IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a new partnership with electric vehicle charging solutions provider EnviroSpark, aiming to increase charger availability at its properties in the US and Canada.
The launch will require buy-in from individual hotel owners, but the deal means properties “can now partner with EnviroSpark on EVC based on their individual needs and requirements.”
IHG says around 1,100 of its hotels worldwide already have electric vehicle charging facilities and is supporting owners in North America “with a best-practice electric vehicle charging guide to encourage the installation of electric vehicle chargers in its portfolio of more than 4,100 open hotels” in the region.
The group also added an EV charger search filter to its IHG One Rewards app to help customers plan ahead.
IHG said the move aligns with its Journey to tomorrow responsible business plan, and pointed to research from Goldman Sachs that forecasts electric vehicles will account for about half of new car sales worldwide by 2035.
Last year, rival hotel group Hilton announced a deal with electric car maker Tesla to install up to 20,000 charging points in 2,000 hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Hilton to install 20,000 Tesla electric vehicle chargers in 2,000 hotels
Commenting on the news, Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of global guest experience at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said:
“Offering guests more convenience for charging electric vehicles is a natural next step for IHG. With iconic road travel brands like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, taking care of travelers on the road is core to what we do every day.
“Through our agreement with EnviroSpark, we offer even more options for IHG owners to install EVCs in hotels while making travel easier for a growing segment of sustainability-minded travelers.”
ihg.com
