by Glenn Hasek
October 12, 2010 05:10
Marriott International has just released its 2008-2009 Sustainability Report. It is the first sustainability report the company has ever produced. In producing the 28-page report, Marriott used guidelines established by the Global Reporting Initiative. I highly recommend checking out the report. Few hospitality companies, or individual hotels for that matter, produce sustainability reports. The report includes an introduction from J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO, and Arne M. Sorenson, president and COO, as well as information on the company's diversity programs, position on ethics and human rights, and community donations in time and dollars. The report details Marriott's commitment to green building (LEED) and operations (Energy Star) and its accomplishments in areas such as energy management, water conservation, waste minimization, and purchasing.
The report is well organized and designed and includes a GRI Content Index. Highlights from the report include:
• Reducing water consumption per available room by 8.2 percent in two years.
• Increasing LEED registered and certified hotels from 18 to 67.
• Seeding $2 million to jumpstart an Amazon rainforest preservation project in Brazil and $500,000 to help protect access to fresh water in China.
• Surpassing the goal of 500 minority- and women-owned hotels a year early, reaching 525 in 2009.
• Reviewing community programs and NGO partnerships addressing poverty alleviation, disaster relief, education and children's wellbeing.
Has your company or property considered producing a sustainability report but chosen not to? I would love to learn the reasons why. Or, if one is in the works, I would also love to learn about it. Leave your comments here or write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
