Hotel chain tackles energy use

IHG, the world’s largest hotel group which owns such brands as Holiday Inn and InterContinental, is introducing a new energy-management system that could result in $200m (£140m) of savings.

Early trials of the online system, called Green Engage, shows potential energy savings of up to 25 per cent.

If fully adopted by all hotels across the 4,000-strong IHG portfolio, it is estimated that the savings for hotel owners could be as much as £110m.

The system, which was developed by IHG, will be rolled out across IHG's seven brands including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental following final trials in 650 hotels which will start late January 2009.

It is expected that the system will be offered as an option to all hotels across the IHG estate from mid-2009.

The IHG Green Engage software works by allowing hotel general managers to directly input data onsite. The system automatically compares hotels of a similar nature across the world and lists a series of actions that each hotel can take to reduce waste and the consumption of energy and water.

Green Engage was created in response to growing levels of interest from guests who are looking for sustainable hotels that manage their environmental impact. As well as location, price and amenities, guests are now factoring in a hotel's environmental credentials when booking a place to stay.

By using Green Engage, IHG claims hotels will have for the first time a comprehensive online system which gives them the means to measure their use of energy and water, waste produced and their carbon emissions.

The system will suggest ways of managing elements of a hotel that most affect the environment, which can range from insulating the hotel's hot water pipes to introducing a recycling programme and switching to organic cleaning materials.

Andy Cosslett, IHG chief executive, said the initiative benefited everyone.

"Across our estate we estimate Green Engage has the potential to drive up to $200m of savings for our hotel owners and significantly reduce energy consumption," he said.

Tom Corcoran, chairman of the IAHI Owners' Association for InterContinental Hotels, said customers were increasingly welcoming green schemes.

"It delivers what our guests want – a greater sense of wellbeing and less impact on our planet when travelling."

In 2008 IHG launched Innovation Hotel, an online example of what a future hotel might look like if it used new green technologies. Guests can provide feedback on which of these they feel are important, allowing IHG to consider how they can be implemented as part of the Green Engage programme.