Conserving and preserving our planet has never been more important. While the past year has been one of the most challenging, one thing we know for sure is people are more mindful than ever about travelling consciously following the pandemic. In fact, a recent survey by IHG Hotels & Resorts found more than 50% of people globally care more about doing their bit for local communities and the planet while travelling now than they did 10 years ago.
Ahead of Earth Day on 22 April, IHG Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests, colleagues, locals and partners to join the Great Global Clean Up, wherever they can do so safely. Every little bit counts towards the cleaning up some of the world’s most loved destinations – from Hayman Island to New York City. And, the good news is, no matter where in the world, or how big or small the effort, there’s plenty of ways to get involved and not only help keep our backyards beautiful– but preserve them for years to come.
6 ways you can get involved this #EarthDay2021 and #RestoretheEarth with IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Join IHG on the #GreatGlobalCleanUp
As IHG colleagues across the world get set to take part in the Great Global Clean Up wherever they can do so safely, the team at Great Global Clean Up has provided an interactive map to encourage individuals and groups to get involved – plus, there’s great local events happening all week. The team at InterContinental Sydney Double Bay has already rolled up their sleeves to kick-start the initiative with a beach clean-up lead by General Manager, Ralf Bruegger.
- Snap and share
Need inspiration? IHG will be sharing photos from across the world of guests and locals who head out on the global clean-up using #IHGJourneytoTomorrow and #RestoretheEarth. People are encouraged to share their photos for the chance to be featured too.
- Book a stay at one of these sustainable hotels and resorts
As part of IHG’s research into travelling better, the survey found 82% of global travellers say they’re committed to taking their sustainable habits with them when they travel. The good news is, with a family of 16 brands and almost 6,000 IHG hotels and resorts around the globe, the commitment to travelling better is a shared one. Here are some top picks where you can do good and get involved:
voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley: experience 70 acres complete with a bee farm, solar panels, animal farm, interactive veggie gardens, and recycled water that feeds the lush estate. Guests can also take part in the ‘sustainability walk’ on the estate to learn more about the various innovations, solar farm and more. Kids will love the food-scrap buckets to take down to the pig pen where the hotel assures no waste! The hotel’s ‘Bees for Trees’ program is another great initiative where a tree can be planted to help off-set the footprint from meetings and events.
Crowne Plaza Queenstown: with the Trans-Tasman Bubble now underway, the adventure capital of New Zealand is also home to better travel with a suite of initiatives available at Crowne Plaza Queenstown. Guests can indulge guilt-free at ThreeSixty Bar thanks a partnership with EcoSpirits which helps to ultimately reduce carbon emissions (its distribution system nearly eliminates all packaging waste!), while the ‘Refill NZ‘ initiative helps to reduce plastic pollution by offering people free water refills for their bottles. The hotel also supports local beer and wine producers, is a partner of KiwiHarvest for its food rescue program, SoapAid rescue champion, and proud contributor to the Hotel Weka Recycling Program.
InterContinental Hayman Island Resort: As Australia’s most iconic private island, and nestled within one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, guests can stay assured knowing a range of environmentally-friendly initiatives are in place to help conserve its stunning surrounds. Not only does the island have a veto on non-reef-safe sunscreen, guests will also find a ban on single use plastics (there’s multiple still filtered water stations placed across the resort!) while an innovative glass-to-sand crusher crushes glass bottles to make a silicone ‘sand’ product that will be recycled and used across the island. In-Room thermal technology systems also mean that lights, air conditioning, curtains, blinds and appliances are adjusted to optimise thermal efficiency and reduce use of energy when guests aren’t in the room.
- Ask the team!
Staying at an IHG hotel or resort? Whether a stay-caying local or first-time visitor to the neighbourhood, ask the team to help identify local clean-ups and community activities that both individuals and groups can get involved in on their travels.
- Get plogging
Check in with your IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Concierge for a jogging map or get involved in the latest phenomena at home. If you haven’t heard of it yet, plogging is the act of picking up rubbish while jogging, helping you squeeze in a workout while cleaning up your favourite running route (it’s a win-win).
- Wanting to stay put this year? Donate to a worthy cause instead
You don’t need to leave the house to do good – in fact, there are multiple organisations out there dedicated to preserving our surrounds and supporting humanitarian efforts with your help. You can even donate IHG Rewards points to charity partners such as Red Cross and CARE International here.
Want to join the journey? Find out more about IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow here, including information on the plan, ambitions, detailed commitments, and to follow the progress.
