The Colombia-based company recently announced that 100 % of its hotel operations have been certified under ISO 20141, ISO 45001 and GMP( Good Manufacturing Practices) standards by the International Organization for Standardization, covering 57 of its managed hotels.

GHL operates 64 hotels under its own brands and others across nine Latin American countries, spanning the luxury,

Members of GHL’ s executive board received special accolades during a press conference focused on sustainability achievements. Pictured is COO Adolfo Scheel receiving an award from CEO Andrés Fajardo.

lifestyle, premium and economy segments.

STARTING POINT“ The concept of sustainability has changed,” said Andrés Fajardo, CEO of GHL Hoteles.“ It was something we had to do; not something we actually wanted to pursue. Now, it’ s about how people feel within our company and how they experience our social responsibility to build a better planet for everyone.”

Sandra Zapata, head of HR for GHL, said the company has spent the last several years refining its sustainability practices. It has established four strategic pillars around minimizing

Teams from different hotels in GHL’ s portfolio attended the conference via Zoom.

its environmental footprint, educating and training its workforce, cultivating responsible tourism and promoting diversity and inclusion.

GHL aims to promote a responsible supply chain with products and services aligned with concerns over climate change, deforestation, human rights, waste, public health, resource scarcity, biodiversity and animal welfare.

ACHIEVING GREEN GHL announced significant progress in its sustainability strategy, reporting a more than 6 % reduction in its carbon footprint in 2024. Key initiatives include installing solar panels across multiple properties, eliminating singleuse plastics, transitioning to LED lighting and implementing

water reuse systems.

Environmental programs have also expanded to protect biodiversity, with the planting of over 6,000 trees, reforestation efforts and partnerships with organizations such as Fundación Palmarito in Casanare, Colombia, and Saving the Amazon. Energy efficiency measures, including renewable generation and smart technology adoption, contributed to a 3.41 % decrease in energy use per guest and a 5.74 % reduction in overall water consumption.

On the social front, GHL has strengthened inclusion and development programs, achieving a gender pay gap below 5 % and promoting the hiring of people with disabilities, migrants and women heads of households.

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