Page 265 - The New Gold Standard

Sustainability and Stewardship
Meaningful Meetings, the sales staff at Ritz-Carlton has heard
from meeting planners who have identified the concept as being
the deciding factor in booking an event at their respective prop-
erties.
In order to walk the social responsibility talk, leadership
conducts meetings throughout Ritz-Carlton that involve social
activities. Every corporate meeting has a Community Footprints
element; past projects have included creating playgrounds, con-
structing landscaping, painting murals at a Boys and Girls Club,
and engaging in a restoration project on Ellis Island.

STRIKING GOLD

D How far is your company willing to go in support of corpo-
rate volunteerism and social involvement? Will you reach
the point of organizing and scheduling volunteer activities
or actually pay staff to participate in community-enriching
events?

D What return value does your staff receive from their social
responsibility efforts?
D How can you invite your company’s stakeholders (cus-
tomers, vendors, strategic partners) to participate in volun-
teer activities with your staff?

C It’s Not Always That Easy D

While Ritz-Carlton has seen growing success in integrating vol-
unteerism and community giving programs, it has also faced
considerable challenges when integrating environmental consid-
erations into the guest experience. It is not unusual, for exam-
ple, for a guest room to be staged before the guest arrives. This
may involve having the room lit appropriately and even having a
guest’s preferred music playing. Luxury-seeking guests might not

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