CSR and Sustainability

🏫 Blenheim Palace and Pye Homes ranked 78th on the UK's Best Large Companies to Work For 2024 list. They also placed 49th for the South East and 14th in Leisure and Hospitality's Best Companies to Work 2024. This achievement fulfills one of their 10-year goals three years early. In 2017, they set goals including becoming a Top 100 UK employer and contributing to local development and green energy. CEO Dominic Hare and People Director Megan Carter credit their team's passion and commitment for the early success.

🌊 Dhawa Ihuru celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Rannamaari shipwreck in October, marking its transformation into a thriving artificial reef since sinking in 1999. Events ran from 4th to 6th October, featuring exclusive shipwreck dives, freediving, treasure hunts, an underwater photography contest, stone carving workshops, yoga sessions, marine conservation talks, and folklore performances. The wreck, a symbol of marine conservation, is rich with coral growth and marine species, illustrating the success of artificial reefs.

🏠 Hospitality Action's 2024 Winter Online Auction, in partnership with Square, runs from November 18 to December 2, featuring over 49 lots. Highlights include a seven-course meal for six at The Ritz, a stay at The Savoy Hotel, and a spa experience at The Swan at Lavenham. A £10 raffle offers afternoon tea at The Prince Akatoki London. Funds support hospitality workers amid the cost of living crisis. Bidding starts at 10 am on November 18 and concludes at 2 pm on December 2.

💰 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts partners with Lafayette Square, aiming to provide hoteliers up to $100 million financing over the coming years. The partnership supports Wyndham's BOLD and Women Own the Room initiatives, which have facilitated over 100 hotel deals with Black and women entrepreneurs, with more than 20 hotels currently open. Amina James, a BOLD member, becomes the first to receive financing from Lafayette Square, enabling her to purchase and upgrade Wyndham Lake Charles.

🏡 Ken and Pam Cruse, co-founders of Soul Community Planet - SCP Hotels, aim to redefine hospitality with a focus on sustainability, wellness, and community. SCP's regenerative hospitality model emphasizes a values-based approach and has developed into a social enterprise that prioritizes stakeholders, specifically customers, local communities, and the planet, over immediate profitability. They maintain a high direct booking rate of 65%, despite having only 10 hotels, attributed to customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth referrals.SCP aspires to a net promoter score (NPS) of 75, indicating a high level of guest satisfaction and advocacy. SCP's integrated structure owns the real estate, management, and brand, allowing for consistent values while adapting to the uniqueness of each market. SCP's first property was a vintage motel in Southern Colorado Springs, but they found more success with nature-based resorts and small town downtown boutique hotels. SCP was established in 2018, and the Cruses met in graduate school in Washington D.C., and both worked for Marriott International post-graduation. Ken's career in hospitality was influenced by his involvement in a basketball group at Marriott, which led to key opportunities, including the acquisition of the Renaissance brand. Pam's career shifted from Marriott to USA Today, enhancing her focus on marketing and consumer psychology. SCP's holistic hospitality concept ties in with the Global Wellness Institute's definition of wellness, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions

🌳 Hotels integrating sustainability into marketing strategies enhance their appeal to eco-conscious consumers by showcasing energy-efficient lighting, water conservation, and waste reduction initiatives. They partner with local sustainable suppliers, share green initiatives via social media, and offer promotions for guests who engage in sustainable practices. Challenges include initial investments and resistance to change, but the long-term benefits are customer loyalty and a competitive edge.

🏥 Craig Poole, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, leads the DoubleTree in Reading, Pennsylvania. Through "second chance hiring" and community engagement, his hotel thrives financially while serving as a community cornerstone. His approach has brought opportunities and pride to the city, exemplifying how hospitality can transform lives and neighborhoods. The story was featured on Nov. 5, 2024, showcasing how purposeful leadership in hospitality can create significant community impact.

🎓 Jyoti Chopra, MGM Resorts International's Chief People, Inclusion, and Sustainability Officer, appeared in a podcast episode released on Nov. 4, 2024. With a career beginning at the United Nations in New York and transitioning to the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, Chopra now leads MGM's human resources, inclusion, and environmental sustainability initiatives. Her unique journey offers insights into the human side of hospitality and leadership, emphasizing the importance of connecting with diverse individuals.