Carlson Hotels promotes responsible business one hotel at a time

During its Global Business Conference (March 3 to 5), Carlson Hotels unveiled its 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy to corporate stakeholders – a commitment that aligns the company with the United Nations Global Compact while establishing significant benchmarks in responsible business practices, including the launch of a new Carlson Hotels Responsible Business Award.

The Compact The Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president of human resources for Carlson Hotels, who leads Carlson’s responsible business initiative. “[The United Nations Global Compact] is the largest sustainability initiative in the world.”

Carlson also plans to roll out a new responsible employee training initiative as well as a program to collect environmental performance data.

Until 2009, Lunde had worked for The Rezidor Group – who had already joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2008 (Carlson currently owns more than 40 percent of Brussels, Belgium-based The Rezidor Group).

According to Lunde, Carlson was increasing its commitment to environmental programs for numerous reasons: compelling evidence of climate change, consumer awareness, reducing costs and increasing competition within the niche.

Mandated responsibility

Beginning in 2010, Carlson employees will be required to undergo 2.5 hours of CSR training. Master trainers will train managers at the hotel level, who will in turn pass the education on to employees.

To give employee a little “push”, the company is establishing a new-for-2011 Responsible Business Award – an incentive that hopes to inspire hoteliers achieve green certification for their properties.

Setting the pace across the board, Carlson plans to share best practices across properties, offer carbon offsetting through its guest loyalty program, and will begin a roll out of an environmental performance data collection process.

Serving the world on multiple fronts

Also during the conference, Carlson recommitted to supporting the World Childhood Foundation and ECPAT International – two organizations whose work betters the life of children and young women across the globe.

The World Childhood Foundation is committed to defending the rights of children and to securing better living conditions for children and young women at risk all over the world, while ECPAT International is a global network of organizations and individuals working together to eliminate child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.