Responsible Business Action Month 2013 was a resounding success, with a participation rate of 100 percent in Asia Pacific. A total of 87 communities in 10 countries benefitted from a wide range of
Responsible Business activities, which involved more than 7,500 employees. They reached out to more than 10,000 underprivileged community members, including 8,800 children who are without a home, without families or suffering from mental illness.
A phenomenal $101,000 was also raised for charity. Of that amount, $32,000 came from Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney’s annual gala dinner in support of the World Childhood Foundation. In India, Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi raised more than $21,000 for the Nai Disha Learning Centre for underprivileged children and the CanKids KidsCan Charity, which focuses on childhood cancers. In addition, the hotel also contributed $6,400 worth of donations-in-kind to these charities.
In total, donations-in-kind from across the region exceeded $172,000. These included room nights, basic necessities and employee time. Not only that, more than 3,500 trees and saplings were planted in Asia Pacific. Staff and guests also donated more than 1,400 units of blood, and clean-up efforts resulted in 2.8 tons of trash being collected.
“This year’s unprecedented level of participation has set an inspiring benchmark and I would like to thank all employees for their contributions to making Carlson Rezidor a Responsible Business that is trusted and respected in the communities it operates in," said Simon Barlow, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. "Across the region, our employees demonstrated their commitment and went about giving back to their communities with a passion that gives us great confidence that next year’s Responsible Business Action Month will be even more impactful.”
Many hotels made their mark this year and one in particular stands out—Radisson Blu Hotel Pune Kharadi is the winner of Responsible Business Action Month 2013. More than 200 employees, together with 1,300 community members, participated in the hotel’s numerous community projects (see photo top right), which included an auction of Lost & Found items that raised more than $11,000, a blood donation drive and tree-planting. Hotel employees also carried out improvement works at an orphanage, donated school supplies and organized health checks. The hotel also assisted four children from rural India by supporting their education and providing much-needed immunization medicines. Said Monalisa Singh, human resource manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Pune Kharadi, “Tell me, and I shall forget. Show me, and I shall maybe remember. Make me part of the action and I shall understand. Responsible Business Action Month gives our hotel an official platform to be part of the action and to bring about positive change. It helps us focus our actions to help our people, our community and our environment, and in the process, become a better corporate citizen.”
In support of the Children at Risk Initiative, Park Plaza Sukhumvit made a sustainable difference to three schools in Lopburi province, located 124 miles from Bangkok (see photo center right). The hotel sold 800 folding bags, raising $4,000, which covered the cost of a fun day of activities for the children, as well as three water filters for the schools, giving them access to clean water for the first time. The hotel also contributed more than $6,000 worth of donations-in-kind, including 450 toiletry kits.
Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island raised more than $5,000 for charity and contributed more than $30,000 worth of donations-in-kind to various schools programs. The items donated included computers (see photo bottom right), commercial kitchen utensils and chairs. The hotel also helped establish a library with donated books and footed the bill for Internet subscriptions and plumbing rectification works at the schools. Their contributions will impact the education of more than 2,900 children, and many more in the future. The hotel also provided the schools’ staff with health checks, eye checks and reading glasses where necessary. With a focus on health, hotel staff also conducted Zumba lessons every morning and sports activities in the afternoon.