Choice Hotels Discloses Full Emissions, Tries Energy Tech

Choice Hotels International said in its latest sustainability report that a carbon dioxide capture technology at one of its locations is helping to reduce gas emission by 20%.

The company, which has more than 22 brands with over 7,500 hotels, said it had been testing the technology at the Radisson Blu Mall of America hotel for the past two years.

It’s called CarbinX and is roughly the size of two home refrigerators. Choice said the system is cutting emissions by around 6 to 8 tonnes of Co2 per year at the hotel.

“The small-scale unit reduces gas consumption and GHG emissions by connecting directly to the hotel’s water boilers, sequestering a significant portion of the carbon dioxide emitted,” Choice Hotels said.

Choice Hotels Reports Scope 3 Emissions for the First Time

Choice also disclosed its scope 3 emissions for the first time.

These include indirect emissions from its supply chain, such as the production, packaging and disposal of food, furniture, laundry supplies, and cleaning products. 

At Choice, scope 3 accounts for more than 90% of its total annual emissions, amounting to over 6 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. That’s about the same as yearly emissions of a medium-sized city. 

Reducing these emissions is one of the biggest challenges in hospitality, since many come from suppliers outside of the hotel’s direct control.

Smart Thermostats Roll Out Across Some Choice Hotels

Choice said it has installed smart thermostats in more than 2,300 guest rooms in managed hotels.

These systems help reduce heating and air-conditioning energy use by up to 52% and typically pay for themselves in under two years, the company said. 

Choice has not released any public climate commitments. Many other hotel groups aim to be net-zero by 2050.

“We set ambitious sustainability goals and make long-term investments to positively impact our world and drive business success. Our efforts include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating efficiencies that save our franchise hotel owners time and money,” said Patrick Pacious, president of Choice Hotels, in the sustainability report. 

Choice Hotels did not respond to Hospitality career profile’s request for comment.

Hospitality career profile’s in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Hospitality career profile to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Hospitality career profile’s editorial team.

Green Shift takes a deep dive into the intersection of climate change and the travel industry.

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