Riu Hotels and Resorts
Sustainable Solutions
Mission Statement
Sustainable solutions is committed to
working with hotels & resorts to provide
insights to ensure that the environment is
preserved, culture is maintained,
employee’s needs are met and sustainable
development takes place.
How
Organize
Plan
Act
Implement
Continually Assess
Innovate
Overview of Industry
• There is a lot of room for improvement in
tourism sector when it comes to meeting the
regulations, operations, human resources
and environmental compliance.
• Best practices of sustainability will be
implemented into the Riu Hotels: Green
Globe 21, Fairmont Hotels as a model and
various case studies.
Green Globe 21
• SECTION 1. Environmental and Social
Sustainability Policy
• SECTION 2. Legislative Framework
• SECTION 3. Environmental and Social
Sustainability Performance
• SECTION 4. Environmental Management System
• SECTION 5. Consultation and Communication
Human Resources:
“We have a strong focus in
fostering creative training and
work for our employees through
research of the best practices of
the industry and adopting
sustainable practices to
encompass all stakeholders in our
decision making process”
• Implement training and programs that
consider the local community and
environment
• Environmental education and ecological
training for staff
• Excursions into the local community
• Hiring members of the host community
Green Globe 21
• provides framework to benchmark social
performance
• measures and monitors performance to achieve
ccertification
• performances based on sustainable social activity
and social outcomes for tourism operations.
• communicates their goals to employees, customers
and suppliers of products and services to the
organization
• (Green Globe Limited, 2003).
Fairmont as model
“To offer our guests the best in hospitality and service, we
first need to offer our employees the best. At Fairmont
Hotels & Resorts, you'll find outstanding opportunities,
training, career development, recognition and
rewards.”(Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, 2006).
• incentive programs and rewards
• room for growth and adopting several other means to
contribute to increased employee morale and in turn
productivity.
• Found that the number one reason employees stay at the
Fairmont Hotels and resorts was because they were proud
to be associated with them (Fairmont Hotels and Resorts,
2006).
Culture & Green Team Incentive
Program
• Eco-initiatives
• Addresses challenges in waste and water
management, energy conservation and
purchasing.
• Used the Fairmont as a model
Shift to sustainability
• enhance the services, value, satisfaction level and financial
result of the Riu Hotels and Resorts.
• continue to use efficient training program that already
exist.
• maintain staff loyalty by continually working as a team
• Incentive programs
• promotions and room for growth within the company
– guest involvement
– increase employee morale and productivity
– consider the local community, guests and other stakeholders in
helping to sustain the community and environment.
Marketing
• Marketing Process - ‘analysis, planning,
implementation, and control’ of marketing
• Analysing- Society becoming more
environmentally friendly.
• New environmental practices leads to larger
market share.
• Product differentiation
• Partnerships: Environmental agencies (ex.
Eco-club)
• Promotion through internet sites: Expedia
and Google
• Television ads
• Promotions for environmental programs
within the hotel
• Promoting environmental programs on the
website
• Pamphlets inside each of the rooms
• Green Globe 21
• Eco-tax of $3
Operations
• Energy Management
• Waste Management
• Water Management
Finance
“Short term loss, for a long term
gain”
Costs
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low flush toilets
water savers on taps/showers
organic soaps/ biodegradable soaps
Initial staff training
energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs
High-efficiency air-conditioners.
sub meters to aid in detection and repair of water leaks,
low-pressure sprinkler systems, and trigger nozzles on
water hoses.
• Green Globe 21 Certification
Benefits (cost reductions)
• Example: Stats from EAST (a consulting company) when
they implemented some of the things were planning to do
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Energy use was reduced by 12% per guest night.
Reduced 1,665,000 kWh of electricity
Used 160,000 L less liquid propane gas
Reduced water consumption by 50,000,000 gal.
Reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 2,140 tons
per year.
• estimated annual savings of US$333,000.
Other areas we plan to see benefits from:
• reduced staff turnover (training less often)
• environmental benefits
• local community benefits (destination
remains sustained)
• Consumer benefits (tourist destination
remains sustained, and nice to come back to
in years to come)
Where to get the money from?
- Eco-tax (take a per cent of the eco tax and put it
towards becoming Green Globe certified, water
saving taps, low flush toilets, etc.)
- Partnerships
- Local government (this is beneficial to the
destination as well, it saves their environment)
Law
• Green Globe 21 goes beyond meeting
compliance and effectively sustains their
resources
• equal standards to each country based on
the best practices of regulation that exist
within certain countries.
Section 2: The Legislative
Framework
• The organisation shall:
• 2.1 Maintain current and document relevant
environmental, public and occupational health
and safety, hygiene and employment
legislation, and other requirements to which
the organisation is obliged to adhere.
• 2.2 Commit to compliance with the relevant
legislation and other requirements to which it
is obliged to adhere.
• 2.3 Comply with any special guide developed by
Green Globe
Sustainable Regulations
• workers protection and entitlements
• incentives to employees to help in
regulatory movements
• assessment published on website so that it is
easily accessible to the public and other
businesses.
Ethics
• Understanding and promotion of ethical
values is the foundation of responsible
tourism
• Green Globe and Ethics
• Implement a new program to allow guests
to further educate themselves on the cultural
and practices and traditions of the area
Information & Communication
• Riu PartnerClub
• Green Globe & Information, Communication
• Establish an online partnership with
environmental agencies
• Ex. Reef Relief
• Section on website to offer customers how they
can travel ‘Green’
• Based on section from Fairmont Hotels website
Time Line – Year One Goals
• To have 10% of the Riu hotels & resorts become
Green Globe affiliates
• Put recycling bins in all hotel rooms
• Recycling bins and compost bins in kitchen
• Planning of Green Team
• Implement a $3 eco-tax
• Shampoo dispensers
• Change light bulbs to energy-efficient compact
fluorescent bulbs
Year Two Goals
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To have 20% more become Green Globe affiliates
Implement water savers on taps and showers
Form partnerships with environmental agencies
Human Resources training programs
Use recycled note paper and paper towels
Implementing of Green Teams
Year Three Goals
• To use organic biodegradable chemicals
• Low flush toilets
• Replace air conditioners for new high
efficiency ones
• Low pressure sprinkler systems
• To have 25% more hotels & resorts become
Green Globe affiliates
“Sustainable solutions, bringing sustainability
to a hotel near you.”