Name: Paul Snyder
Title: Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Global Lead on Environmental Sustainability
Organization: InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
Years at company: Ten
Primary responsibilities: “Leading, developing and executing IHG’s sustainability strategy across the globe, leading IHG’s Public Affairs efforts in the Americas and co-leading diversity initiatives within the region.”
Company’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment so far: “I think we have many but we have 2,250 hotels that have subscribed to our environmental platform. It is called Green Engage. It allows you to track energy, waste and water and compare your performance again benchmarks.”
Company’s most significant sustainability-related challenge: “How to best enhance the value of Green Engage.”
ATLANTA—Like many executives in the lodging industry, Paul Snyder got his start as a line level employee—in his case as a bartender at a Holiday Inn in 1994. Nineteen years later, he is leading the global sustainability efforts of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), an industry giant with more than 4,500 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.
Snyder says he has no “typical” day but about 20 percent to 30 percent of the time he travels to help institutionalize IHG’s corporate responsibility practices with the goal of minimizing environmental impact and maximizing positive community impact.
“An important part of my job is to create platforms, policies and initiatives that allow our franchisees to be more sustainable,” Snyder says.
Snyder plays a lead role in getting as many IHG properties as possible to participate in Green Engage, the company’s online sustainability system. IHG is about half way to getting all of its properties to participate. Participants enter site data regarding energy and water consumption as well as waste generation. One can benchmark a hotel’s performance against another and act upon more than 150 Green Solutions that are provided to help minimize a property’s impact.
Carbon Calculator Added to Green Engage
Snyder leads efforts to improve Green Engage and one recent example is a carbon calculator that is now part of the online tool. The calculator allows a property to easily report the carbon impact of a stay or meeting to a customer. Coming this year is full site translation in Spanish and Chinese and a new Green Solutions module.
Snyder says that thanks to Green Engage, IHG has been able to collect an “unbelievable” amount of performance data. “We have had more than 30,000 action items completed,” he says.
IHG set a goal of achieving 6 percent to 10 percent energy savings in its owned and managed properties from 2010 to 2012. Snyder says IHG should meet those goals.
In addition to implementing global sustainability strategy and execution throughout IHG hotels, Snyder is also responsible for delivery of IHG’s corporate responsibility platform in the Americas. He cited IHG’s Academy program and Shelter in a Storm programs as important successes.
As part of the Academy program, now in 150 locations, participants receive training to improve their employment prospects in the hotel sector and are also presented with employment opportunities.
IHG Assists Hurricane Sandy Victims
In 2011, IHG set up its IHG Shelter in A Storm Programme to provide disaster relief. Snyder says IHG Shelter in A Storm Programme was put to the test last fall when Hurricane Sandy hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Almost immediately, checks were written out of the $1.5 million IHG Shelter in A Storm Programme fund to assist storm victims.
Snyder directs the company’s public affairs activities, working closely with corporate affairs, human resources and legal departments with efforts in Washington and with other bodies to advocate IHG’s interests. He also directs IHG’s diversity work, promoting inclusion and cultural diversity at the company. Snyder says IHG’s Corporate Equality Index score, an effort of the Human Rights Campaign, recently jumped from 65 to 90 (out of a possible 100).
Just prior to his current position, Snyder was vice president, portfolio operations, the Americas. His previous roles have included leadership positions in development, operations and brand management. Prior to joining IHG, he worked in the brand management, IT, and development organizations of Marriott International. Prior to that he worked with Winegardner & Hammons, Inc.
Snyder earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature at Lawrence University and masters of business administration degree at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.
When asked how long he has been interested in corporate responsibility, Snyder said, “Personally, I was always interested in these issues. I have always had a bit of an orientation in my personal life around sustainability. Success can be enhanced by sustainability. It is about being more competitive and more efficient.”
Snyder says one of the things he enjoys most about his job is “empowering our owners and franchisees to great things around sustainability on a daily basis.”
Go to IHG for more information.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
