Aitken Spence Hotels has been named World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, recognising its long-term investment in education-led sustainability and workforce inclusion at a time when the global hospitality sector is under pressure to deliver measurable social impact.
Global Recognition at a Landmark Sustainability Event
Hospitality group Aitken Spence Hotels has secured international recognition after being voted World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.
The award was announced in Dubai during a high-profile ceremony at Terra, Expo City Dubai, attended by hundreds of global leaders shaping the future of sustainable tourism. The awards celebrate organisations accelerating progress towards net positive tourism—where travel creates more value for communities and the environment than it consumes.
Education-Led Sustainability at Scale
At the core of Aitken Spence Hotels’ strategy is the Aitken Spence Institute of Hotel Management, which embeds sustainability education directly into hospitality training.
Key highlights:
- More than 9,000 students trained to date
- Sustainability integrated into hospitality curricula, not treated as an add-on
- Strong focus on female empowerment and inclusive career pathways
The institute supports the group’s broader mission to build a future-ready workforce equipped to meet environmental, social, and operational challenges across the hospitality industry.
Green Graduates Driving Real-World Impact
A flagship initiative, Green Graduates, ensures all trainees are proficient in:
- Energy and water management
- Waste and food waste reduction
- Community engagement and local impact
Graduates now support a network of eco-certified hotels across Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and India, helping to reduce emissions, conserve water, and minimise waste—while also creating skilled employment opportunities for youth from rural communities.
Industry Voices
Praveen George, General Manager Hotel Operations & Sales, Aitken Spence Hotels, said the award reflects the organisation’s people-first approach:
“One of the major initiatives our company follows is empowering women across all our fields. With over 20,000 employees, it is a great honour to receive this recognition on their behalf.”
Why It Matters
Hospitality’s sustainability shift is accelerating
Global travel brands are increasingly judged not only on environmental performance, but also on social equity, education, and workforce inclusion.
A scalable model for the industry
By embedding sustainability into formal education and training, Aitken Spence Hotels demonstrates how hospitality groups can:
- Build long-term talent pipelines
- Deliver measurable ESG outcomes
- Support community development alongside commercial growth
Net positive tourism in practice
The initiative aligns closely with the industry’s push towards net positive hospitality, where businesses actively contribute to environmental regeneration and social progress.
Backed by a Global Sustainability Alliance
The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards are run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose network represents:
- Over 66,000 hotels
- Nearly eight million rooms worldwide
- 300 hospitality brands and more than 100 supply chain partners
Glenn Mandziuk, President & CEO of the Alliance, said the recognition reflects leadership at a critical moment for the industry:
“This achievement demonstrates that responsible business practices and sustainability are essential to the future of hospitality.”
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President of the awards, added that Aitken Spence Hotels is setting new benchmarks for responsible travel globally.
Looking Ahead
The win positions Aitken Spence Hotels among a growing group of hospitality leaders proving that education, empowerment, and sustainability can scale together—and that meaningful impact is increasingly central to brand leadership in global travel.
Further insights on Aitken Spence Hotels and other sustainability leaders are featured in the Sustainability Special Issue of Best in Travel.
At a Glance
- Winner: Aitken Spence Hotels
- Award: World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative 2025
- Announced at: World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, Dubai
- Key focus: Sustainability education, female empowerment, workforce development
- Impact: 9,000+ students trained; eco-certified hotels across South Asia
- Industry relevance: Supports the shift towards net positive hospitality
