How do you honor your employees for their achievements in corporate social responsibility? Years ago, I worked for a publication called IndustryWeek and led a project that honored the world’s 100 Best Managed Companies. These companies, which tended to be manufacturing in nature, did not necessarily have a sustainability champion but they had figured out that it was in their best interest to honor their employee achievements with awards and celebrations of their successes. I guarantee you employees working for these companies tended to stay longer and were better compensated for their time. Similar surveys by publications such as Fortune have discovered the same: “Businesses that treat employees well during the toughest of times will attract talent, even when the war for talent heats up.”
This past week, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, and The BHN Group announced a new award to recognize and honor the transformational leadership of industry icon, Arne Sorenson, former President & CEO of Marriott International who died earlier this year. The name of the award: The Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. A great idea and a great way to keep people mindful of the importance of stepping up to lead corporate social responsibility efforts.
Known for his progressive leadership, Sorenson utilized his platform as the head of a major international corporation to address national and global issues—including diversity, equity, and inclusion; environmental sustainability; human trafficking awareness and prevention; among others. The Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award will be presented to a senior-level executive in the lodging industry who strives to drive change through strong leadership and community engagement, exemplifying these values every day.
Celebrate Your Accomplishments
I encourage you to celebrate the accomplishments of the sustainability champions in your company or at your property. A nice dinner with an awards ceremony would impress your entire team. Talk about the accomplishments they have made over the previous year—in energy saved, water conserved, waste reduced, and in community support. Use the event to announce your continuous improvement goals—for 2025, 2030, or whatever year it happens to be. Talk about the investments you intend to make to make your property or company more efficient. Invite a speaker to come in or give one of your own managers or employees the opportunity to speak. Repeat the event each year. It will give your team something to look forward to. Invite the media. Distribute a press release. I realize we are in a time of a pandemic but doing something like this can be done in a safe manner.
First Sorenson Honoree Announced in 2022
The annual Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award will be given at the AHLA Foundation’s premier fundraising gala, the annual Night of a Thousand Stars and during the annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). The first honoree will be announced in January 2022 at the AHLA Foundation’s Night of a Thousand Stars gala.
Guys like Arne Sorenson do not come along often and certainly deserve special recognition. Kudos to those organizations who put together the award in his honor.
How do you celebrate your successes? The work of your employees, managers—your sustainability champions? I would love to know. Write to greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. I would love to feature your best practices in this column.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 23,393 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
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As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
