Hilton Enhances ESG Targets to Drive Climate Action and Social Impact
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island launched a coral regeneration program in 2017 that aims to protect reefs surrounding the resort.
Singapore – 2 August 2022 – As the world returns to travel, doing so sustainably and responsibly has never been more important. With growing impacts from climate change and rising demand for more sustainable hospitality options, Hilton is evolving its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments to help preserve the destinations where it operates and create inclusive growth in communities around the world.
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Paving the way to net zero
In June 2022, SBTi validated that Hilton’s updated greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are aligned with a trajectory to hold global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to help limit the impacts of climate change. The latest climate science from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, but we are dangerously close to that threshold.
"This is truly a vital moment to reaffirm our commitments,” said Jean Garris-Hand, vice president of global ESG, Hilton. “As climate science continues to evolve, we’re committed to working across every area of our business to engage stakeholders with rigor and discipline to do our part in working toward a net-zero future for the world.”
By committing to this ambitious goal, Hilton joins other business and industry leaders who are responding to the urgent call from the IPCC and targets set during the 2015 Paris Climate Accords. Hilton has also committed to a carbon reduction goal of below 2°C for its franchised properties.
In addition, Hilton announced a new commitment to venture capital fund Fifth Wall’s Climate Tech Fund that will invest in software, hardware, renewable energy, energy storage, smart buildings and carbon sequestration technologies to decarbonize the $10.5 trillion real estate industry.
These new environmental commitments build on Hilton’s long history of leading the hospitality industry in setting specific, measurable environmental goals that drive sustainable operations, minimize carbon emissions and create business efficiencies.
Hilton has been named to the World and North American Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years, one of the most influential rankings of corporate sustainability.
Conrad Manila’s LEED Gold certified building showcases local art while promoting sustainability and environmental protection; Conrad Koh Samui’s Iris Farm produces food for the hotel’s restaurants and bars while conserving landfill space
Creating an engine of opportunity
As one of the world’s largest hotel companies, Hilton recognizes its responsibility to protect communities and the planet, so the destinations where it operates can remain vibrant and resilient for generations of travelers to come.
Beyond expanded environmental goals, Hilton has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the communities where it operates by announcing three updated social impact goals:
Hilton’s social impact focus will continue to be supported by the Hilton Global Foundation which, since 2019, has awarded over $5 million to more than 70 non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations that create a positive impact in the communities Hilton serves. The Foundation recently announced 14 new grants to organizations supporting groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and climate change, including employment support for asylum seekers, providing medical supplies to support local health systems, and building urban community farms.
Hilton Global Foundation grantee, Sungai Watch, protects Bali’s waterways by developing trash barriers that prevent plastics from entering the ocean
Beginning Aug. 1, 2022, Hilton team members will also begin contributing the equivalent to $1 USD per night to the Hilton Team Member Assistance Fund and Hilton Global Foundation with each booking they make through the company’s “Go Hilton” travel benefit. These additional funds will support programs that drive greater impact in the communities where team members live and work.
For more information on Hilton’s Travel with Purpose framework, goals and data on its progress to drive environment and social impact to-date, please visit: https://esg.hilton.com
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising 7,000 properties and 1.1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. Hilton has introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the 139 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Travel with Purpose
About Hilton Global Foundation
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island launched a coral regeneration program in 2017 that aims to protect reefs surrounding the resort.
Singapore – 2 August 2022 – As the world returns to travel, doing so sustainably and responsibly has never been more important. With growing impacts from climate change and rising demand for more sustainable hospitality options, Hilton is evolving its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments to help preserve the destinations where it operates and create inclusive growth in communities around the world.
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Hilton launched its 2030 goals four years ago as part of its ambitious ESG strategy, “Travel with Purpose,” making it the first global hospitality company to set science-based climate targets. Now, after a strategic review of those goals, evolving climate science and best practices, Hilton has updated its environmental and social impact goals.
These updated benchmarks include more ambitious environmental targets and new social goals to help drive more sustainable operations and create engines of opportunity in the communities it serves.
Hilton’s strengthened greenhouse gas emissions goals — which aim to cut emissions intensity by 75% in its managed hotels and emissions intensity by 56%, by 2030 in franchised — have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.
“Our company was founded more than 100 years ago on the belief that our hospitality has the power to be a force for good,” said Kristin Campbell, general counsel and chief ESG officer, Hilton. “These enhanced, re-validated targets build upon the progress and impact we’ve created since we launched our Travel with Purpose 2030 goals four years ago, as we seek to deepen our commitment to the areas where we can have the greatest impact.”
These updated benchmarks include more ambitious environmental targets and new social goals to help drive more sustainable operations and create engines of opportunity in the communities it serves.
Hilton’s strengthened greenhouse gas emissions goals — which aim to cut emissions intensity by 75% in its managed hotels and emissions intensity by 56%, by 2030 in franchised — have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.
“Our company was founded more than 100 years ago on the belief that our hospitality has the power to be a force for good,” said Kristin Campbell, general counsel and chief ESG officer, Hilton. “These enhanced, re-validated targets build upon the progress and impact we’ve created since we launched our Travel with Purpose 2030 goals four years ago, as we seek to deepen our commitment to the areas where we can have the greatest impact.”
Paving the way to net zero
In June 2022, SBTi validated that Hilton’s updated greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are aligned with a trajectory to hold global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to help limit the impacts of climate change. The latest climate science from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, but we are dangerously close to that threshold.
"This is truly a vital moment to reaffirm our commitments,” said Jean Garris-Hand, vice president of global ESG, Hilton. “As climate science continues to evolve, we’re committed to working across every area of our business to engage stakeholders with rigor and discipline to do our part in working toward a net-zero future for the world.”
By committing to this ambitious goal, Hilton joins other business and industry leaders who are responding to the urgent call from the IPCC and targets set during the 2015 Paris Climate Accords. Hilton has also committed to a carbon reduction goal of below 2°C for its franchised properties.
In addition, Hilton announced a new commitment to venture capital fund Fifth Wall’s Climate Tech Fund that will invest in software, hardware, renewable energy, energy storage, smart buildings and carbon sequestration technologies to decarbonize the $10.5 trillion real estate industry.
These new environmental commitments build on Hilton’s long history of leading the hospitality industry in setting specific, measurable environmental goals that drive sustainable operations, minimize carbon emissions and create business efficiencies.
Hilton has been named to the World and North American Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years, one of the most influential rankings of corporate sustainability.
Conrad Manila’s LEED Gold certified building showcases local art while promoting sustainability and environmental protection; Conrad Koh Samui’s Iris Farm produces food for the hotel’s restaurants and bars while conserving landfill space
Creating an engine of opportunity
As one of the world’s largest hotel companies, Hilton recognizes its responsibility to protect communities and the planet, so the destinations where it operates can remain vibrant and resilient for generations of travelers to come.
Beyond expanded environmental goals, Hilton has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the communities where it operates by announcing three updated social impact goals:
- Create 5 million learning and career growth opportunities for team members and communities, with a focus on underrepresented groups, by 2030.
- Meaningfully impact 20 million community members by 2030 through local support, disaster relief, economic opportunities and more.
- Promote responsible, inclusive conduct across 100% of our value chain operations.
Hilton’s social impact focus will continue to be supported by the Hilton Global Foundation which, since 2019, has awarded over $5 million to more than 70 non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations that create a positive impact in the communities Hilton serves. The Foundation recently announced 14 new grants to organizations supporting groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and climate change, including employment support for asylum seekers, providing medical supplies to support local health systems, and building urban community farms.
Hilton Global Foundation grantee, Sungai Watch, protects Bali’s waterways by developing trash barriers that prevent plastics from entering the ocean
Beginning Aug. 1, 2022, Hilton team members will also begin contributing the equivalent to $1 USD per night to the Hilton Team Member Assistance Fund and Hilton Global Foundation with each booking they make through the company’s “Go Hilton” travel benefit. These additional funds will support programs that drive greater impact in the communities where team members live and work.
For more information on Hilton’s Travel with Purpose framework, goals and data on its progress to drive environment and social impact to-date, please visit: https://esg.hilton.com
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising 7,000 properties and 1.1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. Hilton has introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the 139 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Travel with Purpose
Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to redefine and advance sustainable travel globally. Through Travel with Purpose, we seek to create positive environmental and social impact across our operations, supply chain, and communities. We track, analyze and report our impact at each of Hilton’s nearly 7,000 hotels through LightStay, our award-winning ESG performance measurement and management system. Travel with Purpose capitalizes on Hilton’s global scale to catalyze local economic growth, respect human rights, invest in people and local communities, and preserve our planet by reducing our impact on natural resources. Our strategy aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about Travel with Purpose at https://esg.hilton.com/.
About Hilton Global Foundation
The Hilton Global Foundation is Hilton’s primary international philanthropic arm. The Foundation is a nonprofit established in the U.S. and is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Foundation awards grants, in alignment with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, that have a positive impact on travel destinations around the world. Foundation grants are awarded throughout the year in accordance with tax and legal requirements. Learn more about the Hilton Global Foundation at HiltonGlobalFoundation.hilton.com.
