InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 'Responsible Business Day' in partnership with National Geographic's center for sustainable destinations
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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 'Responsible Business Day' in partnership with National Geographic's center for sustainable destinations
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Category: Worldwide
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-09-21
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's first truly global hotel brand, today celebrates the work that each its hotels around the world are doing to sustain and enhance their local destination.
In partnership with National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties regularly take part in activities that ensure their location remains an appealing place to visit for future generations. Today, Responsible Business Day, will see InterContinental hotels from around the world take part in such an activity.
Whilst the activities vary from location to location, each will be inspired by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts' Five Principles of Responsible Business, which have been developed in association with National Geographic's Geotourism Code of Good Practice.
The Five Principles include:
- Integrity of Place - Staying true to the local character where each hotel or resort is located
- Destination Appeal - Celebrating what's attractive and compelling about each local area
- Community - Supporting local community activities and initiatives
- Sharing our Stories - Encouraging guest and colleague interest and exploration of each local area
- Minimsing Impact - Demosntrating care and consideration of the local area and its people
Examples of Responsible Business initiatives that have been carried out by InterContinental hotels and resorts worldwide include:
- Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat - In Oman, fresh water is a scarce resource, so the hotel runs and manages the local sewerage treatment plant that works not only for the benefit of the hotel, but also for the local Al Bustan village. Through the sewerage treatment process, 780 cubic metres of water is recycled per day, which is used to irrigate the local agricultural fields and the hotel gardens.
- Willard InterContinental Washington DC - Through guest donation and laundry cost savings the hotel provides funding to the cleaning of the local Anacostia River, to revive its eco system. Employees also regularly clean the adjacent Pershing Park. The Willard is also the first urban hotel in the US to source 100% of its power from wind energy
- InterContinental London Park Lane - This hotel works closely with charity organisation WellChild, to make a positive contribution to the local community, through their work with disadvantaged children. Recently, the hotel built a community garden for children to play in.
- InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam - The hotel focuses much of its attention on food and has chosen to use organic or sustainably sourced products from local farms and fisheries.
- InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa - Located in one of the most remote parts of the world, this hotel is the first in the world to pioneer a salt water air-conditioning system. Cold air from the sea is channelled to cool the entire property. The hotel also built a coral garden to protect and encourage the growth of local wildlife habitats.
Simon Scoot, Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, said: "At InterContinental, we share with our guests a common belief that the most enriching travel comes through authentic experiences. In connecting people which all that's special about our destinations, we have a responsibility to protect the nature, heritage and communities that make each place unique. Our partnership with National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations is all about working together to encourage a deeper appreciation of each of our locations."
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