Sustainable Solutions: Kempinski Hotels Publishes 2024 ESG Report - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Created in partnership with EarthCheck and aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the report reviews all ESG-related risks and performance across the Kempinski value chain.

The report outlines notable achievements, while identifying areas that require continued effort, collaboration, and innovation for a more sustainable future.

“Sustainability has become a bridge between our 128-year heritage and a future-oriented approach,” said Stuart Dickie, Board Advisor and ESG Chair. “It is part of our core transformation for a better tomorrow. This report shows where we’ve made significant progress and where more focus is needed.”

Key Environmental Results

·         Energy use, energy intensity, and emissions dropped by 20%.

·         Use of green or renewable energy increased by 10%.

·         34% of waste was recycled, reused, or composted.

·         Waste to landfill intensity fell by 47%.

·         Water use intensity dropped to 700 litres per guest night, marking the third consecutive annual decline.

By the end of 2024, 20 hotels adopted VenueCheck, an EarthCheck-powered tool for sustainable event planning. 36 properties were formally EarthCheck-registered, with many others contributing data for the report.

Progress in Circularity

·         36% of Kempinski hotels now use 100% cage-free eggs; 30% reported supply chain limitations.

·         Partnerships with Clean the World, Solenis-Diversey, and Soap for Hope diverted plastic bottles, used coffee capsules, linen, and 16.5 tonnes of soap from landfills.

·         62% of hotels transitioned to wooden key cards.

·         Social Impact Highlights

·         81% of employees worldwide are local hires.

·         38% of all job levels are held by women.

·         The pay gap favours women by 1%.

·         10% fewer work-related injuries were reported in 2024; no fatalities occurred.

·         Over 170,000 hours of training were delivered, averaging 9.4 hours per employee.

Kempinski also maintained its commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and employee wellbeing, winning the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for the fourth year in a row. Through its BE Health initiative, hotels raised EUR 259,000 for local healthcare organisations.

Governance and Integrity

Governance remains a strong point, with a dedicated Sustainability Committee of 10 cross-functional experts and a multi-tiered structure ensuring executive oversight.

·         97.3% of preferred suppliers have signed the Kempinski Code of Conduct.

·         40 operations were reviewed under anti-corruption protocols; one incident led to disciplinary action.

·         94% compliance was achieved for data privacy and security training.

·         All properties maintained PCI DSS certification.

“We’ve built a strong foundation for managing ESG data with transparency and accountability,” said Anne Marie Bettex-Baars, ESG Lead and Managing Director of BE Health. “Now we must align ESG more closely with our business strategy to ensure it drives resilience, trust, and long-term value.”

The 2024 ESG Report was published voluntarily and covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2024. Kempinski remains an active participant in the UN Global Compact, aligning its practices with the Ten Principles in human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

Image Credit: © Kempinski Hotels