News Roundup: Accor’s commitment to remove single-use plastics within two years, Sabre’s global partnership with OYO Hotels & Homes, new media partner for Japan’s Chubu Centrair International Airport
Environment: Accor to eliminate single-use plastics by 2022
Accor has pledged to remove single-use plastic items from all its properties by the end of 2022, following similar initiatives by brands that include InterContinental, Marriott and Hyatt.
This move is part of the French hospitality company’s commitment to join the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organisation, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners and host communities,” said Accor chairman & CEO Sébastien Bazin. “What guides us is the consciousness and social awareness that drives every person who strives to be a good citizen. It’s about being aware, socially conscious and consistent.”
The group stated it has been working within the framework of its sustainable-development programme for the past 25 years, and has banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds from its hotels. It added that 94% of its properties have already done so while the remaining 6% – mostly in China – will follow by the end of March 2020.
The new commitment will see the hotels within the French group remove use of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups by the of this year. This will be followed by the elimination of all remaining single-use plastic items in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants and all leisure activities areas such as spas and fitness centres by end 2022
As Accor receives over 120 million guests and serves more than 200 million meals each year, it estimates more than 200 million single-use plastic items are used yearly in all areas within the hotels. To help reduce their impact several properties have chosen more sustainable alternatives.
For example, 89% of ibis hotels (2,087 properties) are using dispensers for toiletries with properties in Latin America to follow the same initiative this year. Meanwhile, Fairmont properties have water filtration taps in guestrooms to remove the use of plastic bottled water.
According to Accor, its new economy segment brand Greet that was launched last September is plastic free. “There is zero disposable plastic at breakfast and reusable dishes are utilised for butter and jam. In addition, there is zero disposable plastic in rooms and other parts of the hotels.” The group plans to open 10 more Greet hotels in Europe this year.
In addition, several hotels within the group including Novotel Yangon Max, Sofitel Bogota, Ibis Styles São Paulo Anhem and numerous properties in Bali & Lombok (Indonesia) have already taken steps individually to be plastic free and are advancing towards a 100% single use plastic free objective.
“Our efforts don’t stop here. We’re an innovative group by nature and continuously search for more areas where we can reduce our impact on the global environment while helping our local communities in their efforts to create a healthier, more-sustainable future,” said Bazin.
Partnership: Sabre lands deal with OYO
Sabre Corporation has signed a strategic long-term global partnership with OYO Hotels & Homes.
With this deal, OYO will be connected to almost 900,000 travel agents globally through the GDS connectivity solution powered by Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ SynXis platform.
OYO Hotels & Homes will also be linked to global distribution systems (GDS), including Sabre, in addition to linking the (hotel) chain’s portfolio to numerous distribution channels.
According to Sabre, the deal “will help OYO generate increased bookings and open up additional revenue opportunities for its asset owners worldwide.”
Commenting on the agreement OYO Hotels & Homes global chief strategy officer, Maninder Gulati, said: “Asset owners are the backbone of our business at OYO, and we believe that this partnership will immensely help owners generate additional demand for the properties and widen their reach.”
Frank Trampert, Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ managing director & chief commercial officer, EMEA & APAC, added that with this partnership “we are enabling a new distribution model for OYO, increasing their exposure to global markets in addition to supporting travel agents as they aim to cater to their customers’ ever-changing needs.”
Technology: Chubu Centrair Airport appoints Travelport as digital media partner
Japan’s Chubu Centrair International Airport will get a promotional boost with the appointment of Travelport as its digital media partner.
The technology company, as part of the appointment, will promote the airport and its connected destinations to a global network of travel agents.
Chubu Centrair International Airport, constructed on an artificial island in Ise Bay just outside of Nagoya, opened in February 2005. It is the main international gateway for the central (Chubu) region of Japan. A new terminal dedicated for low-cost carriers opened last September.
Jason Clarke, chief commercial officer – travel partners at Travelport, described the airport as a “bleisure” destination with an in-airport theme park, multiple hotels and convention centres. Its goal as the airport’s new partner is to promote these “unique attractions”, via the agents, to both business and leisure travellers.
Travelport’s Digital Media Solutions help airlines, airports and destinations raise their profile and boost bookings by influencing travel buyers throughout their purchase journey.
• Featured image credit: Oat Phawat/Getty Images
