New strategic framework

At IHG, we took steps to elevate our green hotel guidelines to a new level and developed a global Corporate Responsibility (CR) framework. With over 4,400 hotels around the world we need a long-term commitment and strategy to deliver real benefit, not a quick-fix approach.This gives our efforts clearer focus for corporate responsibility to support our aim to create Great Hotels Guests Love.

Our achievements include:

Environmental

• MEASURING OUR WATER, WASTE AND ENERGY USAGE
  We piloted and are now rolling out an online system to measure our water, waste and energy usage across the world. This will enable us to set realistic reduction targets.
• ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINTING
  We are the first major hotel group to have measured both our environmental and our carbon footprints. In 2009 we shall review this data and consider appropriate targets for energy reduction.
• CO2 SAVINGS
  In the Americas, we distributed more than US$1 million worth of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to replace the old incandescent bulbs. We estimate the annual energy savings for this single initiative to be over US$2 million. The bulbs are recycled at their end of life.
• WIND ENERGY
  The Willard Washington DC is our first InterContinental hotel to be powered by 100% wind energy. This means that the approximate 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity the hotel uses every year produces zero CO2

Community

• COMMUNITY SUPPORT
  We are opening a new hotel on average every day somewhere in the world. To continue to be successful we recognize that we must invest in our employees and the local communities where we operate. We have a long tradition of community support and IHG hotels contributed more than US$14 million in their communities during 2008.
• LOCAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
  We have set up the IHG Academy in partnership with local academic institutions in China to provide specialist hotel management training in our fastest growing market. Today there are approximately 1,600 students enrolled with the Academy in five cities and 10 schools. This is beneficial to our local communities and good for our business.

Strategic

• CONSUMER INSIGHT
  We commissioned major consumer research during 2008. This work will provide the insight we need to shape the direction of our corporate responsibility strategy and the way we apply it to our brands.
• ONLINE INNOVATION HOTEL
  Our online Innovation Hotel is designed to showcase publicly our approach to managing our hotels responsibly, and to inform our employees, business partners and guests of what we can do to manage our environmental impact. By logging on, people can also comment on each innovation and vote for those they consider to be the best.

Our plans for 2010 and beyond

In 2010 we will focus on ensuring our strategy is consistent worldwide, on performing against our targets and on launching the company’s initiatives.
For detailed information about how we are developing our corporate responsibility activities, visit:

www.ihg.com/responsibility