As the winner of the Travel Business of the Year award at the Positive Luxury Awards 2026, Lamington Group is proving that sustainability and exceptional hospitality can go hand in hand. Through its room2 hometel brand and a business-wide commitment to responsible innovation, the company has embedded environmental and social impact throughout its operations. We spoke to the team about what this recognition means, how sustainability drives resilience and guest loyalty, and why investing in purpose creates lasting value for both people and the planet.
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What inspired you to take part in the Positive Luxury Awards and what does this recognition mean to your brand and team?
We believe that luxury and hospitality businesses play an important role in driving positive change. Hospitality sits at the intersection of travel, real estate and consumer experience, creating a real opportunity to influence how people engage with sustainability in everyday life. As a purpose-driven business, this aligns closely with our ethos and the values championed by Positive Luxury. This recognition is incredibly meaningful for our team because it validates years of work and focus to embed sustainability into every part of the business, from development and operations to the guest experience. It reinforces that sustainability and hospitality excellence can go hand in hand, and it motivates us to continue pushing our business and the industry forward.
How does sustainability influence your business decisions and why is taking action so important to you?
Sustainability influences every part of our business – we see it as a driver of both the guest experience and the company’s long-term resilience. It gives our teams a sense of purpose and creates genuine passion across the business. We also believe sustainable businesses are efficient businesses; reducing waste, improving operational performance and creating assets that are more resilient to future challenges. Our sustainability framework is fully integrated into our operations and reflected in the responsibilities, reporting and decision-making of every department. That level of integration creates a culture of sustainability, rather than a series of standalone initiatives. Most importantly, hospitality is fundamentally about caring for people. For us, caring for the planet is the natural next step, because the two are deeply connected.
Following a challenging couple of years for many businesses, how have you upheld your dedicated approach to positive change and resilience as core pillars of your strategy?
The last few years have reinforced the need to embed sustainability and resilience in core business strategy rather than treat them as optional add-ons. Because sustainability is already integrated into how we operate, it has helped us stay focused and future-proof the business during periods of uncertainty. Our approach is centred on long-term thinking. Creating efficient buildings, reducing operational risk and making decisions that strengthen resilience over time. It has also helped us get the best from our teams by giving people a shared sense of purpose and encouraging cross-departmental innovation.
How has your sustainability journey built trust with your consumers and added value for your internal teams?
Guests regularly tell us that sustainability is one of the reasons they love staying at room2. It has become a natural differentiator for the brand. Increasingly, guests are looking for businesses that align with their values. By being transparent about our sustainability journey, we can build trust and help guests feel good about their stay, knowing their experience has been designed with both people and planet in mind. Internally, sustainability has created real engagement across our teams. It encourages our colleagues to think creatively, challenge traditional ways of doing things and contribute to positive change as part of their day-to-day roles.
For leaders who want to create lasting value and build trust, what would you say is possible when sustainability is treated as an investment?
When sustainability is treated as an investment, it has the power to transform culture across an entire business. One of the most important lessons for us has been that sustainability cannot sit within a single department – everyone has a role to play. Progress happens when teams across operations, development, marketing, finance and onsite teams are all engaged in the journey. There is also an opportunity to upskill and empower people across the business. Sustainability encourages innovation and new ways of thinking, while helping colleagues feel more connected to a purpose. Over time, that creates stronger teams and helps businesses create long-term value alongside short-term financial performance.
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