IATA and WSHA Partner to Standardize Sustainable Hotel Procurement

The collaboration, finalized at IATA’s World Sustainability Symposium, aims to integrate IATA’s Integrated Sustainability Program with WSHA’s Universal Sustainability KPIs. By creating concrete guidance for procurement teams, the organizations intend to simplify how airlines evaluate potential hotel partners, covering everything from initial tender questions to final contract clauses on environmental and social performance.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability, noted that an airline’s carbon footprint and social impact are inextricably linked to the suppliers they support. For hospitality providers, this partnership offers a clearer roadmap to meeting the rigorous demands of airline contracts. WSHA President and CEO Glenn Mandziuk emphasized that the two sectors can no longer operate in silos, arguing that unified metrics are essential for measurable progress.

While the current initiative prioritizes hotel procurement, the agreement serves as a foundation for broader cooperation. Future efforts may tackle systemic industry challenges, including waste reduction, human rights protections, and climate resilience across travel destinations. For now, the focus remains on equipping purchasing departments with the practical tools needed to turn complex sustainability goals into transparent, actionable business requirements.