CSR and Sustainability

🏨 ATPI Group, a global travel and events management company, partners with Saudi Arabia's Arjaa Travel to expand in the Middle East. Headquartered in Al Khobar, Arjaa Travel is part of Almajdouie Group from Damman. The partnership promises improved travel solutions, integrating services for strategic planning and analytics. This collaboration anticipates growth aligned with major events like the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and FIFA World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia.

🔥 In Bethesda, Maryland, Choice Hotels International Inc. announced a match campaign up to $25,000 for Choice Privileges members’ Red Cross donations for 2025 California wildfire relief. Previously, over $160,000 was raised by Choice Hotel affiliates in November 2024 for Southeast communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

💥 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.