Sixteen New York City hotels have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent over the next decade. The participating properties include prominent names such as Dream Downtown, Hudson Hotel, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 1 Hotel Central Park, Crowne Plaza Times Square, Grand Hyatt New York, Hotel Pennsylvania, Loews Regency Hotel, Lotte New York Palace, InterContinental New York Times Square and the Roger Smith Hotel.
This initiative is part of the NYC Carbon Challenge, a campaign backed by Mayor Bill de Blasio that aims to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. If successful, the hotel commitments would lower emissions by more than 32,000 metric tons and generate approximately $25 million in energy cost savings.
“If some of New York’s most iconic hotels can significantly reduce their carbon footprint, anyone can,” the mayor said in a recent statement, highlighting the leadership role these properties can play in the wider sustainability movement.
Herve Houdre, general manager of the InterContinental New York Barclay, emphasized the broader message: “As the nation’s number one big-city destination, the hotels are showing the rest of the world that our city is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and fighting climate change.”
By committing to measurable reductions, these hotels will likely pursue efficiency upgrades, lighting and HVAC improvements, and other operational changes to meet their targets. The combined effort demonstrates how private-sector action can align with municipal climate goals, deliver cost savings, and set an example for other businesses in New York and beyond.
As the NYC Carbon Challenge continues to expand, additional buildings and institutions are expected to make similar pledges, helping the city move toward its long-term emission reduction objectives. The hotel commitments mark a notable step toward integrating sustainability into daily operations across New York’s hospitality industry.