Sustainability and community involvement in the hospitality industry can come in different forms, in large part because of all the various approaches which can be used. Community involvement can target the local environment, economics, society, or some combination of these three facets of sustainability. The hospitality industry has a particular ability to impact the community because of the natural resources and people that the successful operations of hotel / resort properties and F&B outlets require.
Environment
By being environmentally friendly, hotels, resorts, and restaurants can reduce the amount of natural resources used as well as reduce the amount of pollution and waste produced in their communities. Simple acts such as following the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle mantra can have an immediate and positive influence on local, regional, and even global communities. Reduce – Businesses should make reducing the amount of resources used a priority. This includes finding ways to use less water and energy, using renewable energy sources, and buying goods in bulk to lessen the amount of packaging used. Reuse – Businesses can identify creative ways to reuse goods that might otherwise be thrown away. For example, Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality in Costa Rica is turning its hotels’ organic waste into compost for the hotels’ gardens. Recycle – Recycle everything that can be recycled, from paper to aluminum, glass, and even oil in some cases.
Economics
Hotels, resorts, and restaurants can become more involved with their communities by making a commitment to buying from local vendors. These vendors can supply anything from produce to bath products and linens. Although buying only local goods is ideal, sometimes there must be a compromise in order to maintain a high standard of quality. Buying the necessary items from local merchants rather than ordering from non-local vendors helps to maintain a steady supply of revenue within the community. This aids in the success and growth of local businesses and the community overall.
Society
Hotel, resorts, and restaurants should remember that they are not separate entities from a community, regardless of how isolated they may be. There are still employees and local residents who are affected by the actions of these companies. Providing healthy working environments, offering career advancement opportunities, and guaranteeing fair wages for employees is critical. Supporting the local community is also essential. Donating to local charities, encouraging employees to volunteer within the community, and playing an active role in the overall enhancement of the community are examples of how this can be done.
Education is often a forgotten piece of sustainability, but it can be one of the most important. In addition to educating employees and guests about the importance of sustainability, hospitality companies should encourage them to teach their new knowledge to others in the community. If a knowledge of and a commitment to sustainability can grow organically outward from each property to the entire community, then the hospitality industry will have succeeded in community involvement at the highest level.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Community Involvement
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Here's a recent article on five Accor hotels in Bali that recently received top honors from the Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards and Accrediation 2009. Tri Hita Karana (THK) is the life concept of Balinese community in accomplishing secular and spiritual bliss through harmonization of the relationship between humans and God (parhyangan), human and human (pawongan), and human and environment (palemahan) into an integral unity.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/yd43kxs
Jen, this article really speaks to the education component your post mentions. ". . . all hotels have an obligation to foster poor children to get basic education as all of those are reflecting the corporate social responsibility of the hotel industry" said Berata Ashrama, the Chairman of Organizing Committee of THK Tourism Awards.
5 Accor hotels in Bali: Sofitel Seminyak Bali, Novotel Bali Benoa, Novotel Bali Nusa Dua Hotel & Residences, Mercure Resort Sanur and All Seasons Legian received this prestigious Bali's Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards for this year 2009.
Oh yeah forgot to mention a really cool initiative that the Starwoods in Bali did last year. They donated hundreds of motorbike helmets to locals, primarily the children. This is a great example of hotels creating local charities that address major community issues. In this case, it's because there are a high number of motorbike accidents involving children since it's typical a motorbike will carry a whole family on dark narrow, crowded streets.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/kso2yz
"The four Starwood properties in Bali, the Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali, The Laguna Nusa Dua Bali, Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, and the St. Regis Bali have come together to provide an initial funding to purchase helmets for children. In the first phase of this act of corporate social responsibility, the helmets are being given to the children of staff and associates belonging to the four hotels."
Very cool. This ties into the comment I left on the Amandari on the other blog. The hotel is very involved with the local village and have done a number of things to help the community. I think we're going to see some interesting examples of this while we're in Bali. The question of course is how to spread this sort of behavior so that it becomes standard practice within the hospitality industry.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was interning with Banyan Tree, I came across some interesting efforts the company has taken towards "Marine life sustainability". They actually grown corals in the sea in Maldives.
ReplyDeleteCheck the video out on how BT has done it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GH2zIkRo7s
I did my internship with Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality in Costa Rica, and they also push basic education as one of their community involvement goals. It ranges from having kids come in to learn about nature and a property's sustainability efforts to one of the properties sponsoring an entire school. The owners of Lapa Rios recognized the need for a community school when they built Lapa Rios, and through the joint effort of the community and the owners, a much needed primary school was built.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.laparios.com/lapscho.html
I agree that efforts like these and of Accor, Starwood, and Aman need to be accepted as standard practices and not exceptional ones. Hopefully more organizations will recognize that sponsoring education is not only a "feel good" operation, but that having a more highly educated community and thus workforce can be beneficial from a strategic perspective as well.
I wonder if there are any official community involvement initiatives for a substainbility and hospitality training facility to help locals in job placements. I tried googling and with no avail.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to our Green School session - I think it's a brilliant concept and would love to find out how the idea came about. I wish there were more of these in the world and not just in the exotic locations - something that more children can attend, perhaps as a summer camp or a "study abroad" program. Would love to pick John Hardy's brain on this.
ReplyDelete