IHG Hotels and Resorts has launched ‘Journey to Tomorrow’, a series of ambitious new commitments to make a positive difference for our people, communities and planet over the next decade.

Guided by IHG’s purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good, IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO, Keith Barr said the company “will work side by side with those who stay, work and partner with us, to help shape the future of responsible travel – supporting our people and making a positive difference to our local communities, while preserving our planet’s beauty and diversity long into the future”. 

In an open letter published this week (Jan 16), Barr said that the global response to Covid-19 has shown what can be achieved when organisations bring together expertise, resources and compassion for the greater good.

“Journey to Tomorrow embodies IHG’s strengthened commitment to make sure we do what’s right, not just what’s needed,” Barr said. “We want every IHG stakeholder to see that we’re on a journey to be successful in every sense of the word, and we are determined to contribute towards positive social and economic change, to stand up for key issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion, and human rights, and to make more responsible environmental choices.

“I believe that how we grow as a company and work to be a greater force for good are inextricably linked. So, we are empowering our colleagues, and working together with our hotel owners and our industry to help shape the future of responsible travel. It’s never been more crucial that we do.”

Barr said \each of the ambitions and commitments in IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow plan is rooted in an understanding of what is most important to colleagues, guests, hotel owners and investors when it comes to operating thoughtfully and growing sustainably.

Formed through a comprehensive assessment process involving external experts, stakeholder consultation and industry collaboration, our plan also contributes to the universal framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to provide a blueprint for a better, more sustainable future for us all by 2030, according to Barr.