Highlights Include Committing to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Incorporating Sustainability into
Property Improvement Plans, and a Refreshed Approach to Human
Trafficking Awareness and Prevention
NORTH BETHESDA, Md.,
April 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International,
Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors,
today published its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance
Report. The report details Choice's latest initiatives to drive
sustainability across its portfolio of hotels. This includes new
and expanded requirements to help reduce utility usage and identify
savings through its revamped Room to be Green verification program.
As part of this initiative, the report highlights the growing
adoption of Choice's automated utility tracking dashboard, with
over 2,600 properties participating and counting.
"At Choice, we're committed to building a better tomorrow,
today. By championing sustainable practices, we're helping hotel
owners save time and money and appeal to guests and corporate
clients," said Megan Brumagim, Vice
President of Sustainability at Choice. "Embracing and committing to
sustainability is not just the right thing to do, it's also good
for business. We are proud of the progress we've made and are
energized to continue our sustainability journey."
Guests browsing ChoiceHotels.com can now identify properties
committed to sustainability through a search filter and a
designated sustainability practices icon. This feature empowers
guests to filter hotels based on sustainability practices. Guests
can also filter for hotels that offer electric vehicle
charging.
Initiatives detailed in the report include:
- Property Improvement Plans: Thirty-five hotels were selected
for a pilot program to participate in sustainability audits
conducted by third-party experts and receive recommendations and
solutions to drive more sustainable operations and investments. The
recommendations included building envelope enhancements, rainwater
reuse, water mitigation solutions, energy-saving smart thermostats
in guest rooms, and the replacement of natural gas water heaters
with electric heat pump high-efficiency units. Choice plans to
embed the insights obtained from this initiative into existing
property improvement plan processes.
- Reducing carbon emissions: Choice signed a formal commitment
with the Science Based Targets initiative to set science-based
targets for reducing its carbon footprint.
- Electric vehicle charging: Choice has signed agreements with
providers that offer EV charging options for guests across its
hotel system. Choice is well-positioned to address the growing
consumer demand for EV charging, with guests who drove to hotels
accounting for 82% of all Choice room nights in 2022. To find a
hotel with a charging station, travelers can use the EV charging
filter on ChoiceHotels.com and the Choice Hotels mobile app.
- Opening doors to hotel ownership: Choice continues to be a
leader in creating hotel ownership opportunities for
underrepresented minority entrepreneurs. Our Emerging Markets
Program was developed 20 years ago to establish relationships with
underrepresented communities including African American, Hispanic,
Native American, veteran and women entrepreneurs. In connection
with that program, Choice has awarded and financially supported
more than 370 franchise agreements with diverse participants since
2004.
- Fighting human trafficking: The company refreshed its corporate
and franchisee-facing human trafficking prevention training and
joined the inaugural American Hotel & Lodging Association No
Room for Trafficking Advisory Council, which unites leaders across
the industry in the fight against human trafficking.
In late 2023, Choice opened its new global headquarters in
North Bethesda, Maryland. Designed
with sustainability and associates' wellbeing in mind, features
include energy-efficient systems, EV charging stations, proximity
to public transit, and a partial green rooftop. The Pike & Rose
development, where the building is located, is LEED ND certified,
which recognizes its green and community impact. The building is
also aiming for LEED Gold certification.
For more information, the 2023 ESG report is available online
here.
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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.