Hilton highlights Travel with Purpose advances

Travel with Purpose is Hilton's global strategy to drive responsible travel around the world while increasing the company's long-term value in an evolving world. Building on ambitious 2030 emissions targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, water and waste reduction targets, as well as social impact targets aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hilton is focused on reducing their emissions in line with climate science, create engines of opportunity in their communities, and preserve the beautiful destinations that are home to Hilton properties around the world. Across all Hilton operations, supply chain and communities, the company aims to operate with responsibility, integrity and transparency,

Global progress towards 2030:

The Travel with Purpose 2022 report offers the first presentation of Hilton's progress since it announced more ambitious environmental goals and new social goals that support a path to a net-zero future for the travel and tourism industry. These are the achievements to date:

We continued to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions (44%), water (38.1%) and waste in landfills (57.6%) in our hotels around the world.

More than 670,000 learning and professional growth opportunities were created against its commitment of 5 million.

More than 2,700,000 community members have received local help, disaster relief and economic opportunity.

Invested in two Fifth Wall climate technology funds that aim to drive innovations that decarbonize global real estate.

Across its global footprint, Hilton continues to make progress toward meeting its ESG goals in the Americas. The highlights in the region are:

Destination management:

Located on a 160-hectare estate on Santa Cruz Island, facing the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galapagos National Park Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton is a jewel of biodiversity and ecotourism opportunities. In addition to numerous wildlife encounter opportunities, the hotel also has a Plant-a-Tree program and is the only property with a Miconia and Scalesia reforestation program, protecting this important flora for the generations to come.

Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort participates in the Hawaii Tourism Authority's Mālama Hawaii initiative, which invites guests to mālama (give back) through volunteer work in exchange for incentives. Through the Mālama Hawaii program, guests can partner with the Hawaii Land Trust NGO's coastal conservation team in some of Maui's most treasured nature preserves. Guests have the opportunity to give back to the community, learn about the traditional Native Hawaiian approach to land stewardship, and make a lasting impact on Maui through service. In exchange for their kōkua (help), the resort says mahalo (thank you) by giving volunteers the sixth night of their stay.

At Waldorf Astoria Cancun and Hilton Cancun, an All-inclusive Resort, the hotels have various environmental programs to support destination management. As part of an effort dedicated to preserving the diversity of plant species, the complexes have a special reforestation and gardening program to meet the diverse needs of the native flora. Also for the local fauna, such as the native species of sea turtles that nest on the beaches near the hotels (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas), the properties take care of them with a special program for the conservation and protection of sea turtles. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is also committed to the protection and conservation of sea turtles, with an approved federal permit to maintain a turtle nest on the property. 

With this, the members of the team receive training for the handling and care of eggs and nesting turtles, including 24-hour surveillance of the beaches, the collection of eggs and their transplantation, the cleaning of nests, the release of turtles and ongoing environmental education for both guests and team members.

In 2022, Hilton opened Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton, a unique natural resort offering exclusive access to Costa Rica's pristine South Pacific coast. Managed by Aqua-Aston Hospitality, this property is located next to Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce tropical fjord, which offer some of the best adventure and eco-tourism activities in the region. The hotel team strives to link tourism and conservation by preserving the local environment and educating guests and local students on the value of environmental stewardship. They work with the community to guide on the protection of the oceans and responsible fishing; organize school excursions with nature guides to educate children about local ecosystems and animals, like sea turtles; and manage the logistics of a recycling program that creates jobs and reduces waste.

In Puerto Rico, at the Caribe Hilton, the hotel has partnered with the Manatee Conservation Center. Visitors can spend an afternoon at the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center participating in the "Be a Keeper" tour, where they will learn about manatee habitat, environmental threats, and how the center rehabilitates its manatees. In addition, the center educates travelers on the conservation of sea turtles and other local marine animals.

Efficient design:

Last year, Hilton opened the first Passive House-certified and planned zero-balance sheet hotel in the United States, Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in New Haven, Connecticut. The revolutionary hotel, which took an iconic historic building and modernized it with a focus on sustainability, was conceived and is owned by Becker + Becker, the visionary behind the development. The 165-room hotel is fully electric, using renewable solar energy sources to generate electricity for public areas, restaurant, laundry, meeting rooms, and guest rooms.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Mexico uses high efficiency variable speed pumps, electric heaters, and gas heaters to help reduce energy by up to 50%. In an effort to also reduce energy consumption, each room door automatically closes the cold water valve when the guest leaves the door ajar, also helping to minimize condensation.

Food and drink:

California's Hilton San Diego Bayfront works directly with Alvéole to house more than 100,000 bees on its 5th-floor rooftop, providing essential pollination to nearby plants and trees, while guests enjoy honey-infused food and drink creations.

At Utah's Hilton Salt Lake City Center, the hotel has launched the "Honey with Purpose" program, which includes four hives tended by the Bees Brothers. Guests can taste dishes with honey from the property and ingredients from the hotel's community garden.

Hilton Buenos Aires, in Argentina, is already known for its gastronomy and the hotel has partnered with Vivera Orgánica, an urban community garden located in the Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood, near the hotel. The orchard is cared for by 14 families, and most of the producers are migrant women with previous experience working the land. Produce from the communal garden is used in the hotel's culinary programmes.

The Almenat Embu das Artes, Tapestry Collection By Hilton in Brazil is a unique property that combines harmony, nature, natural light, art and design, located in the middle of a protected reserve of the Atlantic Forest. The hotel has an organic garden with vegetables and spices, and guests can help maintain it while learning about local produce. The hotel uses these products in the restaurant, including its green juice made from its own kale. In addition, as part of the hotel's environmental strategy, all rainwater is collected to maintain the property's green areas.

Since 2013, Hilton Bogotá de Colombia has been collaborating with farmers from the village of El Verjón to support their crops with the construction of a greenhouse. In collaboration with the village of El Verjón, they have designed an organic garden at their hotel, turning products from El Verjón and its garden into the main ingredients of the hotel's "farm-to-table" restaurant, La Ventana. Herbs grown at the hotel include rosemary, basil, mint and thyme, among others.

Across the Americas, including North, Central and South America, the intensity of emissions reductions has decreased by 47.5% across the entire portfolio of managed hotels in the region.

The release of the Travel with Purpose 2022 report coincides with the release of the inaugural Hilton Global Foundation Impact Report, which highlights the positive global impact of the nearly $2.3 million donated in 2022 to organizations working to build a society healthy, sustainable planet and resilient communities for future generations. In 2022, the Hilton Global Foundation supported projects in the United States, Brazil and Canada. Beneficiaries include:

Travis Early College High School Hospitality College (United States): Empowers disadvantaged students in Austin, Texas to gain valuable work experience, including free hospitality degree programs.

Homeboy Industries (United States): Provides support, education, and career development to formerly gang-involved or incarcerated individuals in Los Angeles, California.

Hawaii Land Trust (United States): Protects nearly 50,000 acres of land that is integral to Hawaii's well-being and character, while promoting community-led stewardship.

Instituto Agir Ambiental (Brazil): Empowers socially vulnerable women across Brazil and supports resilience to climate change through increased access to water and promotion of income opportunities.

One Tree Planted (Canada): Restores forests and promotes habitats that contribute to biodiversity. Contributions from the Hilton Global Foundation will help plant 50,000 trees across Canada.

The City Mission (United States): Empowers people to overcome the street situation by providing basic needs care and comprehensive support services in the community of Cleveland, Ohio.