Eleven leading hotel groups in China have received top A+ ratings in the country’s first Plant-Based Foods Scorecard for the hospitality industry. The assessment, released today by Shanghai-based food consultancy Lever China, evaluated hotel chains on their corporate policies and implementation of plant-based food options.
The scorecard specifically assessed whether hospitality groups had established formal corporate policies to make a percentage of their meals plant-based and implemented activities promoting these options to guests. The report defines “plant-based foods” broadly, including vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, and plant protein products.
Top-performing hotel groups
The 11 hotel groups receiving A+ ratings represent over 4,800 hotels in total, and some of the industry’s most significant players in China:
- AccorHotels and Langham Hospitality Group have both committed to achieving 50% plant-based meals on hotel menus globally by 2030
- InterContinental Hotels Group Greater China and Marriott have pledged to reach 30% plant-based meals on all hotel menus by 2025
- Ascott will shift 30% of its menus in South China to plant-based options by 2028, and Artyzen will feature at least 30% plant-based dishes in Macau and Hengqin by 2026.
- Dossen Group, Yee Hotel and Baiyun Hotel under White Swan Hotel Group, and Ahn Lan Resorts & Hotels have committed to 30% plant-based offerings by 2025-2026.
- OCTAVEHotels and Huazhu Hotel Group’s Orange Hotel have made the most ambitious commitments, aiming for 70% plant-based meals on hotel menus by 2025
“We are thrilled to see that in the first edition of the China Hospitality Industry Plant-Based Foods Scorecard, eleven companies have received the highest score of A+ for pledging to make at least 30% of their menus plant-based. Plant-forward menu strategies are quickly becoming a hallmark of industry leadership in the hospitality sector, delivering measurable benefits to both business operations and broader societal goals of public health and environmental sustainability,” said Cecilia Zhao, Sustainability Program Director at Lever China.
Market drivers and consumer demand
The scorecard arrives as consumer preferences in China show increasing support for businesses offering plant-based options. A recent consumer survey by Lever China found that nearly 88% of Chinese consumers believe hospitality businesses have a responsibility to manage the health and sustainability of their food supply chain.
Additionally, 77% of consumers reported they are more likely to visit hotels and restaurants with specific policies to increase plant-based food availability. This consumer sentiment aligns with government initiatives promoting plant-based diets to address both climate change and public health concerns.
Government Support for Plant-Based Initiatives
China’s central government has signaled support for plant-based eating through multiple channels. The Ministry of Health’s latest dietary guidelines emphasize increased daily intake of plant-based foods for China’s 1.4 billion people, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and soy.
Further reinforcing this direction, the “Implementation Guidelines for Promoting Green Consumption,” jointly issued by seven ministries and commissions, specifically identifies the promotion of green and healthy food as a priority area for enhancing sustainable consumption across the country.
This alignment between hospitality industry initiatives, consumer preferences, and government policy suggests the plant-based trend in China’s hospitality sector is likely to continue expanding.
As hotel groups implement their commitments to increase plant-based offerings over the coming years, the scorecard provides a benchmark for measuring industry progress toward more sustainable food systems.
