Hilton Hotels Corporation Announces Global Sustainability Goals
The Hilton Hotels Corporation plans to build sustainability into the core fabric of its businesses worldwide through both short and long term goals and objectives. Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO, outlined directional targets for improvement in the company's sustainability performance throughout the next five years within system-wide hotels globally. By 2014, goals for the Hilton Family of Hotels are to:
"Population growth and global industrialization are accelerating the depletion of our natural resources. Around the world, demand for energy continues to grow and fresh water scarcity is becoming a global reality. How we respond to these challenges will determine the sustainability of our future lifestyles, the sustainability of our communities as we know them, and ultimately the sustainability of our planet," says Nassetta
Long-term, high-impact goals
In addition to the stated measurable short-term targets, the company also has committed to focus on several high-impact areas that offer significant long-term benefits. Sustainable buildings and operations, including the advancement of sustainable design and construction, operations, chemical management and purchasing will be one key area. The company is also 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 viable commercial infrastructure for powering hotels and corporate offices.External assessment by leading consulting group
In the past year, Hilton Hotels Corporation conducted a thorough assessment of its global operations with the goal of identifying current impacts, and creating a strategy to define, galvanize and build sustainability into the business. To lead this effort, HHC brought in Blu Skye Sustainability Consulting, led by company founder and CEO Jib Ellison. Blu Skye visited a cross-section of Hilton Family hotels, interviewed various business units and analyzed the company's operating procedures. As a result of these efforts, corporate and brand management teams, together with Blu Skye, were able to identify specific areas of focus to build the company's sustainability framework focusing on short and long term value creation. "Hilton is building on its strong history of environmental stewardship by launching these ambitious goals," says Ellison. "Their comprehensive sustainability strategy has put them on a path to leadership in the hospitality industry."Support strategy
Under the direction of a newly appointed vice president - global sustainability Christopher Corpuel, HHC will build out a team to develop and implement its sustainability strategy. This team will support all of HHC's core businesses and work closely with hotel ownership and management groups to achieve its stated goals.In addition, Hilton Hotels Corporation is supporting its portfolio of commitments in a number of ways, by:
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Building out educational and engagement programs for all brands and team members, including online learning, centralized web content, and various training modules.
- Measuring and reporting on our progress. The internal environmental management tool used within company-managed hotels will be extended to all properties, allowing us to track and report on our commitments and design processes and programs that identify areas of opportunity to drive innovation and efficiencies.
- Revising brand operational, and design and construction standards for 2009 to ensure both internal and external best practices are shared, adopted and transparent around the globe.
- Evaluating all current and future purchasing policies and practices across the brands to ensure that the range of products placed in hotels not only enhance the guest experience but drive value for owners while supporting the company's overall sustainability efforts.
Current practices
Hilton Hotels Corporation has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability with several projects that currently are underway. In the European region, energy and water consumption already have been reduced by 10% during the last two years. In the U.K. and Ireland, the introduction of carbon-free electricity has reduced CO2 emissions in participating Hilton hotels by more than 64,000 tons, or 56% of our carbon footprint. In the United States, Hilton was the first in the industry to complete the installation of a commercial fuel cell power system, atop the Hilton New York, delivering one of the cleanest power generating technologies available today.
Galvanizing the spirit demonstrated by its recent and past successes together with its current commitments, Hilton Hotels Corporation has created a Mission Statement that will carry forward throughout its business practices.