IHG Hotels & Resorts
WINDSOR (United Kingdom)–IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened voco Zeal Devon Science Park in partnership with Zeal Hotels & Valor Hospitality. It is IHG’s net zero carbon brand hotel. The hotel is designed to run entirely on solar and renewable energy.
The 142 rooms of the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park have been decorated in neutral colors and with contemporary elements throughout all the public and guest spaces. The hotel offers a mini-gym, meeting rooms, gardens and 12 charging stations for electric vehicles. ISCA is the hotel’s restaurant and bar. It uses locally-sourced products and collaborates with local farms and producers in order to provide responsible dining.
The Solarlab vertical panels were used as rainscreens on the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, the first such building in the United Kingdom. The building also adheres to the Passivhaus standards for ultra-low-energy buildings, and utilizes adiabatic heating and cooling as well as heat reversible pumps in order to save energy.
Keeping with the commitment of voco to sustainability, materials were selected for their environmentally friendly characteristics. Ecocrete, for example, was used during the construction phase. This low-carbon concrete emits up to 85% less CO2 than CEM1 (100% cement).
Joanna Kurowska is vice president and managing director of IHG Hotels & Resorts in the United Kingdom and Ireland. She said: “With a rising number travelers looking for responsible travel, we’re delighted to launch voco Zeal Exeter Science Park. This hotel is a sustainable addition to IHG’s U.K. hotel portfolio, and will help us to deliver exceptional guest experiences. Together with Zeal, the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park sets standards for zero-carbon hotels. This is a significant step in achieving a sustainable future of hospitality. It aligns with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow Responsible Business Plan. We are showing industry leaders, as well as our guests, how sustainability and comfort can coexist successfully, with benefits to the environment and communities that we serve.
Tim Wheeldon said that he was proud of his team at voco Zeal, the founding director for Zeal hotels. They worked tirelessly to realize the vision. We are proud to announce the launch of this sustainable hotel. Our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, Valor Hospitality and Valor Hospitality has been vital throughout the entire development process. Zeal Hotels was founded in 2005 with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. Our decision to construct a net-zero hotel is a reflection of our commitment to fighting climate change and to reducing our footprint. We have built a hotel that is not only comfortable and luxurious, but prioritizes the environment. “We are excited to share our expertise with other sectors to accelerate the process of net zero carbon across the industry.”
Brian McCarthy, the managing director of Valor Hospitality said: “Valor is a partner that has worked successfully with IHG in Britain for more than 10 years. It is a great pleasure to work with IHG on the first net-zero carbon hotel. The Science Park at voco Zeal is committed to supporting the community and forming links, and working with local students and Science Park. “The hotel is a knowledge centre, sharing insight on sustainable hotel operations and construction, as well as encouraging a learning culture.”
