March 2, 2023 | By Bronwen Largier
Accor has partnered with Ecotourism Australia on a mission to get all of its properties across Australia and the Pacific certified as sustainable tourism businesses.
Accor’s freshly inked partnership will create a pathway for all of Accor’s properties across the region to be certified by Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification program, which launched last year but builds on the organisation’s existing offering which has been in play for more than 20 years.
Each Accor property will be assessed and audited across sustainable management, environmental impacts, cultural impacts and socio-economic impacts, with Ecotourism Australia working with each business within its certification program to help them become sustainability leaders.
“Accor’s significant presence across regions, including Ecotourism Australia certified ECO Destinations Port Douglas Daintree, Bundaberg and the Coffs Coast, and seventeen other regions currently undertaking certification, and throughout regional areas and capital cities, demonstrates their commitment to sustainability in Australia and the Pacific’s unique environments,” said Ecotourism Australia CEO Elissa Keenan.
“This is a key partnership for our organisations and we look forward to working with Accor properties across their hotel, apartment and resort brands on sustainable and responsible tourism practices.”
Accor Pacific’s CEO Sarah Derry said sustainability was redefining the hotel group’s business model.
“We are proud to lead the industry forward by investing in our sustainability actions and activities in the region. Our next phase of growth is built on our powerful sense of social, environmental and economic responsibility,” said Derry.
“In 2022 Accor Pacific removed some 43 single use plastic items such as individual toiletries from guest facing areas in over 80 per cent of hotels.
“In 2023 and beyond we are committed to taking these actions further into the removal of single use plastics from back of house operations, micro plastics in laundries and by finding an appropriate long term solution to replace plastic water bottles.
“We know there is a lot more to do and our teams will continue to focus on driving sustainability actions. There are no limits to our ambition.”
