Those who think of sustainability only regarding photovoltaic systems and bees on the roof are too short-sighted. Even when it comes to environmental protection, but that’s not what this is about today. Instead, this newsletter is dedicated to the important and often forgotten social dimension of sustainability.
Social Sustainability has Internal and External Impacts
The social dimension of sustainability is complex and cannot be dealt with by a Christmas donation. It encompasses both external and internal impacts. This means that in addition to charity, local community support, and responsibility, social sustainability must also include the company’s employees, and the way the team works together.
Specifically, the social aspects of the tourism industry are as follows:
Fair pay
Permanent contracts
Training and development opportunities
Health insurance/health protection
Child Protection
Integration
Inclusion
Promotion of local crafts
Promotion of local arts and culture
Selected Social Commitments of Green Pearls® Partners
All Green Pearls® partners must meet certain requirements. These include not only ecological but also social aspects. Fair treatment of employees is the minimum. However, most of them go above and beyond and do much more for their team, their region, and the world.
SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb
«We are partners with Global Family, enabling families who have been victims of poverty, disease, violence, or war to go on vacation. [We] provide moments of happiness and lasting memories. It’s a source of encouragement and reassurance in the face of difficult life circumstances.»
In addition, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA offers an extensive benefits program for its employees. These include massages, an annual fasting course, excursions, festivities, and discounts for family and friends at the hotel. The sustainable wellness and health hotel is engaged in the local community through contracting with local artisans, supporting regional recreational facilities, attractions and businesses, and other sponsorships and initiatives.
Social Sustainability has Internal and External Impacts
The social dimension of sustainability is complex and cannot be dealt with by a Christmas donation. It encompasses both external and internal impacts. This means that in addition to charity, local community support, and responsibility, social sustainability must also include the company’s employees, and the way the team works together.
Specifically, the social aspects of the tourism industry are as follows:
Fair pay
Permanent contracts
Training and development opportunities
Health insurance/health protection
Child Protection
Integration
Inclusion
Promotion of local crafts
Promotion of local arts and culture
Selected Social Commitments of Green Pearls® Partners
All Green Pearls® partners must meet certain requirements. These include not only ecological but also social aspects. Fair treatment of employees is the minimum. However, most of them go above and beyond and do much more for their team, their region, and the world.
SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb
«We are partners with Global Family, enabling families who have been victims of poverty, disease, violence, or war to go on vacation. [We] provide moments of happiness and lasting memories. It’s a source of encouragement and reassurance in the face of difficult life circumstances.»
In addition, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA offers an extensive benefits program for its employees. These include massages, an annual fasting course, excursions, festivities, and discounts for family and friends at the hotel. The sustainable wellness and health hotel is engaged in the local community through contracting with local artisans, supporting regional recreational facilities, attractions and businesses, and other sponsorships and initiatives.
Hotel Weihrerhof on the Renon in South Tyrol
The Pichler family in South Tyrol agrees. “The project that is closest to our hearts is the cooperation with Peter Pan (a children’s cancer charity in South Tyrol). Every year, five families with children suffering from cancer can spend a vacation with us free of charge.”
In addition to this heart and soul project, the owner, Klaus Pichler, is very committed to the Ritten and supports the region wherever possible. The hotel shop is always full of new products from young South Tyrolean companies and start-ups. Social responsibility, however, is not only external. The Weihrerhof team is actively involved in the development of the hotel, and further training is a matter of course (and in some cases a fixed part of the annual program).
Hotel Das Rübezahl in Schwangau near Füssen
At Hotel Das Rübezahl, the Christmas season is under a special star, especially for the trainees. As in the previous year, there will be a “Heart Campaign”. The trainees of the hotel organize, equip, and take care of their own booth at the culinary Christmas market in Schwangau. The net proceeds will be donated to social institutions in the region.
As part of the Christmas campaign, the trainees will also wrap the homemade delicacies into packages for local seniors. “Many residents are already familiar with this campaign from the past two years and are very happy about this generous gesture,” wrote the Thurm family in their report on last year’s campaign.
CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt
At the CERVO Mountain Resort beneath the Matterhorn, awareness of one’s privileges is part of the DNA. For instance, the fact that drinking water of mineral quality comes out of the tap is not taken for granted. CERVO supports the Water is Right Foundation (along with numerous regional associations and clubs). The luxury wellness hotel is also a founding member of Responsible Hotels of Switzerland, an association of sustainable pioneers in Switzerland.
HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in the Allgäu
The forests in the Allgäu need to be rejuvenated if they are to continue performing their important protective function against desertification and avalanches. This topic has been taken up by the “Mountain Forest Offensive”. The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang supports it. In 2019, the wellness hotel experienced for itself the violence behind an almost uncontrolled avalanche. Such an avalanche destroyed the wellness area – fortunately, no one was injured.
Naturhotel Outside in Osttirol
«We mainly support our local organizations with prizes etc. In the past, we had a gourmet evening where part of the proceeds went to the SOS Children’s Village in East Tyrol.»
The Naturhotel Outside is also committed to the region, hiring only local artisans, and encouraging guests to visit local huts for a snack on the mountain.
Casa León Royal Retreat in Gran Canaria
The boutique hotel Casa León on Gran Canaria donates bedding, sheets, and towels that are in good condition but no longer used in the hotel to loacal shelters and organizations.
The hotel also hosts regular music events and exhibitions by local artists. Guests can not only enjoy authentic Canary culture, but also buy paintings, music, or art objects directly from them.
Keemala in Phuket, Thailand
“The successful Sustainable LIFE Cycle concept is based on strong and lasting relationships with local communities, like-minded partners, and valued guests”, the Keemala team proudly reports.
The Thai luxury resort in Phuket supports a number of projects in the region, including care for children and the elderly, the Baan Bangtao fishing community (which provides fish and seafood for the kitchen), and the Kamala Green Club, which organizes environmental campaigns for local businesses. In addition, leftover food is redistributed through Scholars for Sustenance to support poorer communities.
A‘ Cràpa Mangia in Southern Italy
Located in the heart of the Cilento National Park, the historic A’ Cràpa Mangia estate is staffed primarily by local residents of the small town of Castellabate. In addition, the property works with local suppliers for events and weddings and is happy to recommend local suppliers to guests.
Hotel Luise in Erlangen
Social sustainability can also take the form of a food vending machine. That is if such a machine fills a gap in the local supply. This is exactly what the “Margalädla – Schlemmerschuppen” at the Hotel Luise in Erlangen, Germany, does. The vending machine contains regional foods and delicacies that are far from fast food. A small selection of staples and convenience foods is available around the clock.
“The vending machine is an added value, especially for the seniors from the neighboring retirement home because they no longer have to travel long distances to get a snack,” the hotel team proudly reports. And the food is not wasted. If something is about to expire, it’s simply processed in the hotel kitchen.
Eco Aparthotel The Dreamer’s Club on Korčula in Croatia
The Eco Aparthotel The Dreamer’s Club considers itself to have a clear responsibility – not only to be an ecological pioneer but also to be socially engaged. As an employer, and customer, but also as a source of inspiration for its guests and other businesses. The team motivates guests to bring home local products as souvenirs. It initiates beach clean-ups and launches initiatives to support schools, neighborhoods, and facilities for disabled children, both financially and with tangible goods.
«We believe that tourism can be a positive force for local communities and are committed to the economy, environment, and people of our island.»
STURM in the German Rhön
“At STURM, social sustainability begins in the heart, with the employees, and extends beyond the hotel to regional partners,” is how the hotel in the Rhön summarizes its social commitment. Appreciation and cooperation are key, both within the hotel team and with farmers, artists, and service providers from the region. For example, the STURM is a member of Fair Job Hotel.
For owners Christa and Matthias Schulze-Dieckhoff, social sustainability also means treating what previous generations have created with respect. That’s why the atypical hotel tower built by Christa’s parents in the 1970s is still standing today. There was never any question of demolishing or rebuilding it, not only an ecologically and economically sound decision but also a socially respectful one.
