IHG to partner with Water Footprint Network on Global Water Stewardship Programme
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IHG to partner with Water Footprint Network on Global Water Stewardship Programme

August 24, 2015 // Franchising.com // InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has today announced the appointment of global water-use experts, the Water Footprint Network, to develop a worldwide water stewardship programme for IHG.

As part of the programme, IHG and the Water Footprint Network will develop a deep understanding of IHG’s water usage at a local level, applying best practice techniques and behaviours to manage and reduce its water footprint. The partnership will build on the strong progress IHG is already making to reduce water consumption per occupied room in water-stressed areas, one of the company’s 2013-2017 Corporate Responsibility targets.

Paul Snyder, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility – Environmental Sustainability, IHG, commented: “We are delighted to add the Water Footprint Network’s expertise to the great work we’re doing towards achieving our reduction targets around water consumption. IHG has a presence in nearly 100 countries, so ensuring we are good water stewards locally generates significant environmental and economic benefits for both IHG and the communities in which we operate.”

Ruth Mathews, Executive Director, Water Footprint Network, commented: “We are very much looking forward to partnering with IHG to develop its global water stewardship programme. IHG’s global scale gives us an opportunity to make both a broad and positive impact, as well as to inspire the millions of people and guests that work and stay in IHG’s hotels.”

IHG helps its hotels to manage freshwater usage through the company’s online environmental sustainability tool, IHG Green Engage™ system. In addition to water, the system gives hotels the ability to track how much carbon, and energy they are using, as well as to assess how waste is managed. IHG’s global estate of more than 4,900 hotels is enrolled, giving them access to more than 200 specific actions – or ‘Green Solutions’ – designed to reduce hotels’ environmental impact.

There are nearly 30 Green Solutions devoted solely to water. These include the ability to track consumption on a monthly basis, as well as guidance on more specific water-saving solutions such as metering, rainwater harvesting, and the installation of devices such as low-flow taps and showerheads. Such solutions helped IHG drive a 4.2% reduction* in water use per occupied room in water-stressed areas to the end of 2014.

Notes to Editors:

* from a 2012 baseline

About IHG Green Engage™ System

IHG Green Engage is an innovative online sustainability system designed to help IHG-branded hotels monitor, reduce and manage waste, water and energy consumption, as well as carbon emissions.

With more than 4,900 properties around the world, IHG-branded hotels are an important part of the local communities in which they operate and play a critical role in balancing economic, social and environmental impacts.

For more information on the IHG Green Engage system visit: http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?pageid=742.

For more information on IHG’s Responsible Business practices, visit: www.ihgplc.com/responsiblebusiness.

About IHG PLC

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with nearly 86 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 4,900 hotels and 720,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline. Over 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

About Water Footprint Network

Water Footprint Network provides science-based, practical solutions and strategic insights that empower companies, governments, small-scale producers and individuals to transform the way we use and share fresh water within earth’s limits.

Founded in 2008 by the University of Twente, WWF, UNESCO-IHE, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, International Finance Corporation, Netherlands Water Partnership and Water Neutral Foundation, we are a dynamic, international learning community.

Working together with and supported by hundreds of partners worldwide, we drive action towards sustainable, efficient and equitable water use, build communities to escalate change in river basins, share knowledge and train practitioners to solve the world’s water crises.

As the global leader in Water Footprint Assessment, we find solutions using a common methodology that interlinks water related issues and leads to strategic action for water stewardship, resource efficiency, fair allocation and good governance. Our data, tools and Global Water Footprint Standard bridge sectors and viewpoints, illuminate the path towards integrated water resource management and accelerate progress towards sustainable development.

For more information, visit: www.waterfootprint.org.

SOURCE InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®)

Contact:

Mark Debenham
IHG
mark.debenham@ihg.com
+44 (0) 1895 512097

Ruth Mathews
Water Footprint Network
ruth.mathews@waterfootprint.org
+31 (0) 6238 15408

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