Hilton Worldwide has become the first hospitality company—and the first non-manufacturing commercial organization—to earn Superior Energy Performance (SEP) certification from the U.S. Department of Energy for leadership and measurable improvement in energy management. The certification was awarded to three landmark hotels: Washington Hilton, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, and Hilton Union Square San Francisco, marking the first commercial buildings to achieve SEP status.
“We are proud to not only be the first hospitality company, but also the first company outside of the manufacturing sector to achieve certification through the DOE’s SEP program,” said Maxime Verstraete, vice president of sustainability at Hilton Worldwide. SEP gives Hilton clear performance metrics that support continuous improvement in energy management, helping the company reduce its carbon footprint and realize cost savings across a global portfolio of more than 4,500 properties.
Hilton’s sustainability strategy goes beyond energy. The company has established concrete targets for water conservation, waste diversion, carbon reduction, and social impact initiatives. As part of its broader commitment, Hilton has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy through the Better Buildings Challenge, aiming to achieve a 20 percent reduction in energy use over the next ten years. These efforts reflect Hilton’s focus on measurable, verifiable improvements in resource efficiency and long-term operational sustainability.
Achieving SEP certification demonstrates Hilton’s commitment to rigorous energy-management practices, including data-driven benchmarking, continuous performance tracking, and implementation of efficiency projects that yield real savings. By documenting and verifying energy performance, SEP-certified properties provide a model for other commercial buildings seeking to improve efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
Hilton’s combination of corporate targets, participation in national programs like the Better Buildings Challenge, and on-site achievements at flagship properties highlights a comprehensive approach to sustainability—one that pairs ambitious goals with the systems and metrics needed to reach them. The company plans to continue working with the Department of Energy and expand participation in SEP and related programs to drive broader adoption of best practices throughout its portfolio.