Agreena has partnered with Radisson Hotel Group to help them achieve their ambitious climate goals, enabling their first Verified Net Zero hotel through a combination of radical on-site emission reductions and high-integrity AgreenaCarbon soil carbon credits. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality, proving that deep decarbonisation is not only possible but also profitable.

As trailblazers in the hospitality sector – from being the first to offer free guest Wi-Fi to now leading the decarbonisation of hotel buildings – Radisson Hotel Group have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement and with targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

In practice, their ambitious goal is to transform their entire portfolio into Verified Net Zero hotels, demonstrating that deep decarbonisation is achievable, even for existing buildings.

As Radisson Hotel Group's Chief Sustainability & Security Officer, Inge Huijbrechts, puts it, ‘To decarbonise buildings, we need to use the ones we already have - we can’t just build new ones.’ This mirrors Agreena’s ethos of focusing on foundational, nature-based solutions. Just as Radisson is optimising existing structures, we're optimising existing farmland to its full potential for massive climate impact.

Achieving net zero in existing hotel properties presents unique challenges, particularly for leased assets where control over significant investments can be complex. Radisson sought a comprehensive solution that combined aggressive emissions reductions with high-integrity carbon credits to address remaining hard-to-abate emissions. This quest led them to a groundbreaking partnership with Agreena.

At Agreena, we partnered with Radisson Hotel Group to enable their first Verified Net Zero hotel: the Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel. This collaboration has allowed the hotel to meet the stringent 2040 requirements of the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels, a full 17 years ahead of schedule, setting a precedent that goes above and beyond industry standards.

This pioneering achievement combines radical on-site emission reductions with the strategic use of AgreenaCarbon soil carbon credits. The choice of Manchester is particularly symbolic; the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution has now become the birthplace of the Verified Net Zero hotel.

The Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel embarked on a comprehensive decarbonisation journey, achieving a remarkable 60% reduction in its total carbon footprint. This was made possible by a significant £1.2 million investment beyond the standard renovation budget, focusing on full electrification, food & beverage optimisation, and strategic partnerships for waste management and recycling.

For the remaining Scope 3 emissions, Radisson Hotel Group chose verified AgreenaCarbon soil carbon credits to achieve their Verified Net Zero status. The partnership has already proven its worth, demonstrating that sustainability is also good for business with a +225% increase in property page visits and a +51% increase in revenue just one month post-opening. Prior to opening, the hotel was thoroughly audited to secure its Verified Net Zero status and will undergo annual audits to maintain this benchmark.

‘There is no competition in saving the planet,’ states Inge, referencing Radisson Hotel Group’s deep belief in the power of partnership, one that has enabled their pioneering success in the hospitality industry.

Hard-to-abate emissions at the Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel are compensated using AgreenaCarbon soil carbon credits - verified carbon units that deliver:

• Verifiable CO2e removal: AgreenaCarbon credits represent CO2e that has been traceably from the atmosphere, verified by an independent third party, ensuring a tangible environmental benefit.

• Co-benefits for nature: Beyond carbon removal, each credit purchased actively supports the restoration of soil health in European farms. Agreena's soil carbon programme, the largest in Europe, empowers more than 2,300 farmers across 4.5 million hectares to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. This means that Radisson’s carbon investment directly contributes to biodiversity, water retention, and enhanced ecosystem resilience.

"Our partnership with Agreena reflects a shared commitment to credible, science-based climate action. Integrating their high-integrity, nature based removal credits has supported our efforts to decarbonise across operations and supply chains.

We appreciate working with a partner that shares our values and enables immediate, measurable climate impact."

-Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer Radisson Hotel Group

Inge Huijbrechts' personal journey, spurred by witnessing plastic pollution during a four-year sailing journey, fuels her daily motivation for sustainability. This deep commitment is reflected in her leadership of Radisson’s sustainability direction, with adherence to the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, a comprehensive guidance framework for the industry. Currently, Radisson is 58% of the way between the first and second levels of this ambitious, 12-step pathway.

Radisson's partnership with Agreena is a powerful testament to this philosophy, showcasing that leadership in sustainability creates real change and delivers significant benefits, both environmental and economic.

This case study demonstrates the profound impact of high-quality, nature-based carbon credits. By choosing to partner with Agreena, carbon credit buyers enable companies like Radisson Hotel Group to achieve ambitious climate goals today, while also supporting vital agricultural transition and ecosystem restoration. The Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel stands as a beacon for the hospitality industry, proving that Verified Net Zero is not just possible, but profitable, with the right partners and the right carbon solutions.

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