NEWS
Kempinski Hotels Publishes 2024 ESG Report, Showcasing Sustainability Progress and Future Ambitions
Kempinski Hotels has released its 2024 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable hospitality and responsible corporate practice. Now in its fourth edition, the report reflects the group’s evolving approach to long-term environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance. Developed with EarthCheck and aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, the report details improvements made across the Kempinski value chain over the past year while identifying areas requiring continued focus and collaboration.
The report outlines measurable progress on the environmental front, including a 20% reduction in overall energy consumption and emissions intensity, a 10% increase in renewable energy use, and a 47% drop in landfill waste intensity. Water use intensity has continued its downward trend for a third consecutive year, reaching 700 litres per guest night. Furthermore, 34% of all waste was recycled, reused, or composted. Technology like VenueCheck—now used by 20 hotels—enables meeting planners to assess and improve the sustainability of events hosted at Kempinski properties.
Notable social achievements include 81% local employment, 38% female representation across job levels, and a 1% pay gap in favour of women. A total of 170,000 hours of employee training were recorded, averaging 9.4 hours per person. The group also reported zero workplace fatalities and a 10% drop in work-related injuries. Recognition of Kempinski’s people-centric strategy came in the form of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, which the company received for the fourth consecutive year.
Kempinski’s governance structure remains a stronghold, underpinned by a 10-member Sustainability Committee, robust anti-corruption practices, and strong digital compliance measures. 97.3% of preferred suppliers have signed the brand’s Code of Conduct, and 94% of staff completed data privacy and security training in 2024. Additionally, 40 operational audits were carried out to ensure compliance, with one incident prompting appropriate disciplinary action.
Social initiatives also gained momentum, with EUR 259,000 raised for local health projects via BE Health, the company’s CSR programme. Furthermore, Soap for Hope diverted 16.5 tonnes of discarded soap from landfills, and 62% of hotels transitioned to wooden key cards to reduce plastic use.
While the report showcases tangible results, Kempinski acknowledges ongoing challenges. As Anne Marie Bettex-Baars, ESG Lead and Managing Director of BE Health, explains, the next phase requires a more structured, forward-looking framework to align ESG priorities with business strategy. This integration is seen as essential for driving long-term value creation, operational resilience, and brand trust.
The report, covering the full 2024 calendar year, underscores Kempinski’s alignment with the UN Global Compact and its principles on human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. As Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski continues to modernize responsibly, balancing heritage with innovation on its sustainability journey.
Source: Kempinski Hotels
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