ORLANDO, FLA.—The biggest news coming out of Carlson Hotels’ Global Business Conference from March 3 to 5 was its Ambition 2015 growth strategy focused on expanding the company’s property folio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation. From a corporate social responsibility perspective (CSR), the news at the conference may not have been as grand but it certainly was as important. Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president of human resources for Carlson Hotels, The Americas, unveiled Carlson’s 2010 CSR strategy to Carlson stakeholders. Included in it is an Americas commitment to the United Nations Global Compact, employee training in responsible business, the launch of a Carlson Hotels Responsible Business Award, assistance with green certification, and the rollout of a program to collect environmental performance data.
The Rezidor Group had already joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2008 (Carlson currently owns more than 40 percent of Brussels, Belgium-based The Rezidor Group). The Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Lunde, who leads Carlson’s responsible business initiative, and who had previously worked for The Rezidor Group before starting her new position with Carlson in December 2009. “[The United Nations Global Compact] is the largest sustainability initiative in the world.”
Training in Responsible Business
This year Carlson will step up its responsible business training for all employees and hotel managers. Employees will be required to undergo 2.5 hours of training and hotel managers, 1.5 hours. Master trainers will train managers at the hotel level. Those managers will then train employees. A responsible business handbook will be available on the Carlson site to download. Informational posters will also be available. As has been practiced in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with The Rezidor Hotel Group, Carlson will celebrate Responsible Business Action Month in September.
“By assigning one month of the year specifically to responsible business, we can create better awareness internally and externally,” Lunde said.
Carlson will create a Responsible Business Award that will be presented in 2011, help hoteliers achieve green certification for their properties, share best practices from Carlson properties, offer carbon offsetting through its guest loyalty program, and will begin to roll out an environmental performance data collection process—initially at hotels managed by Carlson.
Also during the conference, Carlson recommitted to supporting the World Childhood Foundation and ECPAT International. The World Childhood Foundation is committed to defending the rights of children and to securing better living conditions for children and young women at risk all over the world. ECPAT International is a global network of organizations and individuals working together to eliminate child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
Lunde said Carlson was increasing its commitment to environmental programs for numerous reasons: the compelling evidence of climate change, customers are becoming aware of environmental issues, competitors are already involved, there are opportunities to reduce costs, and it helps position Carlson as an attractive employment choice for students.
Go to Carlson Hotels.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
