Our Approach
CEO Message
In 2022, we continued advancing our Travel with Purpose strategy and our 2030 Goals—but we also saw an opportunity to raise the bar based on rigorous analysis and the latest information available. We introduced new, more ambitious environmental and social goals which are laser-focused on paving the way to a net-zero future and creating an engine of opportunity in the communities where we live, work and travel. Those ambitions come to life across our business and are integrated in everything we do, from sustainable operations to responsible sourcing and inclusive hiring practices.
OUR JOURNEY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
As climate science has evolved, our environmental goals and approach have, too. Driven by data, we are leading the industry with ambitious 2030 targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) on our journey toward reducing emissions across our entire global portfolio while creating greater operating efficiencies.
In partnership with our owners, we reduced single-use plastic amenities in our hotels, expanded our replacement of traditional light bulbs with more energy-efficient LEDs, offered guests on-property electric vehicle charging, and provided lower-emission choices with carbon-neutral options for our meetings and events customers. We also opened what we believe to be the first net-zero hotel in the United States: Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Additionally, in 2022 we made a strategic investment in Fifth Wall’s Climate Tech Fund to support its work to deliver innovative decarbonizing technologies to the real estate industry.
OUR CULTURE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Hilton is one of the world’s largest hotel companies, and with more than 7,000 hotels around the globe, we recognize our responsibility to be a leader as an inclusive workplace and to be a force for good in the communities where we operate. As a business of people serving people, we are focused on creating a culture that serves our Team Members—from empowering them to bring their full selves to work to creating opportunities for all in our communities.
When the conflict in Ukraine unfolded, we quickly deployed resources to protect our Team Members and guests in the region. We also partnered with American Express to donate room nights to support Ukrainian refugees and humanitarian relief efforts across Europe.
To further impact our communities, through the Hilton Global Foundation, we granted more than $2M to organizations that advance our Travel with Purpose Goals, including awarding 39 Action Grants for hotels to lead impact projects in their communities. Finally, throughout the year, our team also expanded our relationships with local and diverse suppliers around the world
OUR TEAM DEDICATION
At the heart of all of these incredible efforts are our more than 400,000 Team Members, who are working in thousands of communities globally to share our signature hospitality and make the world a better place. Thanks to their tremendous dedication, we also earned recognition for our environmental and social efforts from many leading benchmarking organizations, including being named:
- A global sustainability leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the sixth consecutive year
- A Gold Medal designee by EcoVadis
- The #1 company for ESG by DiversityInc, and a member of its Hall of Fame
- The #2 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work Institute and Fortune Magazine, and the only hospitality company on the list
I am so proud of all that we accomplished in 2022—thank you to our Team Members, hotel owners, guests and partners around the world. Together, we are proving that hospitality is truly an unstoppable force for good.
Christopher J. Nassetta
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Driving Forces Behind Travel with Purpose
Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s ESG strategy to redefine and advance sustainable travel globally. As part of this strategy, we have committed to increasing our social impact and significantly reducing our environmental footprint by 2030.
Our 2030 Goals are underpinned by targets which closely align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve these goals, our 7,100+ hotels use LightStay, our industry-leading ESG measurement and management platform. We also leverage our numerous partners and the Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s primary international philanthropic arm, to invest in programs and partnerships that will drive progress on our 2030 Goals. These best-in-class ESG programs, combined with the incredible work our Team Members around the world do to put Travel with Purpose into action, have made Hilton an industry leader in driving social and environmental impact.
Roadmap to Emissions Intensity Reduction
Our phased implementation strategy to reduce our emissions begins with operational shifts that require limited resources to implement, followed by investments in high-impact energy efficiency projects. In the next stage, we work toward off-site renewable energy procurement and end-of-life equipment replacement, as well as high-efficiency retrofits and electrification measures. The final phases of the roadmap focus on on-site renewable electricity generation and, as a last step, the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets for any remaining unavoidable emissions. This waterfall approach enables Hilton to make informed decisions and has helped us chart the path to achieving our emissions intensity reduction of 75% for managed properties and 56% across our franchised portfolio by 2030.
