IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched a partnership with VietHarvest to reduce food waste and feed communities most in need in Viet Nam.

The organisations have joined forces to tackle the key issue of surplus food, educate communities on food security and sustainability, and provide meals for the underserved in Viet Nam.

By supporting VietHarvest’s Food Rescue programme, IHG will prevent food from hotels going to waste and use it to feed a range of communities via a charity network starting in the Ha Noi area.

This commitment will grow throughout its properties in Viet Nam, where it has 15 open hotels and 22 in a growing pipeline.

IHG has also pledged funds to enable VietHarvest to expand logistics and operational support in Ha Noi, scale up food rescue and its charitable operations, and enable it to deliver more than 10,000 meals to underserved communities.

This working relationship is an extension of a successful ongoing partnership between IHG and OzHarvest in Australia, which was formed in 2019.

“Throughout our 6,000 hotels, everyone at IHG is committed to our 10-year responsible business plan, ‘Journey to Tomorrow’, which we’re delivering through a series of ambitious commitments to make a positive difference for our people, communities and planet by 2030," said Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, IHG Hotels & Resorts, South East Asia and Korea.

"However, we can’t do that alone, and our new partnership with VietHarvest will help us in two important areas – improving the lives of 30 million people in our communities around the world, and transforming to a minimal-waste hospitality industry.”

Launched by IHG in 2021, ‘Journey to Tomorrow’ is a 10-year responsible business plan committed to bringing change to people, communities and the planet, aligned to its purpose of true hospitality for good and the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. — VNS