CSR and Sustainability

💥 In response to the California wildfires, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) launched the Hope & Haven: California Wildfire Recovery Initiative. This campaign, powered by the AAHOA Charitable Foundation (ACF), aims to provide relief through room-night donations, fundraising, and community engagement. AAHOA members and hoteliers are offering shelter to displaced families. Efforts are coordinated with government agencies to effectively mobilize resources. The initiative reflects AAHOA and ACF's commitment to make a meaningful difference in the affected communities.

🔥 Wildfires in Los Angeles' Palisades and Eaton areas since Tuesday morning have burned over 27 square miles, claimed at least five lives, caused hundreds of thousands to evacuate, and destroyed several eateries, including Reel Inn, Cholada Thai Cuisine, Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio, and a McDonald’s. Reel Inn, operating for 36 years, launched a GoFundMe for staff. Other closed restaurants listed on Eater include Rancho Bar, Side Pie, and Fox’s. The blaze is now LA’s deadliest fire, with expectations of a rising death toll.

🚿 Housekeeping departments contribute to hotel sustainability by: turning off lights, using card key switches; resetting HVAC to standby in unoccupied rooms; using drapes to regulate temperature; controlling water flow with low-flow fixtures and annual maintenance. Linen reuse programs, intermittent cleaning services, and reduced plastic with refillable bottles are also implemented. These practices aim to save on water, sewage, labor, and reduce waste, with the need to inform guests of such policies.

🌍 Sustainable events prioritize their impact on the economy, society, and environment, involving digital alternatives to paper, encouraging eco-friendly transportation, using data analytics for improvement, partnering with green tech vendors, and fostering a culture of sustainability. Event professionals are transitioning to digital floorplans and immersive walkthroughs, reducing travel emissions with digital twins, and promoting public transit, carpooling, or electric vehicles. Analytics help track and refine energy and waste reduction strategies, while collaboration with eco-focused vendors and a sustainability-centric culture attract talent and guests.

🎓 Spanish-American chef José Andrés received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Jan. 4 for his humanitarian work with World Central Kitchen (WCK), presented by President Joe Biden at the White House. Andrés founded WCK after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the organization has since served over 450 million meals globally to communities impacted by disasters. WCK operates in locations such as Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Spain, Mayotte, and North Carolina. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrés converted his restaurants and the Nationals Park stadium into soup kitchens. In 2022, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

🍴 The Food Made Good Standard, designed for foodservice businesses, focuses on sustainability across three pillars: Sourcing, Society, and Environment. It addresses the foodservice industry's environmental impact, which includes significant food waste, water use, and carbon emissions. The standard also considers social implications due to the industry's extensive employment reach. As of now, 22 UK universities have achieved this certification, with expectations to expand in 2025.

🌎 Amid worsening climate and biodiversity crises, with growing customer concern and stricter global environmental legislation, businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of codifying sustainability in governance and policies, encompassing both environmental and social impacts.

🌱 Responsible sourcing in hospitality requires focusing on the ethical and minimal impact sources, starting at the supply chain's beginning. Third-party certifications like Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, MSC blue tick, and organic certification help manage reputational and financial risks, especially with high-risk ingredients such as avocados, chillies, citrus, cocoa, coffee, nuts, palm oil, seafood, or soy. Certifications, while imperfect due to costs and admin barriers for small farmers, are still crucial for maintaining transparency, ensuring fair treatment of workers, avoiding greenwashing, and meeting customer demands for transparency.

🍷 Sustainable wine practices prioritize fair labor and social responsibility, with a focus on community well-being. Ania favors honest, passionate, often family-run vineyards over large corporations. Flat Earth Pizzas echoes this sentiment, valuing integrity, environmental respect, and minimal intervention, alongside supporting women winemakers. Candover Brook is highlighted for its community involvement, employing up to 60 people seasonally, aiming for increased local engagement. Smaller brands are associated with higher quality due to fewer stabilizers and additives compared to large-scale producers.

🍴 From 3rd to 9th March 2025, the UK charity Prept hosts the Prept. Showcase, which features seven culinary collaborations between top chefs and restaurants to fund food education for children. Events are scheduled at various UK restaurants, like 64 Degrees and etch., with prices ranging from £120 to £275 and £10pp donated to Prept. Optional wine pairings cost up to £90. Sponsors include Bragard, HexClad, and Ridgeview. Book at https://prept.foundation/showcase-2025/.