New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has entered into a strategic partnership with Qualmark to work towards certifying Accor hotels, resorts and apartments across New Zealand as Gold Standard Sustainable Tourism Businesses.

For three decades Qualmark, a New Zealand quality assurance organisation, has supported thousands of tourism businesses across the country to operate sustainably.

Qualmark’s Sustainable Tourism Business certification criteria is a rigorous process that evaluates standards of sustainability across five key pillars: business systems, environment, people, community and culture, and health and safety.

This criteria was recently the first in New Zealand to gain Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognised status. This means Qualmark members can be confident that achieving Qualmark certification meets global standards of sustainability and that travellers can be assured of a globally recognised accreditation.

Qualmark New Zealand General Manager, Steven Dixon, said: “We’re excited to partner with an industry-leading hotel operator like Accor.

“Compared to 10 years ago, travellers are now three times more likely to choose a business that has been sustainably accredited. Our vision is to see all New Zealand tourism businesses join Qualmark, to make it easier for our manuhiri (visitors) to make sustainable choices.”

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said: “We are delighted to partner with Qualmark as a leading voice and authority for sustainability in the New Zealand market. Our hotels are already accredited with Qualmark and we are now taking actions for them to reach gold accreditation – the highest possible standard under the new GSTC aligned standards.

“Sustainability is fundamental in our business, and we are proud to contribute to shaping the future of tourism in New Zealand by investing in our sustainability actions and activities. Our next phase of growth is built on our powerful sense of environmental, social and economic responsibility.

“In 2023, in collaboration with our hotel owners, Accor Pacific removed some 55 single use plastic items, such as individual toiletries from guest facing areas and plastic water bottles, in over 80% of hotels. In 2024 and beyond, we are committed to taking these actions further into food waste and sustainability, water usage, eco certification and diversity and inclusion. We know there is a lot more to do and our teams will continue to focus on driving sustainability actions.”

Around the world, Accor is fully supporting its 5,500 hotels in obtaining external sustainable certifications. Through a combination of global and local partnerships, Accor will reach the target of 100% of its network eco-certified by 2026.

From luxury to economy, Accor operates more than 40 hotels across New Zealand, including international brands such as Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismore’s SO/.