Launch of the “Hotels Go Net Zero” project - a milestone for climate protection in tourism
In order to achieve the climate targets of the European Green Deal, the hotel industry faces the challenge of significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This is where the new Futouris project “Hotels Go Net Zero” comes in, which actively accompanies and supports hotels on their way to greater climate protection. The joint project has now been launched with kick-off events.
Together to net zero
The joint project “Hotels Go Net Zero” is being implemented by Futouris, DERTOUR Group, Schauinsland-Reisen, Hotelplan Group and the experts from blueContec and myclimate until 2025 as part of the implementation phase of the successful industry project “Climate-conscious travel”. The aim of the new sub-project is to support hotels across Europe in setting up and implementing active climate management and to promote the reduction of CO2e emissions caused by hotel operations.
The project is being implemented in selected pilot hotels in Spain (Canary Islands), Greece and Germany. Four hotels on Fuerteventura (Playitas Resort Fuerteventura, Aldiana Club Fuerteventura, R2 Rio Calma Hotel & Spa & Conference and R2 Higos Beach Apartments), one hotel on Crete (Creta Maris Resort) and one hotel in Germany (aja Bad Saarow) are involved.
Hotels Go Net Zero project launched with successful kick-offs
The kick-off meetings with the six committed pilot hotels took place in May and July 2024. A total of 25 employees from the hotels took part to find out more about the first steps and objectives of the project. In addition to presenting the activities and methods, the myclimate online tool for collecting data on emissions was also introduced. Intensive work is currently underway to collect emissions data from the pilot hotels.
“We are focusing on a detailed analysis of the collected data in order to develop so-called ‘Net Zero Roadmaps’ with specific targets, strategies and measures to reduce emissions together with hotel teams and experts. We also take into account the most important supply chain emissions, which play a significant role in the overall emissions profile of a hotel,” explains Swantje Lehners, Futouris Managing Director for Projects and Cooperation.
Karl J. Pojer, CEO of the DERTOUR Group Hotel Division, says: “We are proud to be part of this pilot project, because with Futouris we have an experienced partner at our side. We are actively and consciously taking the first steps in the right direction to implement consistent climate management in the hotel industry. I am very excited about the results of the data collection phase and the concrete steps we are taking to reduce our CO2 emissions. We then want to transfer these measures to other hotels.”
Friederike Grupp, Head of Sustainability at Hotelplan Group, adds: “Hotelplan Group is pursuing the ambitious net-zero target and has integrated it into a comprehensive sustainability strategy. In order to reduce emissions effectively, it is essential to consider the entire value chain. After all, this is where the majority of emissions are generated. Collaboration with partner companies is therefore a logical step towards reducing emissions in the hotel industry too. Together, we can achieve a lot as an industry.”
