Hilton Hotels Corporation announced short- and long-term goals and objectives toward building sustainability into its businesses worldwide.
Christopher J. Nassetta, president & CEO of the 3,000-plus hotel chain, outlined targets for improvement in the company’s sustainability performance throughout the next five years within its properties and corporate offices globally.
By 2014, the goals for the Hilton Family of Hotels are as follows:
• Reduce energy consumption from direct operations by 20 percent
• Reduce Co2 emissions by 20 percent
• Reduce output of waste by 20 percent
• Reduce water consumption by 10 percent
“Upon becoming a truly global company with the acquisition of Hilton International and following the acquisition of our company by Blackstone late last year, we are in an ideal position to lay down a framework for sustainability within our global hotels and corporate offices,” Nassetta said.
“To meet the growing demand of increased travel around the world, we must be able to do so in a sustainable fashion while still delivering unsurpassed levels of hospitality, including a better night’s sleep, an enhanced dining experience and a more productive meeting,” Nassetta continued. “We must operate our business in ways that provide for our current needs while allowing future generations to meet their own needs. This is the essence of sustainability and the path we must follow. Not only is it the right thing to do as responsible global citizens, it's the right thing to do for our business."
In addition to short-term goals, Hilton said it is committed to focusing on several high-impact areas that offer long-term benefits, including sustainable buildings and operations, such as the advancement of sustainable design and construction, operations, chemical management, and purchasing.
The company also said it is committed to the advancement of renewable energy as a source of power for its operations, not only to reduce its carbon footprint but to develop a commercial infrastructure for powering hotels and corporate offices.
To launch the effort, Hilton hired Blu Skye Sustainability Consulting to visit a cross-section of its Hilton Family hotels, which include Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection.
Hilton Hotels Corporation recently appointed Christopher Corpuel vice president-global sustainability to build a team to develop and implement the sustainability strategy in tandem with hotel ownership and management groups.
