IHG listed on the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

DENHAM, UK, 2017-Sep-21 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has today been listed on the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, having achieved first place in RobecoSAM’s Consumer Services industry group and the highest score for the industry on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

This achievement means that IHG will receive listings on the 2017 S&P Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index, the most prestigious global benchmarks for corporate economic, environmental and social performance.

Paul Snyder, Vice President – Corporate Responsibility, IHG, commented: “We are thrilled to be listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, which are the gold standard for recognising sustainability performance. As one of the world’s leading hotel companies, we put sustainability right at the heart of how our hotels operate and this achievement is testament to our long-standing commitment to Responsible Business practices. It is also much-deserved recognition for the hard work and collaboration of so many of our people, owners and partners over a number of years, including in thousands of our hotels worldwide.”

In RobecoSAM’s Industry Group Leader Report, IHG ranked first for several criteria, including climate strategy, code of business conduct, human rights, stakeholder engagement, and customer relationship management.

The report noted that IHG had ‘achieved the leadership position in the Consumer Services sector, with outstanding performance in the industry’s most material issues’. It also commented that ‘the nature of the hospitality sector demands a holistic and clear understanding of guests’ needs in order to guarantee long term business viability’, commending IHG for demonstrating ‘strong client orientation which in turn has been rewarded with high levels of client satisfaction in 2016 (and constantly increasing since 2013).’

A key driver of IHG’s success has been the IHG Green Engage™ system, an online sustainability tool that helps hotels manage and minimise their impact on the environment. RobecoSAM’s report said that the ‘system provides IHG with accurate and auditable data on its carbon emissions and it is used as a tool to prepare the company for tighter existing and new building standards.’

The IHG Green Engage™ system was launched in 2009 and rolled out across all IHG hotels globally in 2014. It allows hotels to set and track property-specific reduction goals for carbon, energy, water and waste. It also gives IHG hotels access to more than 200 actions or ‘Green Solutions’, which can be implemented to build and operate sustainable properties. More than 15,000 Green Solutions were implemented through the programme in 2016 alone.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Mark Debenham
mark.debenham@ihg.com
+44 (0) 1895 512 097

About IHG®
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & ResortsKimpton® Hotels & RestaurantsHotel Indigo®EVEN® HotelsHUALUXE® Hotels and ResortsCrowne Plaza® Hotels & ResortsHoliday Inn®Holiday Inn Express®Holiday Inn Club Vacations®Holiday Inn Resort®Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,200 hotels and nearly 780,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with more than 1,500 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

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.ihgplc.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihgwww.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc.  

About the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

  • The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, a family of indices evaluating the sustainability performance of the largest 2,500 companies, was launched in 1999 in a partnership between S&P Dow Jones and RobecoSAM (Sustainable Asset Management).
  • It is the first and longest running global sustainability benchmark and tracks the stock performance of the world’s leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria.
  • The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices.
  • The results of the CSA are also increasingly being used in innovative new products for investors, such as the S&P 500 ESG, S&P Europe 350 ESG, S&P Topix 150 ESG, S&P Global 1200 ESG and S&P Long-Term Value Creation Index.