Hotel Groups Commit to Halving Food Waste

Paris, France — September 15, 2024

In short: Accor and Hilton join UN initiative to measure and report hotel food waste annually.

Recipe for Change Pledge

Accor and Hilton signed the Recipe for Change pledge at a UN event, committing to track and reduce food waste through smaller portions, live cooking, frequent replenishment, and tighter service controls. According to a 2024 report, hotels account for 1% of global food-related emissions and 3% of food waste, despite serving only 0.5% of meals.

Industry Context

The initiative falls under the broader category of sustainable hospitality practices, aiming to address the significant environmental impact of hotel food operations. Competitors like Marriott and Hyatt have also explored similar sustainability programs, but the UN-backed Recipe for Change provides a standardized framework for measurement and reporting.

Key Details

• Accor and Hilton are the first hotel chains to sign the pledge.
• The program requires annual reporting on food waste metrics.
• Implementation timeline is not specified in the source article.

What Travel Professionals Should Know

For TMCs managing European corporate accounts, this initiative presents an opportunity to align hotel partners with global sustainability standards, potentially enhancing brand reputation and meeting regulatory expectations. However, the lack of a specified timeline may pose challenges for long-term planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Recipe for Change pledge?
A UN-backed initiative requiring participating hotels to measure, reduce, and report food waste annually through specific operational practices.

Which travel trade segments does this affect?
Primarily hotel chains and TMCs that manage hotel accounts, as they will need to ensure their partners comply with the new reporting standards.

When does this take effect?
The effective date is not specified in the source article.

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