Choice Hotels Partners with Green Key Global for Sustainability CertificationsChoice Hotels Partners with Green Key Global for Sustainability Certifications Choice Hotels International has joined forces with Green Key Global to provide sustainability certification opportunities to its hotel owners in the United States. Exclusive Services for Choice Hotels Owners of Choice hotels will benefit from preferred services from Green Key Global as they strive to enhance their sustainability practices. They will have the potential to earn Green Key Eco-Rating and Green Key Meetings certifications, demonstrating their commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Benefits for Choice Franchisees Anick Levesque, General Manager of Green Key Global, emphasized the advantages of the partnership for Choice franchisees. They can now engage with Green Key Global to pursue recognized sustainability certifications, which can attract eco-conscious guests and corporate clients. Joint Management and Sustainability Focus Green Key Global is a joint venture by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hotel Association of Canada. It has particular expertise in assessing hotels’ sustainability measures in areas such as management, environmental impact, and socio-economic impact. Growing Guest Demand for Sustainability Recent surveys indicate that guests are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly hotel experiences. Nine out of ten travelers prefer sustainable options when making travel decisions. Investor and Stakeholder Support for Sustainability Choice Hotels’ Vice President of Sustainability, Megan Brumagim, highlighted the growing demand for sustainability among hotel investors and franchisees. She stated that companies are recognizing sustainability as a strategic priority. Green Key Global’s Certifications In addition to sustainability certifications, Green Key Global offers a certification program for meeting and event spaces, as well as a climate-neutral events program and a network of green suppliers. Sustainability as a Driver of Hotel Investment According to JLL, sustainable tourism is expected to play a significant role in global hotel investment in 2023. This partnership between Choice Hotels and Green Key Global aligns with the growing industry trend towards embracing sustainability practices.
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Dive short:
- Choice Hotels International signed an agreement with Green Key Global to make the expertise of the sustainability certification organization available to hotel owners, the company announced on Wednesday.
- Owners of Choice hotels in the US will have access to “preferred services” as they optimize their operations for sustainability – with the opportunity to eventually achieve Green Key Eco-Rating and Green Key Meetings certifications.
- Anick Levesque, general manager of Green Key Global, said the partnership will allow Choice franchisees to “work with Green Key Global to achieve sought-after sustainability certifications, potentially helping to drive bookings to their hotels.”
Diving insight:
Green Key Global is jointly managed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hotel Association of Canada made its sustainability certifications live for US hotels in April.
“This agreement will help Choice franchisees certify their sustainability practices and help them attract guests and corporate customers,” said Megan Brumagim, Choice’s vice president of sustainability, in a statement.
Green Key Global assesses hotels on four pillars: sustainable management, environmental impact, cultural impact and socio-economic impact. Participating Choice hotels will have access to resources and one-on-one guidance aimed at improving their environmental impact, including opportunities to reduce their utility use, waste, emissions and operating costs.
More and more guests looking for more environmentally friendly hotel stayswith nine in 10 saying they look for sustainable options when traveling, according to Expedia.
Brumagin previously told Hotel Dive that hotel investors, franchisees and real estate partners are also calling for more sustainability in hotels.
“Companies, including Choice, are now thinking about sustainability not just in terms of a great marketing opportunity or free PR, but also as something to incorporate into their strategy and operations (as they) hear from more and more stakeholders that this is something where they care about,” she said last July.
Green Key Global’s certifications are intended to “give credibility to sustainability initiatives that real estate companies are already undertaking,” the organization said in April. In addition to sustainability certifications, Green Key also offers a meeting and events program, which certifies hotel meeting spaces as up to date with best sustainability practices; a climate-neutral events programme; and a green supplier network.
According to JLL it is Sustainable tourism will be an important driver of global hotel investment this year.
