From waste reduction and water conservation to energy efficiency and responsible sourcing, our members are working to stay responsible – and are making an impact. America’s hotels are reducing their carbon footprint, saving millions of gallons of water annually, and keeping millions of pounds of plastics and food waste out of landfills each year. Here’s how:
In just 12 weeks, hotels participating in AHLA’s Hotel Kitchen program saw reductions of food waste of up to
38%
Upgrading to EPA Water Sense certified equipment is an excellent strategy. Products bearing this label—such as toilets, showerheads, and faucets—are independently certified to use at least
20%
less water than standard models while maintaining or exceeding expected performance.
By implementing simple food-waste reduction strategies, participating hotels have reduced food waste by as much as 38% in just 12 weeks. If adopted across the industry, these practices could prevent half a million tons of waste each year.
JW Marriott’s signature JW Garden program integrates
farm-to-table sustainability
into its luxury experience. Across dozens of locations worldwide, these on-site edible gardens grow seasonal produce, herbs, and edible flowers, supplying fresh ingredients directly to the resort’s restaurant, bar, and in-room dining menus.
Hilton’s all-electric Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is a 165-room property that operates without fossil fuels. Powered by on-site solar energy, the hotel is designed for
net-zero
carbon operations and has earned Passive House and LEED Platinum certifications.
Extended Stay America recycled or donated approximately
376 tons
and
8,166 cubic yards
of waste in 2020
PM Hotel Group exclusively purchases green power to meet
100%
of the electricity needs for their entire hotel portfolio
In 2025, IHG reduced carbon emissions per available room by
11%
and energy use per available room by
10.2%
compared with its 2019 baseline, demonstrating measurable progress through its “Journey to Tomorrow” plan.
Through a conservation rebate program launched with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, MGM Resorts is now helping employees save approximately
7 million gallons
of water annually in their homes through upgrades such as desert landscaping, leak-detection systems and smart irrigation controls.
By focusing on adaptive reuse, Marriott converted
247
historical buildings and former offices into hotels by the end of 2023, minimizing construction waste. They are also piloting food waste tracking software across properties to reduce landfill waste by
45%
Through its Room to be Green® program, Choice Hotels has installed LED exterior signage at nearly
2000
hotels across the U.S., cutting signage electricity use by
50% – 70%
and helping franchisees lower operating costs while reducing energy consumption.
Converting from fluorescent to LED signage at approximately
4,000
Choice Hotels reduced the use of signage electricity at each hotel by an average of
50%
IHG eliminated the use of
200 million
plastic bottles a year by switching to larger bottles and bulk dispensers in all
843,000
of its guest rooms
Cargo Crew’s Conscious Collection
uses leftover fabrics
to create new products, reducing the need for new materials and supporting a circular product life.
Cargo Crew has partnered with PonyUp For Good to divert
207kg
of decommissioned tech equipment from landfill, providing 1,502 meals to charity in the process
IHG is making major strides in sustainability by replacing single-use bathroom miniatures with full-size dispensers across all its brands. This transition to bulk amenities is estimated to prevent the use of at least
850 tonnes
of plastic annually in the Americas region – the equivalent weight of five fully-grown blue whales or 70 double-decker London buses.
The Conrad Washington DC works with local vendors, including a female-owned and operated farm, to source the ingredients in its restaurants. All vendors are carefully chosen for their
sustainable practices
The ninth-floor eco-zone at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile features a seasonal vegetable and herb garden, solar panels, and an apiary. Food waste from the hotel’s kitchens is
composted
to nourish the plants, while the four honeybee hives support local urban biodiversity and produce hundreds of pounds of honey.
Omni Hotels & Resorts utilize LED light bulbs and install energy efficient systems in
all
new-build hotels
Rosewood Hotels help preserve clean air and water by implementing
sustainable and environmental policies and standards
for housekeeping, facility maintenance, landscaping, and transportation
CoralTree Hospitality has transitioned to
bulk dispensers
and local products across its portfolio. This initiative is a core component of their BLOOM sustainability program, minimizing single-use plastic waste while actively supporting regional artisans and small businesses.
200+
Highgate Hotels are powered by
100%
renewable electricity
Hyatt has introduced new coffee featuring beans from
Rainforest Alliance Certified™
farms, offered at participating brands in guestrooms, restaurants, banquets, and function areas
The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City installed the BioGreen360 system, a waterless food waste digestor technology, which has allowed the hotel to divert all of its food waste, totaling more than
27 tons
during the first year of use
Hilton has replaced all dry amenities in Asia — like toothbrushes and razors — with products made from
bamboo.
These products are also available only upon request to cut down on single-use plastic
Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts replaced plastic key cards with reusable
RFID bracelets
to unlock guest rooms and pool gates. In addition, they increased the use of
QR codes
throughout the resort to reduce printed materials
In Europe, Hilton eliminated the plastic wrapping around the slippers provided to guests in each room. The slippers will not be fastened with a paper band, which will reduce plastic usage by an estimated
2.3 metric tons
annually
Populus Denver diverts
100%
of its food waste from landfills using an on-site biodigester. The waste is converted into compost for local farms, creating a circular system that returns nutrients to the region’s food supply.
Wailea Beach Resort has invested more than
$2 million
in rooftop solar farms that generate more than
740,000 kWh
annually, reducing oil use by 1,086 barrels per year and significantly lowering the resort’s carbon footprint.
IHG is targeting
100%
new build hotels to operate at very low/zero carbon emissions by 2030
Park Hotels & Resorts has reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity by
11%
from its 2019 baseline and continues to expand waste diversion efforts across its portfolio, with reported recycled waste increasing by
116%
in 2024 due to enhanced recycling programs and improved waste tracking.
Wyndham
evaluates suppliers
annually through a Responsible Supplier Survey, which includes questions on suppliers’ sustainability efforts, philanthropic initiatives, and human rights protections
All 6,500+
Choice Hotels are required to replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL/LED lighting, deploy a linen and towel reuse program, and provide a recycling receptacle accessible for guests
The Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa in Carlsbad, California, successfully replaced all cool-season roughs with TifTuf Bermuda grass. This resilient, warm-season turf eliminates the need for overseeding while reducing water consumption by roughly
20%
and significantly lowering chemical, fuel, and carbon footprint impacts
Sustainability teams are rapidly becoming standard across U.S. hotels. In 2024, nearly 59%
59%
of properties reported having an on-site sustainability team—up dramatically from just 2% in 2022.
IHG partners with Goodr on a
surplus food recovery
program which helps minimize food waste at participating hotels and to support food security in communities across the U.S
Savings on water and energy costs from the towel reuse program in ALL – Accor Live Limitless locations are used to fund tree planting.
One tree
is planted
every minute
Gaylord Rockies recently installed a Combined Heat and Power (“CHP”). These generators not only improved thermal and energy resilience for the hotel but also bring long term savings for the hotel through energy efficiency. By using waste heat to provide hot water, carbon footprint per year was reduced by
30.4%
or
14,000 tons
At the Cavallo Point Lodge in San Francisco all guest rooms use organics linens, towels, and bathrobes derived from
sustainable resources
and
responsible manufacturing
practices. The hotel is also built with recycled materials or made from rapidly renewable resources, like bamboo for the finishing and shredded blue jeans for wall insulation
Hersha Hospitality Trust discontinued all single-use plastic straws and stirrers in 2018, replacing them with paper straws and wooden stirrers. This shift prevents over
4 million
single-use plastic items from entering local landfills and waterways every year.
Water conservation at The Venetian Resort is a massive part of their Sands ECO360 sustainability initiative, including their LEED Gold certification for the complex. Beyond nano-filtration, the resort uses extensive
drip-irrigation
for landscaping and operates their cooling towers almost completely off the municipal water grid
PM Hotel Group has generated
1.5 million KWH
of electricity through on-site renewable energy sources avoiding 1,039 tons of CO2
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, in partnership with Total Organics Recycling, has implemented circular food waste programs at select properties, such as The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta in St. Louis. The hotels divert
thousands of tons
of food scraps from landfills each month, which are then composted and repurchased as nutrient-rich soil to supply on-site micro-greeneries
Accor leads the hospitality industry by targeting a
46%
reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (from a 2019 baseline) and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Washington Hilton donates excess food and meals to the Ronald McDonald House and DC Central Kitchen;
6-8% of prepared food is donated
The Walt Disney Company has significantly reduced its single-use plastic footprint by transitioning to refillable, bulk-sized dispensers for in-room toiletries across its resorts and cruise ships. This effort, combined with the reduction of plastic merchandise bags, has successfully decreased in-room plastic use by
80%
The Broadmoor converted
30,000+
existing light fixtures from incandescent to compact fluorescent and LED, reducing their annual electric consumption by
5 million kilowatts
Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, outfits its employees in uniforms made of
sustainable materials
including bamboo, chemical-free organic cotton, wool, and hemp. This initiative aligns with the luxury eco-resort’s broader environmental initiatives, which also feature eco-friendly dry cleaning services for staff
Hilton’s Digital Key, accessible via the Hilton Honors App, is available at more than
80%
of properties. Bypassing traditional check-in, it has opened over 135 million doors and cut plastic waste by 125 tons, aiding their target to halve their environmental footprint
The Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida mitigates high baseline water stress and drought risks by installing low-flow showerheads and faucets. Its horticulture team maintains the 46-acre property using drought-resistant plants, while the engineering team runs an irrigation system powered by
water reuse and reclamation
to reduce environmental impact. These sustainability initiatives complement the resort’s massive 65-acre central Florida footprint, which features 1,718 rooms, 129 suites, and a 4.5-acre indoor glass atrium located just 20 minutes from the Orlando International Airport.
Though the building which houses Hotel Marcel New Haven was first constructed in 1967, its regular refurbishments with sustainability in mind has kept it ahead of the pack. It has been retrofitted with triple-glazed glass and insulation which contributes to energy efficiency by
reducing heating demand
Hilton’s EV charger filter allows drivers to easily map out their road trips. By selecting the EV charging amenity filter, guests can search the
1,400+
Hilton properties equipped with charging stations right on the booking platform.
Working with hospitality partners worldwide, Clean the World recycles discarded hotel soap and amenities, having distributed more than
90 million
bars of soap and millions of hygiene kits to support global health and hygiene initiatives.
Host Hotel’s 1 Hotel South Beach employs compostable room amenities and reusable wooden key cards to support its
Plastic-Free Initiative
as well as a composting machine to separate organic waste
Northwood Hospitality’s property in West Hollywood, CA partners with Cool Effect on a
carbon offset program
This nonprofit agency is dedicated to helping individuals, organizations, and businesses reduce their carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets to neutralize the carbon footprint of a guest’s stay