The Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre is the
first Verified Net Zero hotel in the UK and the first of many to come in the Radisson
Hotel Group portfolio. Taking the hard work out of sourcing a sustainable event
venue, the group is proud of its achievements in supporting the green
revolution
Radisson
Hotel Group opened the first verified Net Zero hotel in the UK in Manchester last summer and its second is open in Oslo. And now
it has announced a global roll-out of its Verified Net Zero Hotels (VNZ)
programme.
Launched as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate
that zero status can be achieved in existing hotel buildings, VNZ is now
transitioning into a scalable programme designed to reach 100 Verified Net Zero
hotels by 2030. The roadmap includes a phased 2026 roll-out beginning in
Norway, followed by Denmark, Sweden, the UK and South Africa, which will host
the first VNZ hotel ever in Africa. Further expansion is planned in Germany,
Austria and Spain’s Canary Islands over a five-year period.
By embedding learnings into meetings and events
delivery and with continued innovation in energy efficiency, food carbon
intelligence and waste reduction technologies, Radisson has set a target of 100
Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030, reinforcing the group’s leadership in
sustainable hospitality.
“A typical event in Europe can create a footprint of 500-1,000 kg of CO2,”
says Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability & Security Officer, Radisson
Hotel Group. “With 80 per cent arising from transportation and around 20 per
cent from the event location.”
So it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that a venue accessible
by train with measurable zero emissions is a huge leap forward for sustainable
meetings – and the future of the planet.
“At RHG,” continues Huijbrechts, “We are the only hotel company in the
world that offers 100 per cent carbon compensated meetings worldwide, through
21 transparent and certified projects from biogas installations to
reforestation.
“As a group, we have reduced our footprint by a third.”
Ensuring the sustainability of any event means measuring, understanding
and acting on the footprint created. With Verified Net Zero
hotels delivering a net zero emission stay and net zero emission M&E, this is
significant for corporate and association event planners who report and have
targets on their scope 3 emissions.
Radisson
Hotel Manchester City Centre, the UK’s first Verified Net Zero hotel
Opened in May last year, the
Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, a Verified Net Zero hotel, can cater for up to 240 delegates and all its event
spaces are fitted with high contrast projectors, wall-mounted screens and Barco
Clickshare technology.
“Being Verified Net Zero has given us a much stronger
starting point in conversations with buyers,” says Emma Whiteford, Director of
Sales at Radisson Hotel Group. “Sustainability is no longer a secondary topic;
for many organisations it is a core part of their procurement criteria. Having
that verification allows us to move beyond broad sustainability claims and
demonstrate measurable impact. It gives clients confidence that when they
choose to host an event with us, they are supporting their own ESG (Environmental,
Social and Governance) commitments in a credible and transparent way.”
With increasing numbers of event clients
including extensive sustainability questions as part of their Request For Proposal
process, it’s important to understand the likely carbon footprint, the waste
management practices and energy sources at the venue together with how they can
be supported in designing a low-impact event. There is also growing interest in
how a venue can help measure or report the environmental impact of a meeting.
While sustainability is rarely the only factor in a
client’s decision, it is increasingly becoming a differentiator when venues are
otherwise comparable. “We’ve had several instances where buyers have
highlighted our Verified Net Zero status as a key reason for shortlisting or
selecting the hotel,” says Whiteford. “Particularly when they need to
demonstrate responsible venue choices internally.”
A property such as the Radisson
Manchester City Centre - and the Radisson RED Oslo, the group’s
second verified Net Zero property - offers reassurance for event planners who
might otherwise have to do additional due diligence to ensure the venue meets
the environmental standards they require.
The most sustainable
meeting and event space in Manchester, with 100 per cent of the energy used for
each meeting – heating, cooling, lighting – provided by renewables, the
Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre is a minimal waste venue with maximum
recycling and responsible purchasing. Sustainability is integrated into the
planning and execution of meetings and events, including:
- carbon
reduced menu option that doesn’t compromise on flavour
- filtered
water in reusable water bottles
- food
waste reduction programme
- your meeting is verified net
zero
- paperless
and plastic free wherever possible
- still
the latest equipment for a successful meeting and events experience
The hotel has undertaken
two waste audits and seen a reduction in energy consumption thanks to
the heat pumps. Year one ends in June, and more data will be available after
that.
Challenging
misconceptions
There is still
a perception that sustainability claims in hospitality can be difficult to
verify. With so much concern around greenwashing in recent years, planners are
understandably keen to ensure that sustainability credentials are genuine and
measurable rather than just marketing statements. This is where recognised
certifications and transparent reporting become particularly important, as they
provide an independent level of credibility and allow clients to trust that the
commitments being made are meaningful.
Another common assumption is that sustainable meetings
automatically mean higher costs. In reality, many of the practices that support
sustainability – such as reducing waste, responsible sourcing and energy
efficiency – are integrated into how venues operate day-to-day, can actually improve the quality and experience
of an event and, in some areas, reduce costs.
“We are certainly seeing strong interest from organisations
where sustainability is embedded in corporate policy,” says Whiteford. “Such as
the education sector, healthcare companies, professional services and
international corporates with clear ESG commitments. For these organisations,
choosing a venue that aligns with their sustainability values is increasingly
non-negotiable.”
Radisson
Hotel Group's commitment to sustainable events
Meetings and events hosted in Verified Net Zero hotels are
delivered in line with the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels, meaning operational
emissions are eliminated where possible, reduced to the lowest achievable level
and residual emissions are compensated via certified carbon removal.
Net Zero status is independently validated by third‑party auditor
TÜV Rheinland,
providing credibility for clients.
Key initiatives supporting sustainable meetings
include:
- Energy:
Full electrification (eg heat pumps) and operation on 100 per cent
renewable energy at VNZ hotels, eliminating Scope 1 & 2 emissions
- Food
& sourcing: Low‑carbon menus co‑designed with Klimato to reduce
dish‑level carbon footprints
- Waste:
Waste monitoring and reduction via tools such as eSmiley, redistribution
partnerships (eg Too Good To Go) and expanded recycling to support zero
waste to landfill ambitions
- Carbon
measurement: Use of science‑based tools to measure and manage operational
and event‑related emissions before certified carbon removal with Agreena.
Metrics tracked and reported
- Energy
performance and renewable energy use at hotel level
- Operational
carbon emissions (Scopes 1, 2 and key Scope 3 categories linked to
food, waste and operations)
- Waste
generation and reduction indicators, including food waste tracking
- Third‑party
Net Zero verification status, which can be referenced in client proposals
and RFPs.
Quantified results
- Dish‑level
carbon footprint reductions of up to 40 per cent enabled through
Klimato low‑carbon menu design
- Elimination
of Scope 1 & 2 emissions at VNZ hotels through electrification
and renewable energy
(Note: hotel and event‑specific absolute CO₂,
waste or water figures depend on local data and are shared where
available)
Avoiding greenwashing
- Alignment
with the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels and Science‑Based Targets
initiative (SBTi) commitments
- Independent
third‑party validation of Net Zero claims by TÜV Rheinland
- Clear
separation between emissions reduction first and certified carbon
removal only for residual emissions.
Supporting sales & events teams
- Verified
Net Zero hotels positioned as third‑party‑validated sustainable
venues for ESG‑conscious corporate and MICE clients
- Consistent
guest and client‑facing messaging (‘zero‑impact stays’) supported by
auditable data and award recognition (HSMAI Europe Sustainability Award)
- Radisson
Hotel Group has a long‑term commitment to Net Zero by 2050 or earlier,
aligned with approved SBTi targets and supported by transparent reporting
and third‑party validation.
For more information, click here.
