The Accor group recently made official its new Planet 21 programme - a reference to the notion of Agenda 21 born in Rio twenty years earlier - designed to focus on sustainable development, involving both hotels and their customers in an effective approach. Based on 21 short-term objectives (2015), the roadmap includes the use of eco-labelled products in 85 % of hotels, and reducing water and energy consumption by 15% and 10 % respectively in subsidiary hotels. Group CEO Denis Hennequin sees Planet 21 as "a formidable lever for competitiveness for our brands, attractiveness for our customers and partners, and loyalty for our employees". In addition to the efforts initiated internally, the approach must also involve passengers without making them feel guilty, thanks to signage presented as "rich and diverse educational". Planet 21's approach should be based in particular on the growing awareness in the world of business travel. Indeed, according to Sophie Flak, Accor's Director of Academies and Sustainable Development, "70% of our key account customers include sustainable development criteria in their referencing policy, and one in two customers say they take this criterion into account when choosing a hotel".
