Small Luxury Hotels of the World Launches a Sweeping Sustainability Blueprint for Its 35th Anniversary
A new call-to-action report outlines how SLH plans to advance sustainability in the decade ahead.
Photo: Courtesy of Quinta da Comporta
Small Luxury Hotels of the World is marking its 35th anniversary with a move that feels more like a line in the sand. The brand has released its first Call-to-Action (CTA) Report, a comprehensive look at where small luxury hotels stand on sustainability today, and where the group expects them to go next.
Rather than positioning sustainability as a new initiative, the report frames it as an evolution of what SLH hotels have always done well: operate independently, remain deeply connected to place, and champion family-owned and community-rooted properties. What’s new is the level of structure and accountability. The CTA Report lays out insights from decades of work across the portfolio, highlights lessons from SLH’s most dedicated properties, and articulates commitments designed to unify sustainability efforts across more than 650 hotels.
“SLH has always inspired travellers to explore the world with intention and integrity,” said SLH chief operating officer Richard Hyde. “Reflecting as we reach our 35th anniversary, the report outlines how we are holding ourselves and our hotels accountable on the journey and how we can work together to encourage more action, not only for our member hotels but to advance the industry.”
The Considerate Collection, SLH’s showcase of hotels that meet the highest benchmarks for environmental and social responsibility, sits at the center of the report. Now in its fourth year, the collection has grown to 82 properties, with 24 added in the past 12 months. Recent additions include Lilløy Lindenberg in Norway, Quinta Da Comporta in Portugal, Calcot & Spa in the U.K., Laguna Coast Resort in Naxos, and Namia River Retreat in Hoi An.
These hotels aren’t included by default; each earns its place after demonstrating excellence across SLH’s sustainability criteria. The report highlights solution-driven examples from across the collection: hydrology-led land preservation in Costa Rica, the integration of Indigenous culture in Sweden, and people-first sustainability models in São Tomé and Príncipe, among others.
One of the report’s biggest developments is SLH’s introduction of 10 Minimum Sustainability Standards, launched in 2025 and mandatory across the global portfolio by 2027. Covering water and energy efficiency, DEAI, ethical procurement, and more, the standards serve as a baseline for every property, whether it’s a rainforest retreat or a fisherman’s hut.
SLH also spotlights partnerships that shaped its commitments, including work with OutThere, whose audit led to strengthened zero-tolerance governance policies across the brand, and IncluCare, whose verification program is gaining traction among SLH hotels.
If the Considerate Collection represents the best of what small hotels can achieve, the CTA Report is SLH’s attempt to make that ambition universal—and to position independently minded hotels as key contributors to hospitality’s regenerative future.
