In 2025, sustainability is no longer a PR checkbox in the hotel industry—it’s a measurable standard. Global hotel chains are now held to a higher benchmark by investors, regulators, and, most crucially, conscious travelers. Unlike previous years, when vague "eco-friendly" promises dominated websites, the focus in 2025 is on data-backed environmental performance, certifications, and supply chain accountability.
According to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), 87% of hotel guests now check for sustainability practices before booking. Similarly, a 2025 report by Skift Research shows that 72% of Gen Z and millennial travelers consider eco-efforts as critical when choosing accommodations. This isn’t a trend—it’s an expectation.
This blog breaks down factual, brand-specific sustainability trends and practices across major hotel chains including Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Accor, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Each section explores real-world implementations—from energy-efficient construction and circular waste management to sustainable supply chain practices—offering clarity in a world of greenwashing.
Let’s explore how these major hotel players are truly reshaping their operations and values in 2025—not through lip service, but through verifiable action.
In 2025, Marriott International continues to lead the way in measurable sustainability through its “Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction” framework. The latest data from their 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report shows strong progress in carbon reduction and sustainable design.
Science-Based Targets: Marriott is aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). By mid-2025, they’ve achieved a 34% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, putting them on track to reach net-zero by 2050.
Green Building Expansion: Over 1,400 Marriott properties globally are now certified under LEED, BREEAM, or equivalent green building standards. The AC Hotels in Spain and Courtyard properties in Canada are piloting regenerative design strategies using renewable energy and biophilic elements.
Waste Diversion Programs: Marriott’s goal to divert 50% of waste from landfills by 2025 has reached 46%, with 700+ hotels now practicing composting, recycling, and food donation partnerships.
Water Efficiency: Marriott reduced water usage by 18% per occupied room across drought-prone regions in North America and the Middle East using smart water management systems.
Sustainable Procurement: Through their “Sustainable Sourcing” platform, Marriott has traced over 80% of seafood purchases to certified sustainable sources and expanded plant-based menu items across all JW Marriott and W Hotels.
Marriott’s standout in 2025 is not just the scope of initiatives but the transparency. Their ESG dashboards are publicly available, allowing travelers and stakeholders to track progress in real time.
Hilton’s “Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals” continue to evolve in 2025 with a heavier emphasis on decarbonization and hyper-localized sourcing. Their annual Hilton Global Responsibility Report provides measurable progress toward climate and social targets.
Carbon-Free Commitments: Hilton achieved a 38% reduction in carbon emissions per square meter across all managed hotels. Many new-builds and refurbishments are incorporating solar PV, geothermal heating, and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
Net Zero Roadmap: Hilton is among the few hotel groups to publish a complete Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions inventory, with third-party verification. They’ve joined the Race to Zero initiative, aligning with UNFCCC targets.
Community-Based Sourcing: In 2025, Hilton partnered with over 2,500 small-scale local suppliers, reducing transportation-related emissions and stimulating local economies. Their “Eat Local, Stay Global” campaign is live in 42 countries.
Plastic-Free Hotels: Over 80% of Hilton-branded properties globally are now plastic-free, having phased out single-use items in favor of compostable or refillable alternatives.
Green Building Certifications: Over 700 Hilton properties have achieved ISO 14001 environmental certification, with Hilton Singapore Orchard and Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street as case studies for full carbon-neutral operations.
Hilton’s sustainability transformation is particularly commendable for its decentralized execution—giving property-level teams autonomy to implement context-specific eco-initiatives.
In 2025, Hyatt’s sustainability strategy is less about catching up and more about carving niche leadership in biodiversity protection, circular operations, and guest engagement. Their “World of Care” 2025 Update is one of the most transparent and detailed sustainability progress reports in the industry.
Biodiversity Action Plans: Hyatt has implemented site-specific Biodiversity Management Plans in over 100 resorts near vulnerable ecosystems (e.g., Mexico, Indonesia, and the Maldives). These plans include mangrove restoration, reef-safe sunscreen partnerships, and wildlife monitoring programs.
Circular Economy Pilot Projects: Hyatt launched circular room models in select Andaz and Alila properties, where materials like carpets, linens, and soaps are recycled or upcycled on-site or via partner organizations. These circular models reduce landfill waste by up to 65%.
Sustainable Food Systems: Over 70% of Hyatt’s global food procurement in 2025 is organic, seasonal, and locally sourced. Their plant-forward menus—especially at Hyatt Centric locations—have reduced carbon intensity by an estimated 22%.
Guest Education Tools: Hyatt provides digital dashboards in each room detailing energy usage and carbon footprint per stay, allowing guests to opt into eco-modes that limit towel/linen change frequency, HVAC use, and plastic products.
Green Meetings and Events: The Meet and Be Green program has gone paperless, with incentives for low-impact event planning across all Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt locations.
Hyatt is proving that eco-luxury can be authentic and educational, not performative. Their blend of ecological sensitivity and operational efficiency sets them apart in 2025.
Accor’s 2025 sustainability framework, known as “Planet 21 – Acting Here”, is driven by grassroots innovation, measurable milestones, and universal certification protocols across all brands—from ibis to Sofitel.
Universal Green Key Certification: As of 2025, 100% of Accor’s properties (over 5,000 hotels) have achieved or are in the final stages of achieving Green Key or EarthCheck certification, reflecting environmental management practices in energy, water, and waste.
Carbon Tracking System: Accor has deployed EcoCheck, an AI-powered internal platform that allows property managers to track emissions, energy consumption, and waste in real time—linked directly to corporate ESG goals.
Employee Sustainability Innovation Fund: Staff at Accor hotels can propose local sustainability projects and receive funding through the $15 million Sustainability Innovation Fund, with over 800 projects launched since 2023.
Eco-Renovations: Over 300 Novotel and Mercure hotels have undergone eco-retrofitting, including green roofs, triple-glazed windows, and automated energy-efficient lighting systems.
Hospitality Meets Circularity: Accor has scaled its “Soap for Hope” and “Linen for Life” programs in 48 countries, donating used hygiene products and textiles to communities in need while reducing waste.
Accor’s success stems from standardization without rigidity—they have embedded sustainability KPIs into daily hotel operations without compromising brand diversity or experience.
IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow initiative in 2025 has pivoted beyond sustainability toward regenerative hospitality, with an emphasis on transparent supply chains and social equity.
Net Positive Goals: IHG’s bold 2025 target is to become net positive in water and biodiversity at 250 hotels in high-impact areas. Properties in Thailand, Kenya, and Brazil are part of regenerative pilot programs restoring watersheds and native vegetation.
Supply Chain Traceability: Through blockchain-based auditing tools, IHG now provides traceability for over 85% of raw materials, ensuring ethical sourcing of items like cotton, coffee, and seafood.
Carbon Accounting in PMS: IHG integrated carbon tracking into its proprietary hotel Property Management System, allowing managers to receive real-time CO₂ data and make operational adjustments.
Community Impact Initiatives: Over 1,000 IHG hotels globally are now engaging in community-driven environmental programs, from beach clean-ups to reforestation, through partnerships with local NGOs.
Design for Disassembly: New IHG properties like voco and EVEN Hotels are built with modular construction techniques allowing for disassembly, reuse, and upcycling—reducing long-term environmental footprint.
IHG is carving a path toward accountable sustainability. With a blend of tech-forward solutions and local empowerment, the group is setting a new precedent for the hotel sector in 2025.
In 2025, major hotel chains are no longer rewarded for simply talking about sustainability—they’re being scrutinized based on measurable outcomes. As the world faces climate tipping points, tourism and hospitality are transforming not just their buildings, but their entire business ethos.
The strategies adopted by Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, and IHG show that large-scale sustainability in hospitality is possible, but it must be data-driven, inclusive, and operationally embedded. These brands are proving that success lies in regional adaptability, cross-sector partnerships, and a willingness to invest in long-term ecological returns rather than short-term PR wins.
For travelers, this transformation means greater transparency. For investors, it signals resilience. For the planet, it brings hope that even high-consumption industries can regenerate more than they consume.
What’s next? In 2026 and beyond, the hospitality industry may be expected not just to reduce harm—but to restore ecosystems, empower communities, and lead climate-positive innovation. These 2025 trends are not the final chapter, but the solid groundwork for a greener, more accountable future in global hospitality.
Lina Zhou is a globe-trotting travel writer from Chengdu, China. With a passion for hidden gems and cross-cultural experiences, she shares practical tips, visa guidance, and immersive stories from every corner of the world. When not exploring, she’s sipping tea while planning her next adventure.
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