CSR and Sustainability

🏆 The Charitable Endeavour Awards at the FEA conference on November 20 recognized extraordinary charitable support in the foodservice and hospitality sectors. Unox won the company category, raising £22,000 for the Burnt Chef Project with a 150kg combi oven carried to Ben Nevis. Lockhart Catering Equipment won the team category by cycling from London to Paris in 24 hours, raising £7,725 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. Marc Sumner, who organized the Feast FC football match, won the group category, raising £3,000 for the Milly-Rose Stirrup Foundation. Andy Kershaw won the individual award by raising £14,000 for the Marston’s Charitable Foundation and The Sam Myatt Memorial through a London to Paris bike ride.

🎄 Kimpton Fitzroy London launches 2024 Christmas festivities including a perk-filled package and merry menus. The "Kimpton All The Way" package offers a luxurious welcome with Champagne, a restful night in a prime room, and breakfast. Festive menus feature courses like roasted turkey roulade and slow-cooked beef shin, with dessert options such as Christmas pudding and baked Alaska. The Never Wanted to Leave campaign supports UK’s children charity, Coram, with a reimagined guest book and bauble purchase for £25 aiding the charity. A 16-foot Christmas tree and lavish decorations by Steven Duggan Events enhance the holiday ambiance.

💰 Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced the 2024 "Your Community, Your Choice" grant program recipients in North Bethesda, Maryland, marking the program's fifth anniversary. Since 2019, over 70 hotels in the U.S. have aided local nonprofits through $275,000 in donations. Grants support various causes such as food security, veteran aid, abuse victim aid, education, and animal welfare. Nonprofits are nominated by Choice hotels with community ties to the organizations' missions. Additional Choice Hotels community involvement includes partnerships with the American Red Cross, Operation Homefront, and sustainability initiatives like Room to be Green.

🚿 In the UK, hospitality linen services used 100 tonnes of plastic weekly, with only 9% recycled. The Textile Services Association (TSA), UKHospitality (UKH), and the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA) are working to eliminate single-use plastics in linen processing by 2025. As of 2023, 83% of TSA members have reduced plastics, and 40% offer plastic-free linen delivery. Expected reductions include 12,480 tonnes of carbon emissions and 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Premier Inn has achieved a 50% reduction in plastic use.

🛡️ Eco-friendly lighting and energy-efficient appliances are key to enhancing hotel sustainability. Solar panels offer renewable energy and may provide financial incentives. Sustainable kitchen equipment, like energy-efficient refrigerators with LED lighting, IoT-enabled sensors, and eco-friendly refrigerants such as R-290 and R-600a, reduce energy use and environmental impact. Low-flow faucets and water recycling systems conserve water. Recycled or upcycled furnishings, green cleaning products, and smart room technologies that adjust energy use based on occupancy further support sustainability efforts. These measures can decrease operational costs and attract eco-conscious guests, contributing to long-term success in the hospitality industry.

🏥 Harris Rosen, founder of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, passed away at 85. Vice president Frank Santos announced his death, highlighting Rosen's philanthropy in education, health, and fighting cancer. Rosen was revered by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) for his contributions to the hotel industry and his philanthropic work. His generosity founded the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, recently ranked first nationally for five consecutive years. A private Celebration of Life will be held by the family.

🏦 The Landmark London, a five-star hotel in Marylebone, wins Best Companies Award 2024 for the 10th consecutive year, ranking as the top hotel to work for in the UK. Recognized as third Best Large Company in the UK, second in London, and top three in the Wellbeing category. In 2023, the hotel donated £22,000 to Debra charity. Introduced a four-day work week for chefs with increased pay in early 2022. Launched VIPerks, an employee benefits platform, in April 2024. 90% of staff commend the hotel's strong social conscience, while 97% feel appreciated by their managers.

🏡 Raines announced the groundbreaking of The Shepherd Hotel Columbia Vista for completion in fall 2025, the second in South Carolina. The first Shepherd Hotel opened in Clemson in September 2022. The new hotel will be a 59-key boutique establishment in the historic Columbia Central Fire Station, close to the University of South Carolina. It will employ individuals with intellectual disabilities, partnering with CarolinaLIFE. The project involves Mashburn Construction and Garvin Design Group, with food and beverage by James Beard Nominee Kevin Johnson. Raines, celebrating 35 years in hospitality, expanded its management portfolio by over 20 properties in 2024, acquiring HP Hotels in 2023.

📌 Peachtree Group began construction on a 171-room studio-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Antonio, Texas, set to open in Q2 2026. The project, located near the Riverwalk and the University of Texas at San Antonio, will serve tourists and business travelers. Peachtree has nine hotels open and five under construction in Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs), focusing on economic impact. Merritt Development Group is constructing the hotel, designed with home-like amenities. In October, Peachtree started a 19-story, 264-room dual-branded hotel project in Uptown Dallas, opening in summer 2026.