Radisson Tests Net Zero Hotels as ESG Expectations Increase

Radisson Hotel Group’s 2025 Responsible Business Report points to a shift taking place across hospitality: sustainability targets are being tested less in corporate strategy documents and more inside individual hotels.

The company is using the report to outline progress across emissions reduction, renewable electricity, workforce development, community investment and supply chain oversight. The timing matters. Hotel groups are under growing pressure from guests, owners, investors and regulators to show measurable progress rather than broad climate commitments.

A key update is the launch of Radisson Hotel Group’s first Verified Net Zero hotels, including properties in Manchester City Centre and Oslo City Centre. The company positions the model as a way to reduce emissions in both new and existing properties while maintaining service standards.

That is a practical challenge for the sector. Hotels often need to cut emissions while working within older building systems, mixed ownership models, guest comfort expectations and tight operating margins. Radisson’s approach focuses on measures such as energy efficiency, electrification, renewable electricity, sustainable building standards and more responsible resource use.

The company reported a 23% reduction in emissions intensity per square meter against a 2019 baseline. Total Scope 1 and 2 emissions were down 6% compared with 2019, while the hotel portfolio grew by 20%. Radisson also said 78 hotels now operate on 100% renewable electricity, with further expansion planned.

For hotel owners and operators, the main takeaway is that net zero plans are becoming operational programs. Energy sourcing, building performance, procurement and reporting are all becoming part of the day-to-day management conversation.

Workforce, Community and Reporting Move Up the ESG Agenda

Radisson’s report also places social performance alongside climate action. The company now has more than 75,000 team members across more than 100 countries, making employee engagement, safety, inclusion and retention central to its responsible business strategy.

In 2025, Radisson reported an 84% team member engagement score, which it said was 18% above the industry average. Women held 31% of leadership roles, and 206 hotels were certified by Safehotels, reflecting continued investment in safety and security standards for employees and guests.

The company also reported more than 8.5 million learning hours through Radisson Academy, while 40% of open roles were filled internally. Its Radisson People Foundation, launched in 2024 to support employees during times of need, assisted more than 250 team members globally.

Community investment remains part of the broader framework. Radisson reported $1,045,928 in cash and in-kind donations and 79,000 volunteer hours from hotel and corporate teams. Through its partnership with Just a Drop, the company said it has helped provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene access for more than 34,000 people.

Supply chain visibility is another area to watch. Radisson reported that 76% of its global suppliers had been assessed and noted its EcoVadis Silver Medal. For hospitality businesses, procurement is becoming a bigger part of sustainability performance, especially as buyers and regulators ask for clearer data across operations.

The report also aligns with the European Union’s Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs and uses a double materiality approach to assess ESG impacts, risks and opportunities. That structure signals where hotel sustainability reporting is heading: away from brand-led storytelling and toward standardized measurement, comparable data and accountability.