Our vision
Building a positive legacy
Since 2017, we have been leading the way in promoting a more responsible model of tourism. Wave of Change was born from our deep-rooted commitment to protecting the ocean—recognizing that the health of our seas is essential to the future of our planet. What began as a mission to eliminate single-use plastics has since evolved into a far-reaching movement that strives for carbon neutrality and zero waste to landfill, supports sustainable fishing practices, and restores coastal ecosystems.
Strategy for a responsible tourism
Our approach extends across 7 areas of action – not only on nature – but also including our focus on employees, our support of local communities, and our ambition to foster a positive future for all. Our strategy is fueled by innovation and data, leveraging creative thinking and pioneering solutions to set new sustainability standards across the industry.
At Iberostar Wave of Change, we believe in a collaborative and holistic approach—embedding sustainability across our company, tourism, and beyond. Together, we are shaping a responsible business model that drives positive change for our people, our communities, and nature.
We are dedicated to preserving our destinations and their coastal ecosystems, enhancing their health and resilience for the future. Guided by science and data, we champion out-of-the-box thinking and develop transformational strategies led by a unique set experts in partnership with leading stakeholders in the public sector, the private sector and academia.
Our history
Over five years leading change
SPEARHEADING A TRANSITION TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND OCEAN ACTION FOR IBEROSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS
Caring for our People
Our aim is to build an inclusive, equitable, and engaging workplace which nurtures a strong sense of belonging through a common purpose. By fostering meaningful careers, prioritizing employee development, and ensuring wellbeing, we empower our people to thrive, maintaining the spirit of our Iberostar family.
Destination Stewardship
Our destination stewardship area fosters effective communication with key stakeholders in sustainable development within tourism destinations. We engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure that the community's voice is heard and understood by the private sector, while also conveying the private sector’s perspective to the community. A major part of our destination stewardship work also includes developing partnerships and pre-competitive collaboration engaging private and public partners.
Read more
Nature
We restore coastal ecosystem services to reduce and mitigate risk in the face of climate change risk, enhance the quality of beach and water in coastal destinations, and enhance green spaces for wellbeing in coastal areas. Spearheaded by our team of in-house scientists, in collaboration with academia and industry practitioners, we provide strategies that integrate the protection of nature in business cases for the private sector.
Read more
Blue foods
We define a framework and path towards sustainable seafood in the private sector that strengthens traceability across the supply chain, lifts up local fishing communities and explores alternative blue foods.
Leveraging our experience in creating a holistic and comprehensive approach in the private sector, we aspire to set a model that transitions from traditional seafood sources to responsibly-sourced alternatives.
Read more
Climate Action
We create strategies to decarbonize scope 1 and 2 in the built environment and the destination, as well as scope 3 in the value chain. We also focus on climate adaptation in coastal areas and develop blue carbon solutions for mitigation. When developing this work, we leverage our experience creating the most ambitious decarbonization strategy in accommodation, validated by SBTi, to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Read more
Circular Economy
We propel business models that evolve operations towards circularity through regenerative and restorative sourcing, use and end use of water, energy and products in the built environment. We also include the concept of regeneration in destinations, and in the value chain.
Over five years we have implemented strategies to remove single-use plastics, send no waste to landfill, and decarbonize operations within accommodation.
Read more
Responsible Growth
We are dedicated to a responsible tourism model that ensures a positive future and leaves a lasting legacy as a family business. By balancing growth, environmental care, and social impact, we foster resilience while promoting ethical practices and inspiring change across the tourism sector.
Discover our resources
This White Paper outlines actionable strategies and focus areas to reduce emissions, minimize food waste, and enhance the sustainability and resilience of hotel food systems.
This Key Findings presents a range of focus areas and recommendations on how the sector can reduce emissions, and adapt to climate threats.
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a fast-spreading disease threatening coral reefs. At Wave of Change, we've developed a successful protocol for treating affected corals and helping reefs thrive.
Discover the remarkable achievements and ongoing sustainability efforts of Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in 2023 by downloading our full 2023 Year in Review report.
This report and roadmap synthesize progress on our strategic objectives and lays out the evolution of embodying a circular economy at Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts has a continued commitment to transparency. Here we present our Wave of Change 2022 Year in Review.
In 2020, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. We now present our roadmap for decarbonization aligned with this objective.
This roadmap establishes clear goals and key progress indicators to track success, and provides guiding actions to enhance the ecological health of coastal ecosystems.
This is our second Responsible Seafood Annual Report and it has been made publicly available to show our ongoing commitment to transparency within our seafood strategy.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts has a continued commitment to transparency. Here we present our Wave of Change 2021 Year in Review.
As part of our commitment to transparency, we present our Wave of Change 2019 End of Year Assessment by the numbers where we highlight our achievements.
This is our first Responsible Seafood Annual Report and it has been made publicly available to show transparency within our seafood commitment.
Alliances and partnerships
Subscribe to our newsletter
Stay up to date with the Wave of Change newsletter.
Before submitting this form, you should read the basic information on data protection.
Data protection: The data controller is Iberostar Hoteles & Apartamentos, S.L. The purpose is to manage the distribution list of the Wave of Change initiative and to compile statistics to analyze the impact of this initiative and evaluate the quality of the website. You have the right to request access, rectification or deletion, the limitation of the treatment and the portability of your data, as well as to oppose its treatment and to file a claim with a control authority. More information here.