IHG Hotels & Resorts and Zeal Hotels — Photo by Zeal Hotels
Tim Wheeldon (L), managing director, Zeal Hotels and Matt Walton (R), senior director, development UK & Ireland, IHG Hotels & Resorts — Photo by Zeal Hotels

The hotel will be both companies’ first lifecycle net zero carbon hotel. Aligned with the UK Green Building Council’s framework definition of net zero carbon buildings, it is set to open next year.

The group recently obtained detailed planning permission for the 142-bedroom hotel and construction is due to begin in July. The property is aiming for a minimum BREEAM rating of Excellent, with a target of Outstanding and will feature a meeting room, restaurant, bar, gym, gardens, and numerous car charging points.

This is the result of Team Zeal’s passion to create a sustainable and repeatable hotel concept and IHG has been at the forefront of sustainability in the hotel sector. We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge to help move the industry forwards and achieve our net zero carbon targets together. It is our ambition to accelerate the net zero carbon process within the hospitality industry.

IHG has a compelling global network which will help to spread the Zeal Hotels message and help guests to enjoy their hotel stays free from concerns about their carbon footprint. We want to keep people travelling, keep the sector growing and, more importantly, keep lowering our footprint. Tim Wheeldon, managing director, Zeal Hotels

Sustainable development is core to how IHG are looking to grow. We know that guests are looking for more sustainable stays and are willing to pay more for them. So I’m really excited to be signing our first lifecycle net zero carbon hotel. It’s a big step in the right direction and I’m confident Zeal Hotels are the right partner for the job. Karin Sheppard, SVP MD Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts

The hotel will be managed by Valor Hospitality.

We are really pleased to be appointed as the management team for this game-changing hotel. To be recognised by Zeal Hotels is a real testament to our track record for being an organisation that is a great place to work, driven by our obsession with team member engagement and commercial expertise, and our mission to be the most sustainable hotel management company in the world.

Adding Zeal’s first net zero carbon hotel to our portfolio shows how far we have come as a team, managing almost 40 hotels in the UK, with over 100 worldwide. This great project takes us into the next step in our growth journey and we’re excited for what’s to come. Brian McCarthy, managing director of Valor Hospitality

Tim Wheeldon, managing director, Zeal Hotels, said: We are thrilled to be working with Valor Hospitality on this exceptional project. Out of a strong field, Valor stood out as the team who could deliver our vision and who, importantly, share our ambitions for a net zero-carbon future for the sector.

The UK hospitality industry has to reduce its carbon emissions by 66% on 2019 levels by 2030 and this represents a huge challenge for existing and new build hotels. The need for the hotel industry to take action has never been more pressing and the longer we leave it, the harder and more expensive it will be to make a difference.

About IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 18 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,900 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About Valor Hospitality Partners

Valor Hospitality Partners is a leading global full-service hotel underwriting, acquisition, development, management, and asset management company. With 90 hospitality projects in its international portfolio, Valor Hospitality offers an array of services, including site selection, product and brand selection, entitlements, financing solutions, conceptual design, construction and project management, procurement, technical services, pre-opening, and operations management. Valor also provides consulting services on a wide range of project scenarios, including working with new or existing ownership groups on reviewing site selection, assessing feasibility studies and project budgets, compiling project budgets, and underwriting.

About Zeal Hotels

Established in 2012, Zeal Hotels has the specific aim of acquiring strategic hotel sites, developing the hotels and maintaining ownership of the assets. Motivated to reduce a hotel's carbon emissions through the construction process, as well as operations, Zeal Hotels has launched a new brand, targeting carbon net zero, with the first UK site acquired at Exeter Science Park to be operated under a franchise agreement with IHG. Zeal Hotels is actively seeking further development opportunities. Learn more at www.zealhotels.com.

Emily Newman
NewDog PR
Zeal Hotels