IATA and WSHA Partner to Develop Sustainable Hotel Procurement Guidelines for Airlines

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) have signed an agreement to develop sustainability guidance for airlines purchasing hotel accommodation. Announced on 14 October 2026 at the World Sustainability Symposium in Brussels, the partnership aims to improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices across airline and hospitality supply chains, with an initial focus on hotel procurement and contracting.

 

The organisations will jointly develop practical guidance using IATA's Integrated Sustainability Program (ISP) and WSHA's Universal Sustainability KPIs Programme. The guidance will cover sustainability evaluation criteria for hotel tenders, ESG considerations in contracts and best practice case studies. By establishing a common approach to supplier assessment, the initiative aims to help airlines consider environmental management, social responsibility and sustainability performance when selecting hotel partners.

 

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Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, emphasised the importance of extending sustainability considerations beyond airlines' direct operations. "Airlines’ sustainability performance includes many partners that support their operations," she said. Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of WSHA, highlighted the need for closer cooperation, stating, "Sustainability across the travel ecosystem cannot be achieved in silos." Both organisations see the partnership as an opportunity to reduce fragmented approaches to sustainability assessment and improve coordination between airline buyers and hospitality providers.

 

The agreement may also lead to broader cooperation on sustainability performance measurement, reporting, plastic and waste reduction, human rights, community engagement, climate resilience and resource efficiency. IATA and WSHA are considering how closer collaboration could support sustainability improvements at travel destinations and across corporate and leisure travel supply chains. The organisations have not announced a completion date for the initial procurement guidance or specific performance targets. Its impact will depend on how airlines and hotel suppliers adopt the resulting recommendations.

 

Source: The International Air Transport Association (IATA)