The Responsible Business Program 17


Our Responsible Business program builds on the principle of sustainable development, where all hotels shall strive to take economic, social, ethical and environmental issues into consideration when making decisions in their everyday work.


To us, Responsible Business means taking care of people, community and the environment in the following ways:


PEOPLE: taking responsibility for diversity and inclusion, and the health and safety of employees and customers.


COMMUNiTy: showing leadership in social and ethical responsibility issues within the company as well as in the community.


ENViRONMENT: reducing our negative impact on the environment.


Our long-term success depends on our understanding, and ability to address, the needs of those who affect or are affected by our operations. Therefore, the Responsible Business program is built around select stakeholders – and based upon their expectations of the company from an economic, social and environmental point of view. We abide by our commitments to our stakeholders. It is these relationships we build that inspire us.


identification and Selection. We recognize that we have an impact on a very wide selection of stakeholders, either directly or indirectly. The basis for identifying and selecting our key stakeholders is mainly related to the extent that we influence or impact them: economically, socially and environmentally. We attempt to estimate the interdependence between Carlson Hotels, Americas and these stakeholders, and focus our efforts where we have the potential to make a difference.


Stakeholder Concerns and Engagement. Our stakeholder relations encompass a number of environmental, social and economic issues, such as efficient use of resources, limitation of emissions and waste, children’s rights and wellbeing, workplace and guest health and safety as well as cultural heritage. Many of our stakeholders have differing expectations, and these may sometimes be contradictory. A responsible business must be able to balance these different expectations so that, within reason, all stakeholder groups feel their demands are being met.


The following table lists our stakeholders and main policy objectives in relation to them. It also includes what we believe to be their expectations in relation to Carlson Hotels, Americas.


Stakeholder Policies


Employees. Employees will be educated, encouraged and given opportunities to participate in and make decisions in favor of environmental, ethical and social issues in their work and private lives.


Guests. We will communicate our Responsible Business program to our guests and provide them with the opportunity to benefit from and support our commitment.


Suppliers. We shall strive to purchase products that have a reduced environmental impact during their life cycle, from suppliers that demonstrate environmental and social responsibility.


Community. We will positively contribute to the local communities in which we operate.


Property Owners. We will provide our property owners with educational opportunities, guidance, and a framework by which they can support our commitment to Responsible Business.


Shareholders. We shall provide shareholders and investors with timely, accurate and transparent information on Responsible Business related risks and opportunities.


Government. We shall require all properties to abide by local, state and federal legislation, regarding labor laws, health and safety, human rights and the environment.


Environment. We shall do our utmost to continuously improve our performance in the areas of energy, water, hazardous waste, resource consumption, and waste generation in order to reduce our negative impact on the environment.


Media. We shall provide the media with accurate and timely information regarding our social, ethical and environmental initiatives whenever possible.


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