Choice Hotels International publishes '2024 Sustainability Report'

The report, covering activities from January 1 to December 31, 2024, reflects the company’s evolving focus on science-based climate targets, stakeholder-driven inclusion efforts and community partnerships aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Canadian collaboration on certification

Of particular interest to the Canadian market, Choice Hotels has deepened its relationship with Green Key Global, a sustainability certification program operated by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC.) This partnership enables Choice-branded properties across the country to pursue meaningful third-party recognition aligned with global standards, including the Travalyst initiative and all 17 UN SDGs.

Environmental commitments and carbon disclosure

In 2024, Choice Hotels publicly disclosed Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the first time, a key step in its commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). More than half of Choice’s domestic hotel properties have already adopted the company’s utility tracking dashboard, powered by Schneider Electric, which helps identify opportunities to reduce energy use, emissions and water waste.

The company’s Room to Be Green program, now a brand standard effective January 1, 2025, includes multi-tiered sustainability benchmarks for franchise properties. These include appointing Green Ambassadors at each hotel and introducing energy-saving initiatives such as smart thermostats and occupancy sensors.

Franchisee engagement and community impact

Franchisees remain central to Choice’s sustainability strategy. In 2024, the company’s SOAR program (Supporting Ownership Access and Representation) supported nearly 40 new franchise agreements, including 24 led by women. Since its inception, SOAR has helped facilitate more than 400 agreements for underrepresented entrepreneurs, including Black, Latino and veteran owners.

The company’s Your Community, Your Choice grant program awarded $75,000 in funding this year to support causes such as food security, veteran aid and youth education. Since its inception five years ago, the program has donated $275,000 to community organizations nominated by local hotel teams.

Partnership with the National Park Foundation

A new collaboration with the National Park Foundation aligns closely with Choice’s network footprint. According to the report, 95 per cent of domestic properties are located within 90 minutes of a U.S. national park. The partnership enables guests to convert loyalty points into charitable donations, while hotels and associates can engage through volunteering and education initiatives.

Human rights and recognition

In 2024, Patrick Pacious, president and CEO received the Freedom Award from Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT), recognizing the company’s revamped human trafficking prevention training. All Choice Hotels franchisees and corporate staff are now required to complete annual training, with mandatory signage deployed across extended stay properties and employee-only areas.

The company was also ranked by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies, and received several workplace honours for diversity, disability inclusion and LGBTQ+ support.

Looking ahead

Choice Hotels says its sustainability team now reports directly to operations leadership to better embed ESG goals across business functions. The report signals a broader ambition: to reduce risk, improve profitability for franchisees, and lead industry transformation through responsible operations.

To read the full 2024 Sustainability Report, visit:

https://investor.choicehotels.com/esg/esg-documents/