Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of Rezidor's broader commitment to sustainable development for many years. In 2001, this commitment was fortified and placed within the scope of a programme called Responsible Business (RB). Each hotel has a unique RB Action Plan covering areas such as community outreach, environmental improvement, employee well-being and health and safety. To read more about the RB programme, please go to
www.responsiblebusiness.rezidor.com.
Our hotels are engaged with both local charity groups and Rezidor's corporate international charity organisation, the World Childhood Foundation. The mission of Childhood is to defend the rights of the child and to promote better living conditions for vulnerable and exploited children at risk all over the world.
Here are some of the Responsible Business activities and achievements of this hotel:
Customers
Responsible Business is all about communication and our General Manager drives the efforts we put forward in the programme. A good example is the RB info in the General Managers letter every month. In addition, very soon all the guestrooms will have a folder regarding Responsible Business work & policy. A Responsible Fact Sheet is now in the making to be used in all sales activities. RB will also be promoted in our contracts. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel advocates organic and ecological products, primarily in the breakfast room.
Employees - Increase employee RB awareness
By 2007 we will have an introduction programme to all new staff, as well as a more extensive quarterly RB Training Course. We are developing a RB Activity Calendar, focusing on different social and environmental challenges monthly, to increase employee awareness. A dynamic information board and RB info on the internal information channel are other ways to spread the RB message throughout our organisation.
Community
Every year in September we arrange a "From Children to Children" day were children of employees run the hotel for a day and hosting different events for children from neighbouring schools. We collect money to support the Strømme Foundation, which is a non-governmental organisation. Their vision is a world with no poverty, their mission to eradicate poverty and support people for a better future. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel support charities such as " Nedre Akerselva Vel" and the Network centre MARTE (Red Cross), which is a social network for lonely parents in Oslo wishing to strengthen their social network through positive gatherings with others in the same situation. We also support The Church City Mission, the Norwegian Air Ambulance, the Norwegian Police against drug abuse amongst youth. In addition, we support Carlson Hotels Worldwide, our biggest investor, in their commitment to charity.
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel cooperates with the City of Oslo. In the event of a crisis, our hotel becomes a support centre for relatives and friends in need.
Environment
The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel strives to reduce the negative impact our operations have on the environment by controlling energy and water consumption, as well as waste generation. To help us achieve our environmental goals, the RB Activity Calendar targets different challenges and indicates activities to execute throughout the year.
Our proudest achievement within this area has been to become the first Radisson Blu hotel to receive the Nordic Eco Label - the Swan Label - in 2003. We meet the world's strictest environmental requirements on energy and water conservation, chemicals and waste disposal.
More information about the Swan Label: www.ecolabel.no
For more information about our Responsible Business programme, go to www.rezidor.com