Accor and Expedia Group have joined forces to expand the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge into 96 countries.
The agreement, in collaboration with the UNESCO, sees 3,358 global Accor hotels sign on to the initiative to champion sustainable practices.
A total of 3,358 Accor hotels, including Pullman London St Pancras (above), join the drive to champion sustainable practices as environmental consciousness among travellers increases
The UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge promotes responsible practices, community resilience and heritage conservation, with the ultimate goal of changing the nature and impact of global tourism. Under The Pledge, parties commit to supporting the reduction and elimination of single-use plastics and promoting local economy and culture.
The Pledge was launched in October 2019 with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, UNESCO and Expedia Group. Accor’s hotels join over 500 hotels in Thailand that have signed The Pledge since the Thai microsite was established in 2020.
The expansion of The Pledge comes amid rising demand for tourism sustainability practices among travellers, led by millennials and Gen-Zers, Expedia said in a press statement.
Markus Keller, senior vice president, sales & distribution, Accor, said that joining the initiative is “a continuation of our group’s sustainable development programme Planet 21 – Acting Here which sets concrete and quantitative objectives relating to local sourcing, diversity and water, energy and waste management”.
“The UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge aims to turn words into action and is a testimony of our growing commitment to collaborating closely with the hospitality sector in order to enhance environmental and sustainable tourism consciousness and practices across the world,” said Zuhairah Washington, senior vice president, strategic accounts, Expedia Group.
“Everyone needs to play their part in promoting sustainable tourism and helping preserve travel destinations. This partnership with Accor is about taking needed steps at a global scale to minimise waste in the tourism sector.”
Accor and Expedia Group have joined forces to expand the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge into 96 countries.
The agreement, in collaboration with the UNESCO, sees 3,358 global Accor hotels sign on to the initiative to champion sustainable practices.
The UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge promotes responsible practices, community resilience and heritage conservation, with the ultimate goal of changing the nature and impact of global tourism. Under The Pledge, parties commit to supporting the reduction and elimination of single-use plastics and promoting local economy and culture.
The Pledge was launched in October 2019 with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, UNESCO and Expedia Group. Accor’s hotels join over 500 hotels in Thailand that have signed The Pledge since the Thai microsite was established in 2020.
The expansion of The Pledge comes amid rising demand for tourism sustainability practices among travellers, led by millennials and Gen-Zers, Expedia said in a press statement.
Markus Keller, senior vice president, sales & distribution, Accor, said that joining the initiative is “a continuation of our group’s sustainable development programme Planet 21 – Acting Here which sets concrete and quantitative objectives relating to local sourcing, diversity and water, energy and waste management”.
“The UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge aims to turn words into action and is a testimony of our growing commitment to collaborating closely with the hospitality sector in order to enhance environmental and sustainable tourism consciousness and practices across the world,” said Zuhairah Washington, senior vice president, strategic accounts, Expedia Group.
“Everyone needs to play their part in promoting sustainable tourism and helping preserve travel destinations. This partnership with Accor is about taking needed steps at a global scale to minimise waste in the tourism sector.”