HNtv INSIDERS: Taking Stock at COP26: Achievements and Challenges towards a Net Positive Hospitality

The hospitality sector is active at COP26. Independent of the results from official negotiations, the hospitality sector is ramping up efforts in mitigating impacts on climate and fostering greater collaboration across the supply and value chain. Net zero methodologies are being developed which are providing a transparent step-by-step guide for any industry player, from a small independently owned and operated hotel to the large, global chains. Beyond net zero, it is also time for the hospitality sector to harness its "regenerative" potential by supporting communities and restoring natural habitats. The Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, announced by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance during COP26, will provide a common roadmap to developers, owners, investors, operators and franchisees towards that regeneration imperative. In a tree-way conversation bringing the views from industry, academia and associations, the importance of COP26 for driving collaborative dialogue is discussed with an agreement that commitments need to be supported by concrete plans and actions. This is a turning point in the hospitality industry.

Discussing are: Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications for Radisson Hotel Group, Patrick O"Meara, Interim CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Willy Legrand, Professor of Hospitality Management at the IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Timeline

Explained: Net Positive (netpositiveproject.org)
Explained: Net Positive (ssir.org)
Explained: Regenerative sustainability (medium.com)
News: Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality raises global ambition for the hospitality sector (SHA)
News: Tourism Unites Behind the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action at COP26 (UNWTO)