IHG to achieve energy savings of 25% by 2017

InterContinental Hotels Group has announced a series of new corporate responsibility targets as part of its Responsible Business strategy.

The new targets will focus on driving impact through the group’s three core programmes – IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm and IHG Academy.

IHG Green Engage is an online system tracks the use of energy, carbon, water and management of waste at the group’s hotels to manage and minimise their impact on the environment. The programme offers more than 200 green solutions for hotels to implement to reduce their environmental impact and achieve energy savings of up to 25%.

Targets for the programme from 2013-2017 include reducing carbon footprint per occupied room by 12% and reducing water use per occupied room in water-stressed regions.

The IHG Academy aims to improve the employability of up to 20,000 people by providing training and skills through the programme.

The IHG Academy is a global partnership between IHG Hotels and local community or education organisations to provide skills and employment opportunities at IHG properties.

IHG’s Shelter in a Storm programme, supported by the IHG Shelter Fund helps the group’s hotels support guests, colleagues and local communities with vital supplies, accommodation and financial support in the event of a natural disaster. Over the past week, IHG has been raising money for the programme through the IHG Race Around the World, whereby staff at IHG will donate US$ 1 for every kilometre of walking, running, cycling or swimming pledged by IHG staff around the world.

The group hopes to contribute a total of US $10 million to communities through the Shelter in a Storm programme by 2017.

IHG chief executive Richard Solomons said: “Being a responsible business is part of IHG’s DNA. It is at the heart of everything we do. Our three flagship corporate responsibility initiatives – IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme and IHG Academy – continue to go from strength to strength. We are very proud of what we've achieved so far, but there is always more to be done. These targets are a clear signal of our commitment to doing business responsibly and to creating shared value for IHG, our owners, the environment and the local community.”