MARRIOT INTERNATIONAL INC. recently launched “Connect Responsibly” with Marriott Bonvoy Events, a program to help meeting planners incorporate sustainability into events at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. The program provides meeting impact reports to measure environmental impact and offers options to purchase carbon credits.
The program is expected to launch at participating managed and franchised properties worldwide by the end of October, Marriott said in a statement.
“There is nothing like connecting in person, and doing so responsibly makes it that much better,” said Erika Alexander, Marriott’s chief global officer of global operations. “With the Connect Responsibly program, we are giving our meetings and events customers options to better understand the impacts of their meetings as we collectively strive to create a more resilient future for travel.”
The meeting impact report, available after an event, captures event details, property-specific sustainability practices and the event’s carbon and water footprints, calculated using industry-standard methods, the statement said. Marriott plans to offer the report in 11 languages based on location.
In partnership with South Pole, Marriott will provide meetings and events customers access to select carbon offset projects. Through the Meeting Impact Report, customers can use the South Pole online shop to choose verified carbon offset projects for their events.
“Meetings and events are important business for Marriott,” said Tammy Routh, Marriott’s senior vice president of global sales. “Our customers are eager to participate in sustainability efforts. Connect Responsibly expands ongoing initiatives and strengthens our efforts focused on sustainability in hospitality. We are excited to build on our sustainability reporting capabilities to provide our meetings and events customers with detailed meeting impact reports and offer access to a select portfolio of verified carbon offset projects, through our collaboration with South Pole.”
This program is part of Marriott’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at properties and throughout its supply chain, the statement said. As of April 2024, Marriott is the largest global hospitality company approved by the Science Based Targets initiative for both near-term and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets. To advance its SBTs, Marriott launched the Climate Action Program, which includes property-level carbon reduction goals and actions.
Marriott is also introducing its “City Express” brand to the U.S. and Canada, marking its entry into the midscale segment with a design for easy conversion and new build opportunities. The company reported 4.9 percent year-over-year global RevPAR growth in the second quarter of 2024, with U.S. and Canada RevPAR rising 3.9 percent and international RevPAR increasing 7.4 percent. Net income grew to $772 million, up from $726 million a year ago.
