Net Zero: the hotel emissions game for sustainability managers
Sustainability Management Simulation: Net Zero is a training game in which the player manages a four-star city-center hotel and must cut greenhouse gas emissions by half in seven years without hurting financial results. It won Gold at the 2022 Serious Play Awards.
Updated
What the simulation teaches
The point of the game is to show that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be reconciled with business performance. Learners take the role of general manager of a 500-room, four-star hotel in a city center. The mandate is a 50% reduction in emissions over 7 years while the hotel keeps its finances healthy. Tim Rogmans developed it, and it was one of two higher education games to win Gold at the 2022 International Serious Play Awards.
A game starts with a choice of location and a hotel name, followed by background on climate change and on the hotel itself. The hotel can be in New York, London or Singapore, and facilitators can change settings and model parameters to match local conditions.
How a round plays
Each simulated year, the player picks up to three initiatives from a long and changing list. They cover several sources of emissions and mix technical fixes with changes in behavior by staff, guests and suppliers. New options appear as the years pass. The player also decides how much to spend on staff training and on communicating with guests.
After the decisions are entered, a dashboard reports the previous year: the hotel's emissions and what drove them, and its financial results. Costs change with every initiative, and revenue per available room can improve. In 2022 it was described as an integral part of the Harvard Business Publishing course Corporate Sustainability Strategy.
What is true today
The simulation is now presented on the website of Sim Institute under the title Net Zero. The page describes a general manager of a four-star city-center hotel in New York, London or Singapore who has to cut emissions by 50% over 7 years while optimizing financial performance. Each year the player chooses three initiatives covering energy, water, waste, food and products.
A session takes about an hour. It can be played alone or in teams, in English or Spanish, and the simulation gives AI feedback. The page invites visitors to book a demo or log in, says universities can reach the game through Harvard Business Impact, and lists no prices.
The page repeats the 2022 Serious Play Awards gold medal and adds a 2023 Highly Commended mention at the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Awards. It does not name the 500-room hotel size or Tim Rogmans.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | General manager of a four-star city-center hotel |
| Target | Cut emissions 50% over 7 years |
| Locations | New York, London, Singapore |
| Decisions | Three initiatives per year |
| Session length | About 1 hour |
| Languages | English, Spanish |
| Access | Book a demo; universities via Harvard Business Impact |
Questions about Net Zero
Who plays Net Zero?
It was designed for higher education use. The player acts as the general manager of a hotel and must balance emission cuts against financial performance.
How long does Net Zero take?
The current offer page gives about an hour per session, played individually or in teams.
Can the hotel location be changed?
Yes. Players can choose New York, London or Singapore, and facilitators can adjust model parameters to suit local conditions.