16/05/25 LinkedIn Newsletter

Agua Spa at Sea Containers London achieves Silver Accreditation with Sustainable Wellness

Congratulations to the Agua Spa, at FuturePlus member, Sea Containers London, on achieving Silver Accreditation with Sustainable Wellness.

By embedding sustainable practices into the guest experience, Agua Spa is meeting growing customer demand for responsible luxury while driving long-term value.

From the Hedgerow by Agua product line, crafted with British botanicals, to a global clean water contribution of 10.8 million litres through the Made Blue Foundation, this is sustainability with measurable impact.

Congratulations to Tendai Mundumbwila, Spa Director, and Jacqueline Kneebone, Head of Sustainability and Wellness at LORE Group, for leading the way. A strong example of how sustainability and commercial success go hand in hand.

Through our partnership with Sustainable Wellness, members gain:

• Clear Sustainability Measurement: A verified score that shows where you are now, and an ambition score for where you want to be in three years.
• Tailored Roadmaps: A bespoke three-year strategy built around your business model across five key areas: Climate, Environment, Diversity & Inclusion, Social, and Economic.
• Ongoing Support: Expert advice and tools to help you reach your goals, track progress, and stay ahead of regulatory and customer expectations.
• Supply Chain Visibility: Extend impact across suppliers and the wider hospitality network, with a unified approach that supports all parts of the sector.

This partnership was created in response to growing demand for practical, educational, and measurable sustainability solutions across the wellness and hospitality industries.

England and Wales Cricket Board’s latest Inclusive and Impactful Programmes

FuturePlus member, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is working hard to make cricket more inclusive, accessible, and socially responsible. Recent projects show how the sport is changing for the better, on and off the pitch.

In Birmingham, the Vaisakhi Cricket Cup brought the local Sikh community together at Edgbaston to celebrate faith and cricket. The event encouraged women, children, and families to take part, with a big increase in female players this year. It’s part of a wider push to make cricket more welcoming to underrepresented groups.

“Being together with family is the most important thing about Vaisakhi. Different families do different things but generically you go to the gurdwara (Sikh place of worship), there’s fireworks, there’s food. A lot of communities are trying to bring sport into it too, so that there’s a fun element to it.” - Simran Riat, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation Community Participation Officer

From school sessions to sign-ups at local gurdwaras, the event is helping more people see cricket as their game too.

Derbyshire CCC has opened a sensory room to help fans with sensory needs enjoy match days without stress. The room includes calming lights, soft toys, and a quiet view of the pitch. It’s open to anyone who needs a break from the noise and crowds, and there are even sensory bags with earplugs and sunglasses to help fans feel more comfortable outside.

“We wanted to ensure that anyone can come to the ground and feel comfortable. We wanted a space where anyone can go to have a moment to detox and destress. We know some people with sensory processing issues that love to come to the cricket and if they get overwhelmed, they have to leave. We basically ensured that if people do need some time away from the game, they can take that time, as much as they need, and still have a full day at the cricket. “The room is match-facing with a really nice view of the pitch. So, if you need to take time away you can still watch what’s going on.” - Amy Brett, Derbyshire CCC’s Customer/Accessibility Liaison.

The room was built with The Whistle Foundation, who aim to bring sensory spaces to every cricket ground in the country.

England and Wales will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, and the ECB wants it to be the biggest and best women’s cricket event ever. The goal is to sell out stadiums, boost TV viewers, and grow the fanbase for good, not just for the tournament.

There’s been huge growth in recent years, but challenges remain. Many still see cricket as a “men’s sport”.

The ECB wants to change that by giving women’s cricket more coverage, funding, and role models, on screens and in clubs across the country.

“Achieving this vision will require radical collaboration. We need broadcasters to amplify visibility and production quality, sponsors to invest equally, media to tell deeper stories, government to support with policy, and sports bodies to invest across the entire women's and girls' ecosystem.” - Beth Barrett-Wild, Tournament Director and ECB Women's Professional Game Director

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) uses the FuturePlus platform to better understand and improve its sustainability and social impact across the organisation.

As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, social impact, and good governance, the ECB is working with FuturePlus to measure progress, both within the organisation and across its suppliers and partners.

The goal is to track and report on shared impact using consistent metrics, regardless of the size or sector of each organisation.

This approach allows the ECB to show how collaboration across the cricket network can deliver meaningful, measurable change, building trust with fans, partners, and the wider community.

SURI reaches over 10,000 reviews on Trustpilot

A huge congratulations to our FuturePlus member, SURI, on reaching a major milestone, 10,000 reviews and a 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, making them the #1 electric toothbrush brand on the platform.

We’re proud to support purpose-driven businesses like SURI that are raising the bar on product performance, customer experience, and sustainability.

This achievement reflects a brilliant product and a team that truly listens to and values its customers.

With Intelligence Shortlisted for GCN Events Conference & Events Awards

Congratulations to our client, With Intelligence, on being shortlisted for three GCN Events Conference & Events Awards.

This recognition is a testament to the outstanding work of your events team and your commitment to delivering high-impact experiences and valuable insights across the global investment community.

From all of us at FuturePlus, a shoutout to the teams behind the Women’s Summits and HFM Global, well deserved.

REPORT: Why Sustainability Makes Business Sense for Hospitality

The hospitality sector is under growing pressure, from guest expectations to new regulations and rising costs. But sustainability isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart business move. In our latest report with Horwath HTL, we explore how sustainability drives profitability, resilience, and long-term brand value.

🔗 Read the full report.

📝 Authors: Alexandra Smith, Co-Founder, FuturePlus and Philip Bacon, MRICS, FCA, Senior Director, Horwath HTL.

Key insights include:

• How energy and water efficiency can significantly reduce costs
• Why certifications like LEED and IMPACT CERTIFIED attract investors
• The role of circular economy and social impact in building guest loyalty
• How data-led strategies turn sustainability goals into real results
• Fragmented efforts aren’t enough. Hotels need clear, measurable strategies aligned to their operations. That’s where specialist advice from Horwath HTL and FuturePlus comes in, combining ESG intelligence with deep industry know-how.

The report also features a case study of a luxury hotel cutting emissions by 60% and energy use by 20%, while improving guest experience and community engagement.

Business of Sustainability Events

Designed to spark collaboration and accelerate progress, the Business of Sustainability Events bring together leaders, innovators and changemakers from across industries to share insights, challenges and real-world strategies for building more sustainable businesses.

Whether you're just beginning your sustainability journey or looking to deepen your impact, these events create space for honest conversations, practical knowledge-sharing and new connections, all with a shared goal: to make sustainability a core driver of business success.

Click here to stay up to date with our latest events.