IHG Hotels Opens First Branded Net Zero Carbon Hotel

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG’s first branded net zero carbon hotel, in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality. It has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy.

As with all voco branded hotels, the 142-room voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been designed to help guests truly unwind and feel at ease with the use of neutral tones and contemporary features throughout the guest rooms and public spaces.

Guests staying at the hotel will have access to a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space and 12 EV charging points. The hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar, ISCA, emphasises the use of locally-sourced ingredients, collaborating with regional farms and producers to offer fresh, responsible dining options.

The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park stands out with its sustainable design, which earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating, a renowned sustainable buildings certification. It is the first building in the UK that has utilised the 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.

In line with voco’s commitment to innovation and sustainability and a belief that small steps collectively make a big difference, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park was constructed using materials chosen for their sustainable characteristics and assembled innovatively to achieve best-in-class results. For example, they have used Ecocrete during construction, a low carbon concrete with up to 85% less CO2 than CEM1 (100% cement).

voco hotels is IHG's fastest growing premium brand, offering a hotel experience that is consistently thoughtful and distinct. Each property is characterised by its individual charm, providing guests with something different while also ensuring the reliability of a global brand. There are currently 29 voco hotels open across Europe with more than 20 due to open in the next three to five years.