Marriott Hotel International Corporate Responsibilities - Article Example

Marriott Hotel International Corporate Responsibilities Introduction Marriot International is an American hospitality company that was founded by Willard Marriot in the year 1927. It is among the world’s biggest corporations, and it operates in 73 nations across the globe. The company’s corporate responsibilities are based on the set core values; the company offers the customers the first priority, embraces change and acts with integrity. It focuses on innovation activities and monitors the way the corporation performs the business. The company employs unique business models that instill a passion of what the company is, thus opening the door for varied opportunities for franchisers, associates and stakeholders. Marriot Hotel also supports the society in terms of financial contributions and offers volunteer services to its associates. The company trains employees in hospitality and supports society in terms of shelter, food and health of children. Marriott International carries out its business in a suitable manner; thus, the company has an environmental vision of demonstrating its responsibility in the hospitality management. Marriott focuses on business strategy of reducing consumption of energy, greening the supply chain and constructing greener hospitality hotels, engaging its guests and associates in promoting environmental sustainability as well as participating in innovative conservation programs. Strategies for Environmental Conservation Marriott International has for many years valued its customers, offering them the first priority, because the company’s corporate responsibility is to serve people, associates, society and the environment. The company has a strong commitment that upholds legal and ethical principles. This is essential because they enable the company to create a positive environmental impact and promote social welfare of the society in which it conducts its business. The company employs varied strategies for environmental conservation and focuses on the major elements of environmental responsibilities with the aim of conserving the environment. One of the strategies for environmental conservation is reducing water and energy consumption in the company. The company aims to reduce the consumption of water and energy resources by about 20% by the year 2020 (Marriot International 7). The company not only complies with the ethical standards of conserving the environment but also strives to operate its hotels with optimal energy and water efficiency. Ethical standards are essential because they reveal the way the company is committed to creating a better and sustainable environment. It addresses the issue of energy challenges such as a reduction of greenhouse emission to the environment. This is because the company is aware of the possible impact on the ecosystem due to the emission of greenhouse gas. The company contributes to the climate regulation agreements as a critical initiative for achieving suitable development in the present and the future. Marriott continues to address the issues of climatic change, employing a business strategy to achieve environmental sustainability. This enables the company to adhere to internal laws and practices of suitability. Secondly, the company focuses on greening the supply chain and constructing greener hospitality hotels. The company seeks to empower its hotel business development partners to construct greener hotels. This is one of the strategic goals for conserving the environment because the greener strategy is essential in promoting sustainable environment. The global green council of the company sets for the company the goals and policies and continues to review how they are being achieved and adhered to. This is crucial because reviewing and monitoring of the company’s activities will enable it to make changes where necessary through determining the areas that require immediate attention. Moreover, the greener strategy is one of the eco-friendly ways through which Marriott International strives to conserve the environment. The company practices greener communications and participates in environmental protection programs. This is vital because it will enable the company to operate its business and achieve green solutions for improving the environment. Implementation of greener strategy enables the company to respond actively to climatic change. This is through implementation of energy, waste and water conservation measures. Marriott takes into consideration the environmental protection policy; thus, it evaluates the consequences arising from the company’s energy and water consumption. Marriott has waste management methods and it follows effective procedures for waste management. Therefore, its commitment is to ensure that it constructs greener hotels, thus minimizing environmental impacts. Thirdly, the company can educate its associates and customers about the significance of environmental preservation and conservation. Environmental education is one of the key aspects of promoting sustainable development in the environment and society. Therefore, Marriott engages its associates and guests in the environmental education program in order to create awareness about the significance of conserving the environment. The company offers training programs to both guests and associates that aim at environmental protection. For instance, the training of the company associates is estimated as lasting 78 hours and professional development takes 34 hours each year (Marriott International 12). The company encourages its associates to participate in training programs in order to gain experience of environmental conservation. This is because the company desires to ensure that its associates understand the strategy of hospitality business and the need for environmental conservation. Therefore, about 3,000 managers of Marriott began the Marriott training programs that aim at conserving the environment and promoting sustainability. The company addresses the environmental issues through offering innovative conservation programs such as conserving water and rainforest. Marriott strives to become the leader in the global hospitality; thus, the company demonstrates the way it will become responsible in hotel management. Marriott International addresses the environmental problems that may impact the company and the places where it operates. This is through implementing innovative conservation programs that will enable it to achieve sustainability. Apart from innovative conservation programs, the company has a policy that complies with the required innovate conservation programs. It has an environmental policy that enables it to create a positive change in its portfolio, thus creating economic opportunities across the globe. For instance, the company inspires various local communities to take actions to promote environmental conservation. The company continues to advocate environmental regulations that reward water conservation and rainforest preservation projects. The company has a responsibility of alleviating the impact of the business activities on the atmosphere as the international travel increases. The policy of the company is to comply with the other applicable government, regional, state and local environmental regulations. Additionally, the aim of addressing the environmental issues, especially the issue of rainforests, is because of the consequences of climate change. The climatic change results in the emission of greenhouse and carbon monoxide, thus endangering biodiversity and ecosystems. Marriott Hotel International is aware of the global warming impacts. The company seeks to take the role of environmental conservation to avoid environmental impacts on its business. Therefore, the company expanded its portfolio of green hotels through the establishment of LEE certification for its business properties. This is significant because it will enable the company to achieve the stated goals effectively, thus operating in an eco-friendly environment. Hotel Partnerships The company has collaborated with its vendors in order to conserve the environment. It partners with its vendors through introducing neutral priced services that preserve resources. The company works together with its vendors in recycling of waste products and encourages its associates to utilize resources that are environmentally friendly. These include the use of showerheads, which use about 2.5 gallons of water, saver energy bulbs, and key cards, which are manufactured out of recycled materials. This is essential because it will reduce the environmental and economic costs in the company. Marriott partners with varied non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other public organizations. Some of them aim to conserve the environment while others aim at improving the health or wellbeing of the society. One of the non-governmental organizations is the FAS (Fundacao Amazonas Sustainable Foundation), which is a private-held organization for promoting sustainable development. This NGO aims to achieve sustainability by protecting the Amazonas environment in Brazil. FAS collaborates with Marriott International in order to conserve the Juma tropical forest. This is through raising funds and providing education programs on the importance of preserving rainforests. They reveal the negative consequences and educate the public on the issues of global warming that could contribute to climatic change if sustainability is not taken into consideration. Audubon International (AI) is another association partnering with Marriott International. AI is a non-profit organization that was founded in the year 1996. The company dedicated itself to promoting sustainable development through offering environmental education programs to the public. This company partners with Marriott in educating the public throughout United Kingdom and the US. These companies help the communities to become responsive of the significance of managing natural resources in their environment. The Audubon International is aware that people across the globe are confronted with environmental and social economic issues; thus, the organization helps people to improve their social wellbeing and environment. Both companies are ready to work with any interested stakeholders across the globe in order to conserve and manage natural resources. Encouraging interested stakeholders will enable both companies to increase the capacity vital for creating significant change for addressing environmental issues. Conservation International (CI) is another company that Marriott partners with in conserving the environment. Marriott works together with CI Company in establishing a strong foundation for empowering communities to nurture the environmental resources. They empower varied communities in conserving biodiversity and empower the society in improving the welfare of people in the society. CI works together with Marriott in calculating their global carbon footprint to implement an environmental strategy that will guide them towards achieving the environmental mission. Marriott partners with CMN (Children’ Miracle Network) and this is an organization that strives to improve the lives of impoverished children in the societies. This is through raising funds, providing hunger relief, and helping the young to promote environmental conservation. Marriott and CMN encourage stakeholders and interested groups of people to join them for raising funds and helping the needy children in the society. Charity/ Volunteering Work The company has moved beyond its hotels through helping people and other hotels conserve the environment. The company is committed to sustaining the society and environment beyond the areas where it operates. This is through supporting its innovative programs such as water, energy and rainforests conservation projects. For instance, the company set aside 2 million dollars in order to help the Brazilian rainforests, which were under threat (Marriott International 6). Marriott Hotel volunteered during the Juma Sustainable Development Reserve Programs that aimed at conserving the endangered Brazilian rainforest. Marriot had a spirit of preserving Juma rainforests and offsetting the carbon generated from the hotel in order to reduce global impacts on the environment. Therefore, the company volunteered to reduce water and energy consumption by about 25 percent by the year 2018 (Marriot International 15). This is through implementing varied measures such as solar power installation programs in more than 40 hotels by the end of 2017. The company volunteered to expand the recycling plants, and about 90% of its hotels already have recycling plants. The company volunteered to support children through providing them with food and supporting them in improving their health status. Marriott International recognizes the significance of wellbeing in a society. This enables the company to commit itself to improving the social welfare of the society. The company contributes financially to any volunteer services across the globe, thus improving the health status of people. The company helps the sick and impoverished children in families which live where Marriot operates. Most of the children are susceptible to poverty effects such as abandonment, mistreatment and all sorts of crimes in most societies where Marriott Hotel International operates (Marriott International 4). Therefore, the company’s associates dedicate their time to improve the lives of the young and help them promote sustainable development in the areas where they live. For instance, the company started partnering with non-governmental organizations that aim to improve the wellbeing and health of children in the society. Since 1983, Marriott and CMN organization have raised over 71 million dollars for helping the sick and impoverished children in many societies (Marriott International 4). The company provides hunger relief and offers shelter to the needy and directs the volunteers in participating in conserving the environment in many societies. Marriott educates its guests on the local community needs, thus engaging them in their mission of helping the society and conserving the environment. Moreover, the company encourages its franchised and managed properties to partner or engage in programs that will strengthen societies where they operate. The company carries out events one of which is known as the spirit to serve the community. This event enables the company to address the needs of the communities and allow them to work together with the company to promote sustainable development. The other event is the spirit to preserve, during which Marriott International awards communities and encourages them to preserve natural resources. This is essential because it will enable it to utilize resources effectively in the present without compromising the future needs. Hotel Accomplishments in Sustaining Society and Environment Marriott has accomplished many things that aim at societal and environmental sustainability. For instance, the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) identifies Marriott as a corporate leader of social responsibility. This is because the company performs its roles while taking into consideration the significance of Corporate Social Responsibility. This model is essential because it enables the company to carry out its business effectively. The company received a stamp of approval from the USPS (United States Postal Service) for achieving sustainable business. The USPS honors the Marriot for excellent green supply chain performance and the delivery of effective innovative services aimed at achieving sustainability. Hence, these certifications reveal how Marriott International has fulfilled its corporate responsibilities of conserving the environment. Moreover, the company was recognized in China as having the top employees and as a company with outstanding performance. This is because of its corporate culture and varied activities it has performed to support many communities where the company operates. Lastly, the Sunday Times of UK has recognized Marriott International as the best company for accomplishing many projects that aim at promoting sustainability. This is because it is one of the companies that have made the efforts of conserving the environment and society through partnering with other organizations in promoting sustainable development. Conclusion Marriott International focuses on business strategy of reducing consumption of energy, greening the supply chain and constructing greener hospitality hotels, engaging its guests and associates in promoting environmental sustainability and participating in innovative conservation programs. The company’s business values and ethical behavior offer it a framework for effective business performance. This is essential because it contributes to economic opportunities across the globe. The company has partnered with its vendors in order to conserve the environment. Marriott International has also partnered with varied non-governmental organizations for creating awareness and supporting children in the society where it operates. The company provides hunger relief and offers shelter to the needy and directs the volunteers in participating in conserving the environment in many societies. The company has moved beyond its hotels through volunteering to assist people and other hotels in conserving the environment. The company has volunteered to support children through providing them food, shelter and improving their health status. Lastly, Marriott International has accomplished many things that aim at societal and environmental sustainability. Due to this, the company has received many awards from varied institutions that recognize the significance of sustainability in the society and environment. Works Cited Marriott International. “Social Responsibility and Community Engagement. Sustainability Report”. PDF File. Read More