Hilton’s AI-driven energy-cost reduction journey: over $1 billion achieved in savings

Transforming Hilton's Global Utility Management

Hilton sought a software solution to measure, analyze, and manage utility consumption across its large global portfolio. In 2001, Hilton engaged ei³ to establish a comprehensive utility management platform, based on ei³'s IoT solutions. The resulting solution, LightStay, has since won numerous awards and is now mandatory for every Hilton property around the globe. This custom-built resource management solution uses AI to predict hotels' energy, water, and waste usage and tracks actual consumption against these predictive models.

The ei³ platform gathers, aggregates, and compares operational data against modeled ideal usage, enabling organizations to reduce costs and energy consumption while supporting environmental goals. For Hilton, this approach has translated into verified billion-dollar savings and significant resource conservation.

LightStay Overview

LightStay turns energy management into a competitive challenge on a worldwide scale. Hilton hotels compare their energy consumption and share details about energy conservation projects that they execute.

At every instance, hotel management and staff can see how they are currently doing against their friends. And if they are falling behind, then can see what the other hotels are doing to beat them – and in this instance, copying is not only allowed but encouraged. When saving energy, there are no losers: everybody wins.

LightStay uses sophisticated mathematical models backed with artificial intelligence to continuously compare real-time operational data against complex models trained on historical information, and forecasts future energy consumption levels and evaluate operational efficiency.

Dashboard displaying energy management analytics for a Hilton Hotel property

Nurturing Sustainable Excellence

Automated Alert System

Automatic alerts are triggered when a hotel's performance falls below the expected level. This proactive feature prompts swift remedial actions by the management, ensuring timely interventions to maintain optimal performance.

Comprehensive Impact Tracking 

LightStay provides actionable insights, enabling hotel owners and management to monitor environmental and social impact across vital metrics—energy, carbon, water, waste, building, and property operations. The platform ensures instant visibility into improvement project outcomes, facilitating effective management. Results, both comprehensive and annually externally validated, serve as the bedrock for sustainability certifications.

Global Footprint Assessment 

Hotels can now assess the carbon footprint of various events, including meetings and conferences, extending beyond regular guest nights. With LightStay adopted by all Hilton properties globally, a fair and truly global comparison becomes possible. This widespread usage ensures standardized performance tracking for all hotels, fostering a commitment to sustainability on a worldwide scale.

Results

• US $1 Billion+ in Savings: Cumulative cost savings through AI-driven management of energy, water, and waste in LightStay since 2008 — verified by KEMA and DEKRA.

• 30% Reduction in Emissions and Waste: Significant decrease in carbon emissions and waste output across properties.

• 20% Reduction in Resource Consumption: Notable decrease in water consumption and energy use throughout the hotel chain.

About Hilton

Hilton is a global hospitality company with nearly 100 years of history in establishing excellence in the industry. The company maintains a diverse portfolio of 14 brands comprising nearly 5,400 properties in 106 countries.