus improvement, that is for example inherent to ISO certifications, would enable companies to shift the 'failure' vs 'success' narrative and culture.
Many SME accommodation owners begin their sustainability journey with enthusiasm but often fail to sustain long-term change. A key barrier is underestimating the time and commitment needed to overhaul operational processes across departments.
To make progress on sustainability, I believe we need to build a culture that values curiosity over criticism, encouraging people to explore what works, what doesn’t, and why. That means treating new ideas as experiments, not tests to pass or fail.
NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, announced The Beck Group as the winner of the inaugural Structures of Hospitality Excellence (SOHE) Award during ALIS DESIGN+ in Los Angeles on January 31, 2025.
For more than 100 years, Hilton has believed in the power of hospitality to be a transformative force for good. With that belief in mind and its deep ties to the Los Angeles community – encompassing 70 years of history, including 40 years as the company’s headquarters – Hilton was proud to partner with American Express to support Angelinos impacted by the recent devastating wildfires by donating 20,000 hotel room nights to families in need of temporary accommodations.
The role of sustainability information in business travel is increasingly critical, particularly for hotel groups like Radisson Hotel Group, as corporate clients prioritize sustainability in their procurement processes. A growing requirement for sustainability data in corporate RFPs significantly impacts the competitiveness of hotels. Without rigorous sustainability information, hotels risk losing business from clients who now demand verified and transparent sustainability commitments. However, a crucial question remains: how trustworthy is the data if it lacks independent verification? Until sustainability claims are screened or mandated for verification, their reliability remains questionable.
Through a matching campaign, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) and members of the Choice Privileges rewards program have donated nearly $90,000 toward the American Red Cross relief efforts for communities impacted by the wildfires in California in 2025. The campaign to raise funds ended on January 31, 2025. Choice Privileges members donated over 12.7 million points equivalent to $63,740, and Choice Hotels fulfilled a $25,000 donation match.
Despite concern in many areas of society, it is clear that market forces are the most effective levers of change in sustainability.
As companies face increasing pressure to report their GHG emissions, the role of business travel, mainly flights, is coming under great pressure. Business travel contributes significantly to a company's carbon footprint. In my opinion, hotels will be less affected than airlines, but they will need to relearn to focus more on short—and medium-distance travellers.
The growing interest in sustainability and events is shifting competitiveness in a new direction. For those hotels and events venues that have been leading the way for decades by implementing sustainable management practices and measuring the carbon footprint of operations their hard work is paying off.
The role of sustainability information in business travel is increasingly critical, particularly for hotel groups like Radisson Hotel Group, as corporate clients prioritize sustainability in their procurement processes. A growing requirement for sustainability data in corporate RFPs significantly impacts the competitiveness of hotels.
Last month, Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb, partnered with 211 LA to provide free emergency housing for people displaced by the fires. Within 48 hours of launching, 211 LA received more than ten thousand applications from Angelenos.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is announcing a new campaign benefitting the American Red Cross relief efforts to help people impacted by the 2025 California wildfires. Choice Privileges members' donations to the Red Cross will now be eligible for a match from Choice Hotels of up to $25,000.
To support residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires, Airbnb.org is working with 211 LA, which serves Los Angeles County, to offer free, temporary housing. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts — many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org.