a&o Hostels, a leading hotel chain with 46 properties and approximately 31,600 beds in ten European countries, has published its fourth Sustainability Report for 2025. ESG Director Arben Maliqi presented the results, which show a 1.9 per cent reduction in CO2e emissions per overnight stay to 3.58 kilograms compared to 2024. In 2025, the company recorded nearly three million guests across 6.6 million overnight stays. Total emissions increased by 3.1 per cent to 13,575 tonnes, which is explained by the integration of four new locations through conversion. The 41-page report focuses on the core areas of energy, engagement and corporate ethics.
Oliver Winter, founder of a&o, emphasised that the company is actively shaping change by combining growth with the goals of reducing energy consumption and responsibly managing resources. Travel remains a central need and a key industry, with a&o intending to promote resource-efficient and socially responsible travel together with partners and guests.
The opening of four new locations in 2025, including the a&o London Docklands Riverside in a 17th-century warehouse complex, part of which is a listed building, underscores the company's strategy of primarily using existing properties. Currently, 43 of the 46 locations are repurposed existing buildings. Taking the a&o Berlin Checkpoint Charlie, a former office building on Rudi-Dutschke-Straße, as an example, a&o is embarking on a scientific approach for the first time: in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin, a life cycle assessment study for this location is being prepared. This study is intended to serve as a blueprint for future conversion projects.
The Berlin-based company's sustainability focus is on direct emission reductions within its own operations. This includes optimising energy efficiency, expanding renewable energies, reducing waste and intensive cooperation with suppliers. External offsetting solutions are avoided in this process. Further measures and projects highlighted by ESG Director Arben Maliqi include:
- —All electricity requirements at all a&o locations (where available) are covered by green electricity.
- —Guest registration is fully digital to minimise paper usage and thus waste.
- —In cooperation with TU Berlin, an eco-balance is being developed at the Checkpoint Charlie location, which is intended to serve as a model for further repurposing.
In addition to measurable energy measures, social commitment is another core theme of a&o's sustainability strategy. In 2024, EUR 378,000 was invested in the training, further education and health management of the over 1,300 employees. The company is also involved in social and cultural projects, such as supporting the restoration of the neoclassical Villa Mocenigo in Alvisopoli through "a&o cultura e storia" and supporting solidarity-funded school trips through "a&o educare" via the everyonecantravel.app. Furthermore, a&o is active in sports sponsoring, including as the main sponsor of the Austrian women's national team at the Homeless World Cup.
a&o Hostels has received multiple awards for its ESG initiatives, including the "A World for Travel Societal Development Award" in 2025 and, for the third consecutive time, a "Rating 2" from Sustainable Fitch for a strong ESG profile. Oliver Winter emphasised in the report's foreword that the company is not resting on its laurels but is confident of achieving further significant progress towards sustainable tourism.
