- RHG aims for 100 hotels to achieve net-zero by 2030.
- The program follows Net Zero Methodology across all emission scopes.
- Each VNZ hotel will be verified by TÜV Rheinland for compliance.
RADISSON HOTEL GROUP aims for 100 hotels to reach net-zero status by 2030. The target builds on last year’s pilot of its Verified Net Zero Hotels program, which eliminates fossil fuel use and cuts carbon emissions across operations.
The program follows the Net Zero Methodology for hotels and the Science Based Targets initiative, covering all three emission scopes, RHG said in a statement. Enrolled hotels aim to cut scope 1 and 2 emissions — from company-owned or controlled sources — through electrification, renewable heating and cooling networks and 100 percent renewable energy.
“At Radisson Hotel Group, sustainability ultimately starts with people. It is about delivering for our guests, creating value for our owners and supporting the communities where we operate,” said Federico González Tejera, RHG’s CEO. “Verified Net Zero Hotels are an important step in our net zero transformation, setting a new standard for how hospitality can reduce its environmental impact while continuing to support people, destinations and economic activity.”
The program also targets scope 3 emissions — indirect emissions from a company’s supply chain — across food and beverage, waste, laundry, amenities and business travel, the statement said. The company plans to expand the initiative this year to hotels in Norway, followed by Denmark, Sweden, U.K. and South Africa, with further rollout to Germany, Austria and Spain’s Canary Islands over five years.
Each hotel in the VNZ program will be verified by TÜV Rheinland to ensure compliance with the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels, RHG said. The methodology helps hotels and the hospitality industry meet net-zero and sustainability goals on a 2025–2050 timeline. Early targets include calculating emissions and creating a decarbonization plan to reduce supply chain emissions.
Guests experience renewable energy, low-carbon menus and minimal-waste hotels, while their stay or meeting has a net-zero footprint, according to the company. The program is currently operational at two hotels in Manchester and Oslo, as part of the initial pilot. Each hotel records awareness scores above 70 percent, with about 20 percent of guests booking for its Net Zero status.
Inge Huijbrechts, RHG’s chief sustainability and security officer, said results from the Manchester and Oslo VNZ hotels support the expansion of Radisson Hotel Group’s program.
“The hotels show strong carbon reduction across all emission scopes, high guest awareness and clear support for sustainable meetings and events,” he said. “They also provide hotel owners with a practical pathway to future-proof their properties and move toward Net Zero. Our guests know the concept is fully transparent and trustworthy; these hotels offer a Net Zero stay or a Net Zero Meeting & Event space, guaranteed!”
Meanwhile, Tejera unveiled the new Verified Net Zero icon at the 2026 International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin. The icon will serve as the program’s physical and digital symbol, for use in lobbies, guest touchpoints and QR-enabled digital content, the statement said. A 3D-printed version made from hotel organic waste was also displayed, showing that sustainability can be operational, visible and measurable.
A 2025 study by hotel operator Bob W found that hotel carbon emissions are five times higher than current estimates from frameworks like the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative. The Finland-based company and UK-based consultancy Furthr developed the "Lodging Emissions & Guest-night Impact Tracker" to provide a broader view of the hotel sector's environmental impact.
