Radisson Hotel Group has made all meetings and events across more than 400 hotels in its Europe, Middle East and Africa portfolio carbon-negative.
For meetings booked between October 18 and January 31 and taking place before March 31, Carbon Negative. Planet Positive will offset double the CO2 emissions from meetings and events free of charge to the client, making meetings that take place during this period at participating hotels carbon negative.
Carbon Negative. Planet Positive reinforces the group’s 100 percent carbon neutral meetings offering, in place across the group’s 1,600 hotels worldwide since 2019. The initiative forms part of the group’s wider Responsible Business program, which targets reducing the group’s carbon footprint by 30 percent and which aims to set science-based targets. Since the launch of the 100 percent Carbon Neutral Meetings program, the group has offset more than 30,300 tons of CO2 at no cost to its clients, which is the equivalent to removing more than 6,500 fuel driven cars off the road.
Carbon Negative, Planet Positive meetings complement the group’s Hybrid Meetings solutions which launched in 2020 and offer owners and guests the flexibility and space optimization they require to better meet the rapid lifestyle changes of today’s travelers. Hybrid meetings are available across more than 100 hotels in EMEA and contribute to a lighter scope 3 footprint for the client.
“The upcoming COP26 conference will see world leaders come together to discuss climate change which needs all our attention,” said Eric de Neef, EVP, global chief branding and commercial officer. “At Radisson Hotel Group, we are constantly reviewing how we as a global business can influence positive climate action, and how we can encourage the hospitality industry to push the boundaries on green meetings and events. We are proud to be pioneering this initiative and trust that meeting organizers around the globe recognize the positive impact they can have on the environment as face-to-face meetings increase.”
For each meeting, the carbon footprint is calculated using the HCMI methodology2 and then offset through projects that are Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard-recognized. These projects combat climate change and contribute to sustainable development in line with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and include: a clean cooking and safe water program in Kenya, wind farm projects in Turkey, India and the U.S. to generate green electricity, a forest protection program in Peru to reduce deforestation sustainably, and a biogas project in rural China. In addition, members of Radisson’s Radisson Rewards loyalty program can also choose to redeem their loyalty points to offset their stay.
“Carbon Negative. Planet Positive allows you to make your meetings carbon negative and your impact planet positive,” said Inge Huijbrechts, global SVP, sustainability, security and corporate communications. “With the return of business travel, now is the time to have a positive impact. For Radisson Hotel Group, it is important that we offset carbon emissions according to the highest quality standards and in line with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. This is why we select offsetting projects that are not only good for the environment, but also socially relevant. This initiative plays a key role in helping us achieve our Responsible Business targets to protect people, planet, and community.”
This story originally appeared on www.hotelmanagement.net.
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