IHG Launches Industry-First 'Low Carbon Pioneers' Programme

IHG Launches Industry-First 'Low Carbon Pioneers' Programme

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 23, 2024

IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Low Carbon Pioneers programme. This initiative brings together a group of energy-efficient hotels that operate without combusting fossil fuels on-site and are supported by renewable energy sources. This marks the first community of its kind in the hospitality industry, aimed at testing, learning, and sharing sustainability practices to inspire broader adoption of carbon reduction measures.

Initial Low Carbon Pioneer Hotels

The initial Low Carbon Pioneer hotels include:

  • Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Spain

  • Iberostar Waves Cristina, Spain

  • Kimpton BEM Budapest, Hungary

These hotels feature sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and hot water generation, as well as fully electric kitchens. Each property holds an operational sustainability certification recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, such as Green Key, or a sustainable building certification like LEED, BREEAM, or EDGE. Energy data for these hotels will be tracked and measured using IHG’s Green Engage environmental platform.

Expansion and Future Plans

IHG plans to expand the Low Carbon Pioneers programme across all regions, developing a "low-carbon ready" group of hotels in preparation for broader renewable energy availability. The full criteria for a Low Carbon Pioneer hotel can be found here. 

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CEO's Call to Action

Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing its role in meeting evolving guest expectations, helping hotel owners future-proof their businesses, and reducing carbon emissions across IHG’s estate. He stressed the need for broader government support to accelerate industry-wide change, including increased access to renewable energy, incentives for owners, and reduced costs for green technology.

“This is an important next step in IHG’s sustainability journey, but it remains one of many we must continue to take. Accelerating change at scale for both IHG and the wider industry also requires broader support from governments ranging from greater access to renewable energy and incentives for owners, to a reduction in the cost of technology that speeds up the industry’s transition to a greener, more resilient future. IHG is committed to working with industry bodies and governments to help achieve this, alongside encouraging more owners to adopt carbon reduction practices and become Low Carbon Pioneers,” said Maalouf.

Future-Proofing Properties

The Low Carbon Pioneers programme aims to future-proof IHG’s properties, providing potential benefits such as better alignment with environmental regulations and access to green finance for new projects. These hotels will be marketed as low carbon or low carbon ready across IHG’s booking channels, appealing to guests seeking sustainable stays and corporate clients with net-zero or carbon-neutral targets.

Leading the Way in Sustainability

IHG is committed to reducing carbon emissions through its Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan. The company continues to develop solutions to measure, manage, and minimize the environmental impact of its hotels, from energy conservation measures to sourcing renewable energy and installing EV chargers. The Low Carbon Pioneers programme builds on IHG’s history of creating ambitious and innovative sustainability solutions, such as replacing bathroom miniatures with bulk amenities and providing properties with renewable energy through a community solar programme in the US. IHG is now setting a new benchmark for reducing operational carbon in the hospitality industry.


InnKey Unveils New Brand Identity to Redefine the Future of Hospitality Technology

InnKey Unveils New Brand Identity to Redefine the Future of Hospitality Technology

By Hariharan U

Published on November 8, 2025

Built in India, Designed for the World - InnKey evolves from a PMS into a unified, intelligent enterprise platform powering leading hotel brands.

 InnKey, India’s leading enterprise hospitality technology platform, has unveiled a new brand identity, marking a major evolution in its journey from a cloud-native PMS to a comprehensive, intelligent, and secure enterprise ecosystem built to power the next generation of hospitality brands across the world.

 What began as InnKey PMS has now evolved into simply InnKey — reflecting its broader vision of powering next-generation hospitality experiences that are personalized, paperless, and profoundly human.

 “This new identity represents more than a design change — it marks a deeper commitment to innovation, security, and scalability,” said Viral Shah, Founder & CEO of InnKey. “InnKey today serves some of India’s most respected hospitality brands, helping them deliver superior guest experiences while optimizing operations across every level. As we grow, our focus is clear — to take this Made-in India technology to the world.” 

From India’s First Cloud-Native PMS to a Global Hospitality Platform 

InnKey was among the first fully cloud-native enterprise solutions for the hospitality industry in India. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the most secure and deeply integrated platforms for hotel chains and premium segments — empowering properties to operate with agility, efficiency, and intelligence. 

Today, InnKey powers leading hospitality brands including The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Pride Hotels, Residency Hotels, Accord Hotels, Orchid Hotels, Treat Resorts and several emerging and luxury groups across India.

 With its unified platform spanning Reservation & Front Desk, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Sales & Catering, Material Management & Procurement, Financial Accounting, MIS, and Analytics, InnKey ensures seamless data flow, consistency, and guest personalisation across every touchpoint—helping hotel groups achieve true digital transformation.

 A Vision Beyond Software — Towards an Intelligent Hospitality Ecosystem 

As hospitality rapidly embraces digitization, InnKey is leading the way in reimagining the entire guest journey from pre-arrival to post-departure — through secure, intuitive, and completely paperless technology. 

Its mission is to make every hotel smarter, every operation simpler, and every guest experience more memorable.

 “InnKey’s technology now powers some of the most respected hotel groups in India, with global collaborations on the horizon,” shared Rohan Shah, Co-Founder of InnKey. “This is only the beginning of our journey to take Indian-built technology global. Our ambition is to set new global standards in hospitality efficiency, intelligence, and experience.” 

The New InnKey: Made in India. Designed for the World. 

The refreshed brand identity represents InnKey’s maturity — a balance between enterprise-grade robustness and the warmth of human hospitality. 

It symbolizes a platform that’s born in India, trusted by leading hotel chains, and ready to scale globally with a vision to redefine the way technology and hospitality coexist.

 “We are not just digitizing operations — we are humanizing technology,” added Rohan Shah. “The new InnKey reflects the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and reliability that hoteliers expect from a true strategic partner.” 

About InnKey 

InnKey is India’s first cloud-native enterprise hospitality platform—built as a single integrated application that connects every department of hotel operations, from Front Office and Housekeeping to Food & Beverage, Procurement, and Financial Accounting. Powered by a unified database, InnKey provides hotel groups with real-time insights and complete operational control across all properties through one secure source of truth. 

With over 13 years of experience and 600+ properties live, InnKey serves premium independent hotels, regional chains, and enterprise groups across India and emerging markets. Built in India and designed for the world, InnKey simplifies operations, enhances decision-making, and helps every hotel deliver a smarter, more seamless guest experience.


Palaniappa Electronics Introduces Thermostar: The Chemical-Free Steam Powerhouse for Hotel Hygiene

By Author

Published on October 27, 2025

In today’s hospitality world, cleanliness and sustainability are the cornerstones of guest trust. Addressing this growing need, Palaniappa Electronics introduces the Thermostar Steam Cleaning System, a powerful, chemical-free cleaning solution that is transforming hygiene maintenance across India’s leading hotels.

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Harnessing the natural power of superheated dry steam, Thermostar ensures deep sanitization without a single drop of detergent. In hotel kitchens, it cuts through stubborn grease, oil, and grime on cooking equipment, trolleys, and storage areas, leaving every surface spotless and hygienic. Beyond kitchens, it revitalizes carpets, upholstery, and bathrooms, effortlessly removing stains, scaling deposits, and odors while restoring original shine and freshness.

What sets Thermostar apart is its eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and odor-free cleaning process. By eliminating the use of chemicals, it safeguards both the environment and the health of guests and staff, an essential factor for hotels striving to align operations with sustainable standards.

For General Managers, Executive Housekeepers, and Chefs, Thermostar is not just another cleaning tool. It is a strategic investment in hygiene excellence and operational efficiency.

Behind this innovation stands Palaniappa Electronics, a trusted name in the electronics industry for over twenty-one years. With a strong presence across South India, the company is the authorized distributor for Samsung, JVD, and over eighteen global brands. It caters to hotels, hospitals, and educational institutions with a comprehensive portfolio that includes TVs, displays, laundry equipment, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more.

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Under the guidance of Mr. Muthu Solaiappan, Head of Operations, Palaniappa Electronics continues to strengthen its position as a reliable partner for the hospitality sector, combining technology, sustainability, and service excellence.

To experience the power of steam cleaning, request a Thermostar demo today and discover how it can redefine your hotel’s standard of clean.

muthu@palaniappagroup.com | +91 90030 45685 


Technogym Launches AI-Powered Checkup for Smarter and Healthier Workouts

Technogym Launches AI-Powered Checkup for Smarter and Healthier Workouts

By Hariharan U

Published on October 25, 2025

Technogym has launched its latest innovation, the Technogym Checkup, an AI-based assessment station that redefines how fitness and wellness are personalised. Designed to measure both physical and cognitive parameters, the system helps users understand their current health profile and prescribes a targeted training plan that evolves over time.

Starting with a detailed analysis of physical and functional conditions, Technogym Checkup uses artificial intelligence to determine your Wellness Age, a number that reflects how fit your body truly is. Based on this, the system recommends a precision training programme that adjusts automatically as your performance and lifestyle improve.

Once you log in through the Technogym App, the Checkup conducts accurate tests to evaluate body composition, balance, mobility, strength, and even cognitive ability. All this data is processed by Technogym AI Coach, which transforms it into a personalised, data-backed fitness plan that’s easily accessible through the Technogym Ecosystem. Whether you’re training at home, at the gym, in a hotel, or even at work, your tailored programme is always within reach.

The innovation doesn’t just stop at personal fitness. The system’s ability to calculate your Wellness Age offers a clear, motivating metric to track progress  helping users become not just fitter but younger in wellness terms. With its adaptive AI, the programme continually evolves to keep workouts aligned with your goals, ensuring better and faster results.

For gyms, wellness centres, and other industry operators, Technogym Checkup presents a powerful opportunity to offer next-generation fitness experiences. It allows them to deliver a smooth, personalised journey for every member, right from onboarding to ongoing progress tracking, while also driving customer loyalty and new business growth.

Founded in 1983, Technogym has long been recognised as a global leader in fitness, wellness, and sports innovation. With more than 2,500 employees and a presence in over 100 countries, the brand powers more than 85,000 wellness centres and 400,000 homes worldwide. Technogym also continues its legacy as the Official Supplier to the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking its ninth partnership with the Games, a testament to its reputation as the go-to choice for athletes and champions globally.

For more details, visit Technogym’s official website.

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