CSR and Sustainability

🏠 Renaissance Hotels, under Marriott Bonvoy, launches R FINDS on the 10th anniversary of Global Day of Discovery, showcasing 175+ local artisan products. The commission-free digital marketplace connects travelers with local communities and small businesses globally. The platform, curated by on-site Navigators, includes goods from Mexico, India, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Thailand, as well as US retailers. New additions, like a custom honey kit representing Charleston, Chicago, and Hawaii, are set to arrive in early 2025. Global Day of Discovery events took place on November 19 across all Renaissance properties. Visit www.R-Finds.com for more.

🌱 Energy costs represent 3-6% of hotel operating expenses, with energy accounting for 60% of utilities. LED lighting and smart climate control systems reduce both emissions and energy costs. Cornell University found that hotels' room rates increased by $20 after LEED certification. Sustainable hotels focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and sourcing locally. Kora Green City, using its AI Booking Assistant, showcases renewable energy use and communicates personalized environmental impact data to guests, enhancing their stay. HiJiffy's platform highlights hotels' eco-commitments, using tools like the AI Booking Assistant for reservations and the AI Virtual Concierge for guest interactions during their stay. Eco-friendly practices attract guests and contribute to the well-being of the planet and local communities.

🛏 Marriott International to lay off 833 employees at its Bethesda, Maryland headquarters by January 3, 2025. After filing a WARN notice, the hotel chain aims to improve enterprise-wide effectiveness through a strategic business review. Affected areas include corporate and regional offices, with the restructure largely complete by the first quarter of 2025. Despite layoffs, Marriott plans to create several hundred new positions, hoping many current employees will transition to these roles.

🛣 Reality SF church, led by Danielle Stowaway, provides weekly warm meals to over 300 families and creates safe spaces for the unhoused in San Francisco. On Nov. 17, 2024, an episode of San Francisco Sundays featured Stowaway's transition from art and fashion to community service, and her church's unconventional approach to hospitality. The program emphasizes collaboration and support for neighbors in need.