Ichigo Hotel REIT Investment Corporation
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (January 2020, January 2021, January 2022, July 2023, July 2024)
Reporting Period: January 2020
Environmental Metrics
Total Energy Consumption:141,699,548 kWh/year
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Annual CO2 reduction of 93,521,697 kg (July 2018 to June 2019)
- Annual power generation of 141,699,548 kWh (equivalent to annual energy consumption of 47,233 households)
- Preserve & Enhance Existing Buildings to End Wasteful Demolish & Rebuild
Social Achievements
- Promoting Community Development as J.League Top Partner
- Supporting Outstanding, World-Class Athletes
- Children’s Cancer Treatment Supporting University of Miyazaki Faculty of Medicine’s Program for Children with Cancer
Governance Achievements
- Majority of AMC Directors (3 of 5) are Independent Directors
- First J-REIT No Fixed Fee, Performance Fee-Only Structure
- All Ichigo Hotel Directors are Independent Directors
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Operating Results Down YOY on Drop in Inbound Tourism
- RevPAR Down in All Areas, Particularly Osaka and Kyoto
- Significant forecast uncertainty due to the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak
Mitigation Strategies
- Highly Accretive Asset Sales Actions to Drive Earnings Growth
- Achieving Organic Growth at Contract Renewals
- Operator Change to Generate Higher Earnings
- Value-Add Capex to Generate Higher Earnings
- Acquisitions of HOTEL EMIT SHIBUYA and Washington Hotel Plaza Shimonoseki Eki Nishi
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- green procurement measures
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Period: January 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Sponsor Ichigo joined RE100 with a target to source 100% of electricity needs across Ichigo Hotel-owned assets from renewable energy by 2040.
- Ichigo Hotel will shift to using renewable electricity across its operations.
Social Achievements
- Launched Ichigo J.League Shareholder Program, offering shareholders free tickets to every J.League game.
- 100% return rate for employees who take maternity/paternity leave.
- 24% of management positions held by women.
- Support for community-based soccer clubs and artists with disabilities.
Governance Achievements
- Ichigo Hotel and Ichigo Office are the only J-REITs (out of 61) that both have an Asset Management Company (AMC) board with a majority of Independent Directors and whose AMC President does NOT serve as the Executive Director of the REIT.
- Performance-linked fee structure to support shareholder value creation.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Sponsor Ichigo's target: 100% renewable electricity across its operations by 2040.
Environmental Challenges
- Ongoing Covid-19 impact on hotel demand.
- Market uncertainty in the hotel industry.
Mitigation Strategies
- Effective cost control to reduce expenses.
- Issuance of Investment Corporation Bond (JPY 500 million) to strengthen financial base.
- Operator change to generate higher earnings (e.g., Chisun Inn Osaka Hommachi to The OneFive Osaka Sakaisuji).
- Shareholder Hotel Discount Program to support the hotel industry and express gratitude to shareholders.
- Deployment of Ichigo’s PROPERA, an AI-based hotel revenue management system.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Green procurement measures
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRESB
Certifications: CASBEE, BELS, DBJ Green Building
Reporting Period: January 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:7,745 tons (FY21/2)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 68 energy efficiency improvements made between August 2020 and July 2021
- Renewable energy contracts executed for 9 hotels as of January 2022 fiscal period, with 2 hotels already sourcing renewable energy
- HOTEL EMIT SHIBUYA awarded 2 Stars in GRESB rating and won Green Star designation
Social Achievements
- Support for J.League community development
- Support for athletes in weightlifting, rifle shooting, and track and field
- Ichigo University established for employee continuing education
Governance Achievements
- Shifted to performance-linked fee structure to support shareholder value creation
- All Ichigo Hotel Directors are Independent Directors
- Majority of AMC Directors (3 of 5) are Independent Directors
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Transition to renewable energy to be completed at all 74 assets by April 2022 (excluding partially-owned assets)
Short-term Goals:
- Disclose energy consumption levels and energy reduction targets on the Ichigo Hotel website by January 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Covid-19 pandemic impact on hotel demand
- Supply exceeding demand in some areas due to new hotel openings
- Uncertainty in the market environment
Mitigation Strategies
- Proactive value-add capex tailored to each hotel
- Selling hotels with limited growth potential
- Revising rent terms at lease renewal
- Collaboration with sponsor (Hakata Hotels/PROPERA)
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Green procurement measures
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRESB
Certifications: BELS (HOTEL EMIT SHIBUYA, 4 stars)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: July 2023
Environmental Metrics
Renewable Energy Share:49% (as of May 31, 2023)
Total Energy Consumption:4,136,516 kWh (Feb 2023 actual)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Completed renewable energy transition at 9 hotels as of July 31, 2023; targeting renewable energy transition for all hotels by January 2024; 4,136,516kWh renewable energy at transitioned hotels (Feb 2023 actual); CO2 Reduction: 1,824 tons (calculated as 0.441kg CO2 per kWh)
- On track toward achieving 2025 RE100 target; 49% renewable energy ratio (as of May 31, 2023)
Social Achievements
- Shareholder Discount Program offering special rates at various hotel brands; Ichigo J.League Shareholder Program offering free tickets to J.League games
- Ichigo University providing continuing education and personal growth for employees; average annual number of courses: 30; supporting athletes in weightlifting, rifle shooting, and track and field
Governance Achievements
- Shifted to performance-linked fee structure to support shareholder value creation; all Ichigo Hotel Directors are Independent Directors; active dialogue and effective internal controls via Board discussions; majority of AMC Directors (2 of 4) are Independent Directors
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net zero carbon society
Medium-term Goals:
- Achieve 85% renewable energy by FY24/2; 100% by FY25/2
Short-term Goals:
- Renewable energy transition for all hotels by January 2024
Environmental Challenges
- Negative impact on Hotel Wing International Nagoya, Nest Hotel Kumamoto, and Hotel Sunshine Utsunomiya from April 2023 due to the end of leasing all rooms to local governments
Mitigation Strategies
- Contract renewals and rebranding initiatives to increase stability and earnings
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Sustainable procurement measures, including environmentally-friendly construction methods and materials, actively installing energy and resource efficient equipment, and the inclusion of sustainability initiatives as a selection criteria for business partners
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRESB
Certifications: GRESB, CASBEE, BELS, DBJ Green Building
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: July 2024
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:6,729 tons CO2e (Ichigo Hotel)
Renewable Energy Share:100% (as of August 31, 2024)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Newly transitioned 7 hotels to renewable energy
- Reduced water usage via installing water-saving equipment (24% reduction per person at 10 hotels)
- Purchased non-fossil certificates for hotels that have not completed renewable energy transition to continue using 100% renewable energy
- Achieved 100% renewable energy transition at all hotels (as of August 31, 2024)
Social Achievements
- Shareholder Discount Program providing hotel discounts
- Ichigo J.League Shareholder Program offering free tickets to J.League games
- Ichigo University providing employee training and development
Governance Achievements
- No Fixed Fee, Performance Fee-Only Structure incentivizing long-term performance
- All Ichigo Hotel Directors are Independent Directors
- Active dialogue and effective internal controls via Board discussions
Climate Goals & Targets
Medium-term Goals:
- 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (2022 Base Year)
- 25% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 (2022 Base Year)
Short-term Goals:
- Targeting full group-wide 100% renewable energy transition in FY25/2
Environmental Challenges
- Transitioning remaining hotels to renewable energy
- Maintaining water reduction efforts
Mitigation Strategies
- Ongoing discussions with tenants to transition to renewable energy
- Continued installation of water-saving equipment
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Sustainable procurement measures, including environmentally-friendly construction methods and materials
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRESB, CASBEE, BELS, DBJ Green Building, RE100, SBT