For many years, Accor has been committed to sustainable development. In 2020, the Group set out its commitment to contribute to net zero carbon emissions globally by 2050 and reducing its absolute emissions by 46% (Scope 1&2) and by 28% (Scope 3) by 2030. Accor wants to go a step further in its sustainability transformation and commits to supporting its 5,400 hotels in obtaining an external sustainable certification.
Alongside Accor joining the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) last year, the Group announced that two additional global partnerships have been signed with Green Key and Green Globe, both partners having their standards recognized by GSTC. These certification programs assess businesses across the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, environmental impacts, cultural impacts, and socio-economic impacts, confirmed by independent, third-party audit of the hotels’ practices.
By encouraging sustainable certification of its hotels, Accor will help guests and partners travel more sustainably by providing reliable information on sustainable options. Accor will also contribute to sustainable destination approaches, as in Marseille with a commitment to have all Accor hotels in the city certified by 2024, in line with the city and the region’s ambitions.
Brune Poirson - Chief Sustainability Officer at Accor said: “Accor’s capacity for action is global. But this requires a method of implementation to maximize social and environmental impact. Independent certification is a must-have for all hotels as it helps them to provide proof of our sustainability commitments, meet the growing expectations of our guests, and contribute to scientific objectives. It shows a strong external recognition of our sustainability practices by all stakeholders in the industry”
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The collaboration agreement between Accor and Green Key will have Accor hotels implementing their sustainable development initiatives through two preferred certification programs globally, including Green Key.
Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director said: “We are proud to be chosen by Accor as one of the preferred certification partners. With our large network of National Operators, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to support Accor with its sustainability ambitions and seeing many Accor hotels globally displaying the Green Key.”
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Green Globe has had a long-standing relationship with Accor through the Mövenpick brand, who were among the pioneers on sustainable certification within the Group, and which have already included sustainable certification in their brand’s standards.
Green Globe CEO, Birte Pelayo said, “As an Accor partner, Green Globe has been granted access to one of the world’s largest Group of accommodation providers, across a variety of markets and many countries. Our well-established certification services are exemplified by our certification of the Accor owned Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Group, with over 70 properties worldwide maintaining continuous Green Globe certification for over a decade”
Additionally, as Australia and New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, Accor has entered into a strategic partnership with Ecotourism Australia to certify all Accor hotels, apartments and resorts across Australia and the Pacific as Sustainable Tourism certified businesses.
In the US & Canada, Accor has a long-standing partnership with Green Key Global, especially implemented through the Fairmont brand, with many hotels of the brand certified over the past few years.
Similarly, Accor will be collaborating in all regions with strong local certification programs.
These global and local partnerships will help Accor reach the target of 100% of our network eco-certified by 2026.