What we do
The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and uses the collective power of the industry to deliver impact locally and on a global scale
Introduction
Our organisation uniquely represents how the hospitality industry is taking collective responsibility to ensure that destinations and communities are being supported and protected now and for future generations.
Our members make up 30% of the global hotel industry by rooms and include 18 world-leading hotel companies and strategic partners, with a combined reach of over 40,000 properties and 6 million rooms. In addition, our affiliate members represent other partners in the hospitality value chain to further drive collaboration on industry sustainability.
We were founded in 1992 as the International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) by a consortium of chief executives from ten global hotel companies as a result of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. From launch, we were part of the Prince’s Charities group, with HRH The Prince of Wales as president – first as a programme of International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and then in 2013 relocating to Business in the Community (BITC), The Prince’s Responsible Business Network.
We were previously known as International Tourism Partnership, which operated the Youth Career Initiative and Green Hotelier. Following a period of growth, we became an independent charity and united our programmes under Sustainable Hospitality Alliance in 2020.
We continue with our renewed vision of responsible hospitality for a better world.
Why we do this
Climate change is having a significant impact on lives and ecosystems globally, and decent work for all remains a leading issue. As the United Nations Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs) have demonstrated, now is the time that nations, businesses and people need to be taking co-ordinated global action in order to address the major social and environmental issues that are impacting the world.
The hospitality industry has the power to have a lasting positive impact on lives, places and economies. Reaching into communities all over the world, over 200,000 hotels generate an annual revenue of over $550 billion for local economies and provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds.1 But we need to ensure that we are all working towards a sustainable and inclusive future for our planet and its people.
As the industry, and the world, recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we are protecting those left vulnerable from exploitation, that new opportunities are reaching those who need them the most, and that we build back stronger and more sustainable.
How we do this
Convene the industry
We bring together senior executives from engaged hospitality companies and strategic partners to work together on collective areas of action.
Take practical action
We develop practical tools, resources and programmes to enable every hotel to operate responsibly and grow sustainably.
Build a movement
We use our collective influence and reach to advance responsible business across the industry supply chains and stakeholders.
Create global partnerships
We partner with non-profits, philanthropic organisations, governments and the private sector on shared sustainability challenges.
Issues we address
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we commit to drive continued action in four areas:
Human rights
We commit to raise awareness of human rights risks, embed human rights into corporate governance, and address risks arising in the labour supply chain and during construction.
Youth employment
We commit to give young people, especially those at risk of poverty and exploitation, the opportunity to build a better future through employability programmes.
Climate action
We commit to embrace science-based targets and encourage the wider industry to join in reducing emissions at scale.
Water stewardship
We commit to embed water stewardship programmes to identify ways to address water scarcity, improve water-use efficiency and reduce the number of people affected by lack of water.
Our members
Our members include large and small hotel companies with both international and regional portfolios.
Our partners
We partner with philanthropic organisations, non-profits, governments and the private sector on shared sustainability challenges.
Our history
Our organisation was founded in 1992 by chief executives from ten global hotel companies.
References
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- All statistical data from STR (2019), available from www.str.com