Hervé Houdré
Founder at H2 Sustainability Consulting
Hervé Houdré is widely regarded as one of the most respected hoteliers in Europe and North America. Born in an inn in France’s Loire Valley, he went on to lead some of the world’s most iconic luxury properties, including Hôtel Plaza Athénée New York, Hôtel de Crillon and Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C., and the InterContinental Barclay in New York. He also served as Chief Operating Officer for Kempinski Hotels and Resorts. In 2006, HOTELS magazine named him Independent Hotelier of the World, honoring a career defined by excellence, innovation, and global influence.
A pioneer in environmental leadership, Hervé has been one of hospitality’s most committed champions of sustainability since 2004. He was among the earliest adopters of the Triple Bottom Line—People, Planet, Profit—in luxury hotel management and coined the term “Sustainable Hospitality” in 2006. That same year, he authored the landmark white paper Sustainable Hospitality – Sustainable Development in the Hotel Industry, endorsed by Cornell University’s Center for Hospitality Research. He later co-edited Hotel Sustainable Development: Principles and Best Practices (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, 2011).
Hervé has taught Responsible Tourism at New York University and guest-lectured at institutions including the New York Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, and Zhejiang Tourism College in China. He is a frequent speaker at leading global forums such as the NY Hotel Show and ALIS.
A dedicated industry steward, Hervé has served in leadership roles with The Leading Hotels of the World, the New York State Hotel Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. He is a former Chairman of the Board for the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) and served on the Executive Committee of NYC & Company, chairing its Sustainability Committee.
In 2018, Hervé founded H2 Sustainability Consulting, advising luxury hotels, hospitality groups, and tourism organizations on integrating sustainability into core strategy. He later established H2 Advisory Services, focused on hospitality asset management—continuing his lifelong commitment to elevating the industry through purpose-driven leadership.
Areas of Expertise:
- Responsible Hospitality
- Sustainable Luxury Leadership