Big interview
The main lobby of the Grand Wien Hotel in Vienna, Austria.
says. “We’re very much focused on giving the right tools, the right help, the right advice to our hotels so that they can make their enhancements. “We are also looking at new builds for the future –
how can we get to a zero-carbon footprint on a new build? So that’s an exciting project we’re working on, and then in existing hotels how can we help owners decarbonise by some of the solutions that we have learned from what we’re doing in existing hotels – and exploring new ways as well.” Sheppard is well-aware of the guest demand for increased sustainability, as well as the expectation of employees for the companies they work for. “This is becoming front and centre for anyone investing in hotels,” Sheppard adds. Environmentalism makes up one side of IHG’s ten- year plan, however. The group’s focus also expands to its impact on communities and its “people agenda”, as Sheppard puts it. It is abundantly clear, speaking to Sheppard, that she is truly passionate about the people and the places she works with – and IHG seems right alongside her. “We want people to work in our hotels, work in our offices and feel that they truly belong, and doing that means that we need to be aware of how we create an environment where everyone feels truly welcome, whether you come from different ethnic backgrounds, whether you come from different genders […] we want our hotel and our corporate offices to be a place where everyone can have a voice.”
Top-shelf hospitality
Whether its diversity and inclusion or the environment, IHG seems set on providing top-tier hospitality. This is nowhere more obvious than its latest arrival in its luxury and lifestyle brand. Slated as the “last piece of that puzzle of expansion” by Sheppard, the Vignette Collection allows independently branded hotels to come into IHG’s brand while retaining their own identities. This offers many small and independent
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hotels the benefits that the breadth and scale of IHG can provide in terms of loyalty programmes and sustainability offering. Announced in late August 2021, Sheppard believes this definitely speaks to any hotel affected by the pandemic. According to her, it allows hotels to tap into the group of potential customers available through IHG’s reservation engines, its IHG One rewards, as well as the tools and support that comes from such a global hotel group. This is exactly what is driving the success of the latest collection. “It was really exciting that, before the end of the year – within three months – we could announce the first three within Europe [as] two fabulous resorts in Portugal on the Algarve and a lovely hotel in Vienna, and we have just announced the fourth one, which is a beautiful hotel in Porto called Casa da Companhia,” Sheppard continues. “We expect this to be well-timed for the market where we know there are more owners looking for branded affiliation.” It is clear that there is a great future ahead for the Vignette Collection. When talking about the past few years, Sheppard cannot help but praise the resilience of people in the face of a global pandemic. “We could never have had so much adversity and yet we’re coming through on the other side and we’re seeing recovery incredibly quickly.” For Sheppard, the ability to work together through tough times and provide solutions and support has only reinforced her love for the industry. The industry-wide effort to boost recovery has, for her, outlined the core purpose of delivering true hospitality. “We have the opportunity to impact people’s lives, whether they’re with us for one night, whether they decide to propose in our hotels, whether they’re celebrating or coming together and rekindling business or personal relationships – that for us is just so fulfilling.” If the future of hotels is anything like Sheppard suggests, it certainly has a bright one ahead. ●
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
IHG Hotel & Resorts
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