Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH), renowned for its independently minded portfolio of boutique properties, has launched a sustainability Call-to-Action (CTA) Report.
Marking the 35th anniversary of the brand in 2025, SLH’s version of a CTA report looks at the past, present and future of small luxury hotels and sustainability. The report shares the inside track of the SLH journey to date, valuable insights learned along the way from its standout properties and impactful partnerships, and outlines commitments to come.
The report, SLH’s largest call to action yet, is a continuation of an ethos that has always kept sustainable principles front of mind, championing small, independent and family-owned hotels since its inception. By nature of being anti-chain and anti-same, the luxury escapes in the portfolio have been operating in sustainable, mindful ways for decades, with hero hotels now exemplified in SLH’s Considerate Collection.
Spotlighting worldwide examples from the growing Considerate Collection, the report emphasises the power of amplifying solution-led success stories. As the report explores, the hope is transparent knowledge sharing will continue to mobilise action and spark more creative solutions, not just in the SLH community but also serve to inspire positive impact across the luxury hospitality industry.
The report also shares empowering partnerships with OutThere and IncluCare, launches SLH’s 10 Minimum Standards and encourages conversation on regenerative hospitality principles that small, luxury hotels embody and can take forward.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World Chief Operating Officer Richard Hyde said the Call-to-Action Report represents the brands long-held commitment to sustainability and small luxury hotels.
“SLH has always inspired travellers to explore the world with intention and integrity. 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,” said Hyde.
SLH Commitment: Considerate Collection Expansion
Having celebrated its fourth anniversary in October 2025, the Considerate Collection showcases the most actively sustainable and regenerative luxury hotels in the portfolio. With 24 properties added in the last 12 months*, the discerning collection has grown to showcase 82 hotels that offer travellers greener getaways in 40+ countries.
Admitted by merit only and not leveraged for profit, each hotel has achieved the highest categories of the SLH Sustainability Criteria and embodies the core pillars of being environmentally conscious, community minded and cultural custodians.
The growing collection now includes Lilløy Lindenberg in Norway, Quinta Da Comporta – Wellness Boutique Resort in Portugal and Calcot & Spa in the Cotswolds, UK to name a few. Additionally, Laguna Coast Resort in Naxos, Greece newly opened in May 2025 and Namia River Retreat, a wellness sanctuary in Hoi An, Vietnam which opened in December 2024, are just some of the latest worldwide hotel openings to join SLH and the Considerate Collection. SLH has made a commitment to encourage and welcome more hotels to this carefully curated collection, recognising the industry benchmark it sets.
Solution-led stories from the Considerate Collection are front and centre in the report. Honouring hydrology and modelling zero land movement at Rio Perdido in Costa Rica, connection to Indigenous culture at Arctic Bath, Sweden and prioritising sustainability for people as well as place at Sundy Praia in São Tomé and Príncipe, are just a few examples.
SLH Commitment: 10 Minimum Standards of Sustainability by 2027
Whilst data collection and measurement tools remain challenges, and with the Considerate Collection leading the way, SLH has formalised 10 Minimum Standards of sustainability expected of every SLH member hotel in its growing portfolio – now more than 650 properties in 90+ countries. Launched in 2025 with all hotels set to align by 2027, the 10 Minimum Standards educate and encourage hoteliers on key topics such as water and energy efficiency, DEAI, local and ethical procurement and more, with tangible examples and means to address them.
The new standards offer a holistic sustainability blueprint applicable to the entire SLH portfolio, encouraging action from every hotel, whether a rainforest retreat or rustic fishermen’s hut, to move forward on their sustainability journey.
SLH Commitment: Facilitating ‘Considerate Connections’
SLH will also continue to foster meaningful exchanges on the topic of sustainability through its ‘Considerate Connections’ series for member hotels. Gathering Considerate Collection hoteliers from around the world, SLH held the inaugural Considerate Connections Retreat in September 2025 at Dar Ahlam in Morocco, for them to connect and learn from one another. Set against the backdrop of the ‘House of Dreams’, where regenerative principles are applied in practice to every experience, hoteliers did a deep dive into the concept and how small, luxury hotels are best placed to lead the way, industry wide. Watch the video here to find out more.**
Sustainable Partnerships in Action
The culmination of 35 years of SLH experience, the Call-to-Action Report is also testament to the power of partnerships. Along the way SLH has worked with GSTC, Women in Travel, Tree-Nation and most recently, the Hilton Honours programme since 2024.
As part of the report process, SLH partnered with OutThere, the award-winning, global luxury and experiential travel journal and LGBTQIA+ consultant. SLH was audited to ensure the needs of all guests including those of the LGBTQIA+ community were addressed, resulting in enhanced zero-tolerance governance policies visible across all elements of the brand. From the consumer-facing hotel experience, to making sure marketing, advocacy and communications in the future are undeniably inclusive and clearly representative of all guests.
Another example is IncluCare, which has more than a decade of consulting in tourism to provide better service for those with physical, sensory and neurodivergent or other visible or nonvisible exceptionalities. Shared by SLH, the IncluCare verification programme has been adopted by a growing number of SLH hotels, with the travel industry and travellers benefitting from more investors taking advantage of IncluCare initiatives.
