Luxury hotel group Kempinski has published its third Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, showcasing advancements in sustainable development and ethical business practices in 2023. The report builds upon previous findings from 2021 and 2022, and aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the UN Global Impact Ten principles for human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.
Key findings from the 2023 report include a significant reduction in energy use and emissions. Energy use per guest night decreased by 25.1% compared to 2022, while emission intensity fell by 19% per guest night. The company also reported a 20% decline in total waste and a 19% reduction in waste intensity per guest night.
Kempinski demonstrated progress in water conservation, with water use intensity dropping by 17% for the second consecutive year. The company has also set a goal to eliminate plastic key cards at all hotels by 2026, potentially saving three tons of plastic. As of 2023, more than half of Kempinski's hotels have transitioned to wooden key cards.
In addition, the report highlights Kempinski's commitment to diversity and employee development. The company employs individuals from 124 nationalities, with 84.3% being local nationals. Of the 19,200 employees in 2023, 38.7% were female. The company also provided over 175,000 hours of training in 2023, averaging 9.2 hours per employee per month.
In terms of ethical practices, Kempinski reported zero incidents of corruption or bribery in 2023, with 28 operations assessed for corruption risk. It also issued a company-wide child and forced labor policy in 2023 to formalize its commitment to eradicating both.
"As a global luxury hotel operator, Kempinski places sustainability at its heart, carefully considering our impact on the communities in which we operate,” said Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Group. “While there is a guest expectation and a business responsibility to report our findings through our latest ESG Report, we are also driven by moral and ethical imperatives to look after our people and our planet. The progress made over the last three years since the inception of Kempinski's Sustainability Committee is tremendous, however, we recognize there is still much work to be done. We will continue to embed sustainability into every area of our company and drive positive change for all properties across the globe and throughout the hospitality industry at large."
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Kempinski. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
