Climate change is an increasingly significant commercial challenge for hotel groups, affecting both travel choices and operating costs. European Travel Commission research published in July found that 76% of European travellers say climate-related factors influence their travel behaviour. Meanwhile, RSM’s analysis of July hotel performance showed utility costs per occupied room rising approximately 13% year on year in London, with greater air-conditioning use during the heatwave putting pressure on margins.
Against that backdrop, Mandarin Oriental has launched, 20 October, a new sustainability platform and manifesto. Branded MO•RE, the platform is designed, the group says, “to challenge the conventions of luxury hospitality and place resilience, connection and regeneration at the centre of how the Group grows, operates and creates exceptional experiences”.
Over the past 15 years, the group has reported a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions and more than 80,000 hours contributed by colleagues through volunteering.
The group says MO•RE signals a step change in ambition: moving beyond incremental, compliance-led action “to strengthen the resilience of its business and destinations, reconnect people with nature and culture, and generate lasting positive impact for communities and ecosystems”.
The manifesto is based on three interconnected pillars, Resilience, Reconnection and Regeneration, that will shape group decisions from investment, development and design to operations and the guest experience.
“MO•RE is a decisive step forward. It moves sustainability from the margins to the core of our business; strengthening resilience, improving operational performance and safeguarding the destinations that inspire our guests and define our hotels. As we grow, MO•RE sets the direction for the business we want to build and the legacy we intend to leave,” said Laurent Kleitman, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental.
“Our ambition is to make sustainability a business priority, a shared commitment with our partners and a joyful experience for our guests,” Kleitman added.
MO•RE will be made tangible through group-wide initiatives and locally relevant programmes, including:
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- Climate-risk profile for each hotel: identifying local climate risks and adaptation priorities.
- A new decarbonisation pathway to net zero by 2050 setting a clear route to reduce emissions.
- Scope 3 emissions visibility: clarifying impacts across the value chain.
- Immersive culinary and wellness experiences.
- Biodiversity preservation: protecting and restoring priority habitats.
- Vocational education: expanding access to hospitality skills and careers.
- Arts & Crafts: supporting artists, artisans and living cultural heritage.
