What we do
The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider value chain along with strategic partners and uses the collective power of the industry to deliver impact locally and on a global scale
Our vision
A prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes
Our mission
To accelerate the path to net positive hospitality through strategic industry leadership, collaborative action, harmonisation of metrics and regenerative solutions
Our goals
Measurement
Working collaboratively to harmonise metrics and KPIs, develop standards and streamline reporting and benchmarking in sustainability.
Leadership
Positioning the Alliance as the authoritative voice in sustainability for global hospitality industry and accelerating progress through bold and strategic leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration.
Regenerative solutions
Facilitating a collaborative approach to achieving Net Positive Hospitality through co-ordinating and developing innovative, practical and scalable solutions, tools and resources.
Five-year strategy
Our commitment to creating a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes
Background
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 represent over 7 million rooms globally, and include over 40 world-leading hotel companies and value chain partners, and over 50 supply chain and strategic partners, with a combined reach of over 50,000 properties.
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. As we grew, we became an independent charity and united our programmes under Sustainable Hospitality Alliance in 2020.
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 hospitality supply chains and stakeholders.
Create global partnerships
We partner with non-profits, philanthropic organisations, governments and the private sector on shared sustainability challenges.
About us
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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Expand for detailed references
- All statistical data from STR (2019), available from www.str.com
