Hotels, is there a sustainable future?

After a tumultuous few years European hotels have enjoyed a strong 2023 summer as international leisure travel and business demand starts to return to more normal levels. At the same time, there is an increasing awareness of the carbon footprint and impact on climate change from travelling.

With the hotel/accommodation sector estimated to contribute 1% of global carbon emissions, not taking into account related activities such as transport and construction, and 70% of the carbon footprint of a hotel stay estimated to come from energy and water use, is there really a sustainable future for the sector? And how can hotels fit into an investment portfolio given the increased importance attached to ESG factors by investors?

The session will be moderated by Marie Hickey, Director, Retail and Leisure Research at Savills. She will be joined by Cristina Balekjian, Director of Hospitality Analytics, CoStar, Robin Rossman, Managing Director, STR, Phil Halanen, Head of Sourcing & Sustainability, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Chris Exell, Head of Acquisitions Room2/Lamington Group, and Luc Boschmans, Managing Director, Hospitality, Tristan Capital Partners.


Cristina Balekjian, Director of Hospitality Analytics, CoStar
Cristina Balekjian is a Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar covering the UK hotel market. With over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Cristina’s knowledge spans from operational to consulting and analytical roles having previously worked at HVS, Hilton and Christie & Co, with a real estate focus providing market studies, feasibilities, valuations and due diligence advice.

Cristina is based in London and is responsible for providing timely and relevant insights to CoStar clients, while also working together with CoStar’s dedicated news team to report on major trends affecting the hospitality industry. She holds a BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey and a Certificate from Cornell University on Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management. She is also a member of the Society of Property Researchers and the Urban Land Institute.



Luc Boschmans, Managing Director, Hospitality, Tristan Capital Partners
Luc oversees the hospitality investments on behalf of Tristan’s funds, bringing 24 years of experience in the European hotel industry.

Previously, Luc worked for 10 years at Archer Hotel Capital and its successor, Host Hotels & Resorts, as a Director in charge of the asset management of a €2bn luxury hotel portfolio across Europe. Prior to Host Hotels & Europe, Luc led the hotel operations for a portfolio on behalf of Blackstone in France and another portfolio in Germany for Lone Star Funds. Luc has also gained substantial operational hotel experience from hotel operating companies including Hilton and Hyatt.

Luc holds a Hotel Management Diploma from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland as well as an MBA of the Open University. Luc has been a CHAM, Certified Hotel Asset Manager, since 2019 and a board member of HAMA Europe (Hospitality Asset Manager Association).

Luc is a Belgian national and speaks Dutch, German, French and English.


Chris Exell, Head of Acquisitions Room2/Lamington Group
Chris is Head of Acquisitions for the Lamington Group, leading the expansion of their Whole Life Carbon Net Zero hometel, room2.  With a growing pipeline of new exciting locations ahead, Chris' focus is on finding the right opportunities in key locations that can fit in with the Net Zero standards. 


Phil Halanen, Head of Sourcing & Sustainability EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Having started his career in the aviation industry, holding a number of operational and commercial management roles at both airlines and airports, Philip is currently the Head of Sourcing & Sustainability for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA.

Philip is accountable for the design and delivery of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts regional sustainability strategy, including the implementation and growth of the Wyndham Green Programme. He is additionally responsible for providing subject matter expertise to both the business and external organisations regarding Sustainability.

Philip is also accountable for the company’s Procurement function, which provides Wyndham’s partner hotels in the region a comprehensive network of preferred suppliers across all categories, with access to preferential pricing, products and services.


Marie Hickey, Director, Retail and Leisure Research, Savills
Marie heads up the Savills Hospitality research team in the UK with over 15 years of experience. Her focus is understanding wider global drivers and consumer trends in order to assess what this means for occupational and investment markets across Europe and other key destination markets globally. Her approach is always forward looking in terms of the opportunities and potential challenges shaping the evolving hospitality landscape. Marie has had a special interest in new emerging subsectors in the wider hospitality market for a number of years, being a lead commentator on the emerging Serviced Apartment/Aparthotel segment.


Robin Rossmann, Managing Director, STR
Robin is Managing Director of STR, a CoStar Group Company, and has led its business across EMEA, APAC and CSA since 2016. Robin is focused on continuing to improve the way STR provides hotel brands, operators, owners, lenders and advisors with robust and insightful data that enables better decision making.

Details:
Registration and breakfast: 08.30
Seminar: 09.00-10.00
Location: Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0TA

This event is kindly hosted by CoStar and STR.