Iniciativas Eco-responsables y RSE

🏖️ Dennis Whitelaw of Marriott International in Costa Rica discusses sustainability efforts, focusing on diversification to attract European tourists and offering more off-season products. Marriott's Serve360 program aligns with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, driving green practices and education. Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén and Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort hold the highest Certification for Sustainable Tourism from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, along with several other environmental and social certifications. The hotels work on bird-watching tourism and MICE business travel, providing added value during the low season, and encourage extending business trips for leisure. The Costa Rican government aims to increase air frequencies and routes, including a new flight from Brazil by GOL starting in November.

🌏 The second Ecostars ESG Summit 2024 recently convened representatives from 12 national and international mid-sized hotel chains to focus on sustainable practices and positive impacts on society and the environment. Despite talent shortages limiting sustainable goals, these chains are investing in energy efficiency, water management, and waste reduction, with many using the Ecostars Prime sustainability management software. The private event highlighted technology and certifications as key for future tourism sustainability. Key participants included B&B Hotel Group, Hilton Grand Vacations, Sercotel Hotel Group, and others committed to monitoring and managing their ESG impacts.

🏖️ In Las Américas (Adeje), a protest with the slogan “Canarias no se vende; se ama y se defiende!” took place, attracting 6,500 people according to the Government, while organizers claim 10,000 to 15,000 participants, down from 57,000 in the April 20 protest. The march spanned 2 kilometers from Metrópolis Center to Salytien Plaza, with demands for a tourism model change, halt of urban projects, and an “ecotax”. Simultaneous protests occurred in Madrid, Barcelona, and Berlin.

🌏 Madrid, embracing sustainability as a core principle for tourism, has launched a strategic action plan focusing on balanced tourism through social, economic, and environmental sustainability, innovation, and digitization. The plan includes challenges like tourism decentralization, CO2 emissions reduction, and promotion of responsible tourism. Key initiatives feature the Centro de Información Turística de la Plaza Mayor, accessible tourism guides in multiple languages, Autism Friendly certification, and a digital transformation including AI through VisitMadridGPT. Madrid Convention Bureau aids in sustainable meeting tourism with tools like the MICE Sustainability Guide and PLUS, Legacy with US platform for carbon footprint reports. By 2025, marketing efforts will prioritize environmental sustainability, equality, and inclusion policies, aiming to meet Agenda 2030 goals for tourism in harmony with Madrid's socio-economic well-being.

🚨 Boeing's union and management have reached an agreement to end a five-week strike, pending a vote by the 33,000 workers involved. The agreement includes a 35% wage increase over the contract period, which is 10 percentage points higher than the initial company offer. However, pension plan contributions lost during the protest will not be recovered. Boeing, facing severe financial issues, needs to rapidly seek liquidity and could require an estimated $55 billion due to lost revenue, military aviation losses, commercial aviation disasters, and the urgent purchase of Spirit, which builds the 737 fuselage—a model Boeing needs to make profitable again soon.

🚃 China launched a high-speed night train connecting Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai in June, halving the travel time compared to conventional trains. The service links Hong Kong West Kowloon, Beijingxi, and Shanghai Hongqiao stations, taking 12.5 hours to Beijing and 11 hours to Shanghai. Trains offer sleeping berths, luxury single berths with a closet and sofa, second-class seating, and dining cars. This development is aimed at increasing Hong Kong's connectivity with mainland China and providing a sustainable travel alternative to flights. Europe's night trains, in contrast, still operate at conventional speeds with no immediate plans for high-speed upgrades.

🚗 The Paris Orly Airport, under ADP's management, is aiming to eliminate cars to reduce CO2 emissions and reclaim land. Consultation with over 10,000 participants is underway to gauge public opinion. Orly will have three remote reception centers for parking and check-in, with bus connections. Public transport is currently used for only 30% of airport visits, despite the existing Line 14 to Paris taking 25 minutes, and the forthcoming Line 18 Orly and Tram T7.

💰 Remica awarded at the iClima Recognitions for Spain's largest energy rehabilitation project in a community of over 1,200 homes in Alcorcón, Madrid, which is also the first to obtain Energy Savings Certificates (CAE). Celebrated on October 9th at the Hotel Wellington in Madrid, the event brought together about 150 HVAC professionals. The project received a €14 million subsidy from Next Generation funds, installed over 100 heat pumps with a peak power of 1,632 kWt, 1,146 solar panels with a peak power of 630 kWp, and achieved a 78% energy saving and a reduction of 3,543 tons of CO₂ annually. It improved the building's energy certification from 'E' to 'B' and increased comfort with 24-hour heating.

📖 Garden Hotels, recognized for circular economy strategies, is the first hotel chain certified by AENOR. Gabriel Llobera Ramis, Marketing and Communication Director of Garden Hotels, led a masterclass for tourism and hospitality professionals on regenerative tourism. The session highlighted the urgent need for sustainable transformation in hotel management and showcased Garden Hotels' success in integrating sustainable practices, promoting local communities, and implementing educational projects like organic gardens. Hosteltur Academy facilitated this learning opportunity to inspire industry change towards regenerative tourism.

🌍 En una encuesta de Forum Business Travel & Events con Lufthansa Group, el 85.7% de gestores de viajes reciben datos sobre emisiones de compañías aéreas, pero menos del 5% obtienen información del tren o alojamiento. El 68% sigue objetivos de reducción de huella de carbono de su empresa, mientras el 24% carece de directrices. En 2025, entrará en vigor la Directiva de Reporte de Sostenibilidad Corporativa (CSRD) de la UE. Un 54% de decisiones de compra favorecen proveedores sostenibles si los precios son iguales.