“With a growing number of travelers seeking responsible travel options, we are delighted to open voco Zeal Exeter Science Park,” said Joanna Kurowska, VP, managing director U.K. & Ireland, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel will bring a new sustainable hotel offer to our U.K. portfolio and build on our commitment to provide exceptional experiences for our guests. Together with Zeal Hotels, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park helps set the standards for net zero carbon hotels and marks a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future in hospitality, aligned with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan. By inspiring both industry leaders and our guests, we are demonstrating how comfort and sustainability can successfully coexist, benefiting both the environment and the communities we serve.”
The 142-room property has a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space and 12 EV charging points. The hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar, ISCA, emphasizes the use of locally-sourced ingredients, collaborating with regional farms and producers to offer fresh, responsible dining options.
“I am incredibly proud of the team behind the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, who have worked hard to bring the Zeal Hotels vision to fruition,” said Tim Wheeldon, founding director, Zeal Hotels. “Our partnerships with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Valor Hospitality have been crucial throughout the development process and we are excited to launch this new sustainable hotel.”
He continued, “It has been more than a decade since we founded Zeal Hotels, with the intention of helping the hotel sector be net zero carbon by 2050. The decision to build our net zero hotel reflects our commitment to combating climate change and reducing our carbon footprint. By harnessing renewable energy sources, implementing energy-efficient designs, and utilizing innovative technology, we have created a space that not only provides comfort and luxury but also prioritizes environmental responsibility. We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge with others to help accelerate the net zero carbon process across the sector.”
The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park stands out with its sustainable design, which earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating. It is the first building in the U.K. to utilize Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a rainscreen cladding system. It also follows the Passivhaus standard for ultra-low energy buildings and uses adiabatic cooling and heat reversible heat pumps to reduce energy usage.
“Valor has been a successful partner with IHG for over 10 years in the U.K.” said Brian McCarthy, managing director, Valor Hospitality. “We are really pleased to be working with them on this first branded net zero carbon hotel. Thank you to Zeal Hotels who chose us as their management partner and gave us an opportunity to work on this cutting-edge project. This is another step in our aspiration to grow our business with great owners.”
Tags: Joanna Kurowska, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Brian McCarthy, Valor Hospitality, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, Zeal Hotels
