Four Corners Hospitality Group's COO, Kym Kapadia, Emphasizes the Vitality of Robust ESG Strategy: A Necessity, Not a Luxury
Confirmed through discussions during IHIF recently, one constantly repeated priority for all hotel investors, brands, operators and suppliers, is that of ESG, with fabulous Best Practice ideas and successful initiatives shared.
Unlike previous years, the focus on ESG has reached the forefront. Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) was once the poster child, and now ESG has earned itself a somewhat “Vogue” status – the purported Gold standard for striving towards a sustainable future.
Profit, People, Planet – the triple bottom ‘Holy Grail’ that many preach. Now is the time to practice it in earnest. It’s simply expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to ESG within our hotels & resorts, which research suggests adds real value to a Real Estate transaction. At every stage of the life-cycle of a hotel, from design and construction, to capex, financing and operations and right through to disposal, ESG plays a part in every stage, adding real value to an asset at exit.
Commercially, just as important to the success of a new investment is the ability for a brand or operator to tap into the growing number of eco-minded travellers and guests – whether leisure or corporate – who are placing environmental credentials as a primary driver for purchasing decisions. According to Google Insights, more than 50% of travellers surveyed say that environmental and sustainable considerations are essential when planning time away. 71% of hotel guests plan to travel “greener” and play their part in reducing carbon emissions, and more than half indicated that they are determined to make more environmentally conscious travel choices from now on.
In line with our core philosophy to work only with true experts, when we founded FCHG, and having identified that ESG was an essential focus for hotel investors and owners, we selected an exceptional partner in terms of expertise, experience and knowledge whilst also matching our own values and DNA. We are proud to partner with the fantastic team at Mission Net Zero, to give us the leading edge when it comes to achieving ESG goals and accreditation.
Working together we integrate ESG metrics across all areas of the operation and then develop a compelling customer proposition that resonates the hotel positioning, and meets consumer expectations.
Our team of experts, led by Tim Shearman and Kym Kapadia are known for developing and driving outstanding results across the full spectrum of Hotel ownership support. We’re always happy to chat through our latest insights, trends, and opportunities affecting this exciting sector.