Importance of sustainability to consumers at all-time high

Speaking on a panel of luxury suppliers at the TTG Luxury Travel Summit in London on Friday (7 October), Tom Rowntree, vice president, global marketing of luxury brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said IHG found consumers were now 60% more driven by an ESG (environmental, social and governance) agenda than compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.

He highlighted IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow strategy, which launched last year and combines all of its sustainability efforts “to drive tangible change”. He said it was imperative the business focused on both an overriding strategic direction, as well as innovations in individual properties. 

He cited how IHG has prevented 200m small plastic bottles being used in its hotels each year by swapping to refillable bathroom amenities. Locally, the Kimpton Naranta Bali offers guests slippers containing sunflower seeds, which can be planted when they return home. 

Qatar Airways UK and Ireland regional manager Gary Kershaw admitted the aviation industry “gets absolutely slammed by the environmental and sustainability press” and stressed it was down to airlines to demand manufacturers produce more sustainable aircraft. 

He said Qatar Airways has taken lots of “small, incremental steps” to help in its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. It no longer carries duty free items or inflight magazines onboard, helping reduce weight and therefore the amount of fuel needed.