a&o Hostels has reduced its CO2e emissions per overnight stay by 1.9 per cent, according to its 2025 Sustainability Report, while advancing renewable energy use, building conversion projects and social initiatives across its European operations.
The company’s fourth annual sustainability report outlines environmental, social and governance (ESG) progress during 2025, including a reduction in emissions intensity to 3.58 kilograms of CO2e per overnight stay. Although overall company emissions increased by 3.1 per cent following the addition of four new properties, a&o said the increase reflected its expanded portfolio rather than a rise in emissions intensity.
a&o operates 46 properties, providing approximately 31,600 beds across 32 cities in 10 European countries.
According to the report, CO2e emissions per overnight stay fell from 2024 levels to 3.58 kilograms, while total company emissions increased to 13,575 metric tons after four additional properties were acquired and converted into a&o accommodation during 2025.
In total it welcomed nearly three million guests during the year, accounting for 6.6 million overnight stays.
Property conversion remains a central part of a&o’s sustainability strategy and of the company’s 46 locations, 43 are conversions of existing buildings rather than new developments.
During 2025, a&o opened four new locations, including London Docklands Riverside, located within a historic 17th-century warehouse complex on the River Thames.
The next major project is the conversion of a vacant office building on Rudi-Dutschke-Straße into a&o Berlin Checkpoint Charlie.
In partnership with the Technical University of Berlin, a&o is undertaking a life cycle assessment study for the project, with the aim of creating a blueprint for future building conversions.
The report highlights several operational initiatives aimed at reducing emissions within a&o’s own operations and value chain.
All locations now source 100 per cent green electricity where it is available. Other initiatives include fully digital guest registration to reduce paper use, collaboration with suppliers, waste reduction measures and a continued focus on improving energy efficiency.
It also avoids external carbon offsetting solutions and instead focuses on direct, measurable emissions reductions.
The three properties recording the lowest emissions per overnight stay were:
Social initiatives remain part of ESG strategy
Alongside its environmental initiatives, a&o continued investing in employee development and community programmes during 2025.
The company invested €378,000 in training and continuing education, representing an eight per cent increase compared with 2024.
Its social initiatives also include the a&o educare programme, which supports solidarity-funded school trips through the everyonecantravel.app platform and the “Everyone Comes Along” relief fund for low-income families.
Through a&o cultura e storia, the company is supporting restoration of the Villa Mocenigo neoclassical complex in Italy’s Veneto region in partnership with local educational, cultural and administrative organisations.
a&o also supports a range of sporting initiatives, including sponsorship of the Austrian women’s national team competing at the Homeless World Cup in collaboration with Caritas Graz.
Oliver Winter, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of a&o Hostels, said the company intends to continue combining business growth with resource efficiency.
“The travel industry is constantly evolving, and a&o is actively shaping this transformation by combining growth with our commitment to further reducing energy consumption and using resources responsibly. Travel remains a fundamental human need and an ever-growing industry. Moving forward, we will continue to work with our partners and guests to contribute to travel that is resource-efficient and socially responsible.”
The company also received two ESG-related recognitions during 2025: the A World for Travel Societal Development Award and a Rating 2 from Sustainable Fitch for a strong ESG profile for the third consecutive year.
