Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and New Zealand, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Young to the role of Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of ESG for Accor Pacific.  

David has extensive ESG, commercial and operational experience gained over many years from working in the travel industry in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the UK. Prior to joining Accor, David worked with the oneworld alliance as Global Program Director Sustainability and was previously the Executive Manager of Sustainability and ESG at the Qantas Group. Over the last 20 years David has held senior operating roles with Qantas as Executive Manager Commercial at Qantas Loyalty, and Chief Operating Officer Qantas Catering and Inflight Services. He also spent 7 years in London as a Board Member and Executive Director of the listed Journey Group Plc, a global travel catering and supply company. Currently a Director of YHA Australia and a Trustee of the Golden Stave Foundation, David is the former President of the Aviation Sustainability Forum.

Commenting on David’s appointment, Sarah Derry, CEO Accor Pacific, said David would lead the implemention of Accor’s industry-leading ESG and sustainability agenda across its 400 hotels, apartments and resorts in the region: “Sustainability is redefining Accor’s business model and shaping a new way of traveling. We are pursuing an integrated business approach in the way we manage our ESG activities and our interactions with our people, guests, suppliers, partners, clients and communities.”

“David is a subject matter expert with strong leadership skills, his vision for sustainability will make an outsize impact.”

David commented, “We’re at our best when we are supported by a positive culture and a strong team, and the support for sustainability at Accor is extraordinary. There is so much opportunity to make a difference in our industry.”

Accor Pacific recently entered into a strategic partnership with Ecotourism Australia to certify all Accor hotels, apartments and resorts across Australia and the Pacific as Sustainable Tourism certified businesses. Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification program was introduced in 2022 and the standard is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Sustainable Tourism Certification is designed for all tourism operators and businesses in the tourism supply chain to meet and gain recognition for best practice sustainability initiatives.

From luxury to economy, Accor has 20 international brands across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, including Handwritten Collection, Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Mondrian, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and Ennismore’s SO/ and TRIBE.