The Banksia Awards recognise excellence in sustainability, and are facilitated by the not-for-profit Banksia Foundation. The prestigious awards promote Australian individuals, communities, business and government for innovation, achievement and commitment to sustainability. This year’s awards were held at Sydney’s Doltone House on November 1, 2017.

AccorHotels was recognised for reducing emissions, food waste and committing to positive and sustainable hospitality, with other finalists in the Large Business Sustainability category including Country Road, LUSH Cosmetics and Charles Sturt University.

AccorHotels Chief Operating Officer – Pacific, Simon McGrath, said “We are incredibly proud to have won this year’s Banksia Sustainability Leadership Awards and it is a true reflection on the amazing work of our employees and their dedication to reducing the impacts associated with our operations”.

“As Australia’s largest hotel operator, with over 200 hotels, we strive relentlessly to reduce our emissions and we are acutely aware of our responsibility to provide responsible and positive hospitality experiences to each of our 6 million guests who come through our doors each year. To have been recognised for this is very rewarding and we dedicate this award to our employees.”

AccorHotels Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Bridie Commerford, said, “Since our first environmental charter in 1998, AccorHotels has actively embedded sustainability into our operations and we are incredibly honoured and proud to receive the Banksia Award for leadership in sustainability.

“In 2017, we produced our first Corporate Responsibility Report for Australia which outlines the work we are doing to provide a positive hospitality experience for our guests and employees,” she said.

“From the installation of a 100kW Solar Photovoltaic system on the roof of Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, to the guests whose towel re-use enables us to fund the planting of over 14,000 trees in 2016 across 4 locations including the Great Barrier Reef catchment, and our chefs who are committed to reducing food waste by 30% over the next 3 years, this award recognises the dedication of the whole AccorHotels team in delivering on our sustainability targets.”

AccorHotels Category Equipment Manager for E-procurement and Sustainability, Tom Mallet, has been a key driver of AccorHotels sustainability program and initiatives, and also accepted the award on behalf of AccorHotels.

Planet 21, AccorHotels’ sustainability program, oversees six key pillars including People, Guests, Partners, Communities, Buildings and Food, and aligns itself with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

AccorHotels Corporate Responsibility Report showed the Group’s Indigenous Employment Program grew by 26% in 2016, breaking through the 500 employee milestone for the first time; 6,390kgs of food, equal to 19,170 meals, was donated to OzHarvest; and over 14,000 trees were planted nationally in conjunction with Greening Australia.

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