The Hotel Industry Announces Global Commitment To Sustainability

The International Tourism Partnership (ITP)—which is a group for leading hotels including the Marriott International, Hilton, Wyndham Hotel Group and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group—is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with an unprecedented announcement.

In the hotel industry’s first ever global commitment to sustainability, ITP will be focusing on the four major goals of reducing carbon emissions, fighting water shortages, supporting youth employment and raising awareness of human rights.

The industry-wide sustainability commitment is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable development goals, which aligned 25 countries in an effort to end poverty and fight climate change—among other things—within the next 15 years.

“ITP believes that the hotel industry can be a force for good and make a positive contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and to the COP21 climate agreements,” said Wolfgang M. Neumann, ITP Governing Council Chair, in a press statement.

ITP’s sustainability commitment calls on other hotel brands to join the effort to promote sustainable action within the industry, such as improving water-use efficiency and addressing worker risks that arise during hotel construction.

“This cross-industry alignment to a single set of goals is a fantastic achievement for the International Tourism Partnership,” added Fran Hughes, ITP Director. “It is also a reflection of the increasing importance that the hospitality industry attaches to sustainability issues.”

The ITP’s announcement reflects a larger rallying call within the travel industry to push aside competition and use resources and influence on hand to ignite positive, global change.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.