Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Rice

The hospitality industry has long been aware of the reality of climate change in the modern world and to the industry’s direct and indirect contributions to the emerging and detrimental threats of this ecological As a result it is now standard prPolicy in place for the design, build and operation of their property working towards reducing their carbon footprint by common practises such as waste disposal, electrical and water useage and the use of toxic and non bio-degradable products. As this trend to mitigate moves the depth at which it should be The key is not to just to consider the environment but also to the people of thand customers of the resort). Luxury hotels and resorts are often situated ibut fragile environments with populations of inhabitants that contribute to the natural beauty of the land support. In the case of Rice, the wonderful rice paddy terraces it is home to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)A company’s (Rice) obligation to be accountable to its stakeholders (local community, employees, customers and service providers) in all its operations and activities with the aim of achieving sustainable developalso in the socio-cultural and environmental dimension So forms the basis for the Triple Bottom Line measuring tool. PROFIT * PLACE (environment) * PEOPLE (community) Commonly a company always lookHow much money it invests, the bottom line profit.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Rice

The hospitality industry has long been aware of the reality of climate change in the modern world and to the industry’s direct and indirect contributions to the emerging

of this ecological dilemma.

standard practise for hotels and resorts to have an EPolicy in place for the design, build and operation of their property and to be actively working towards reducing their carbon footprint by mitigating the negative impacts of

waste disposal, electrical and water useage and the use of degradable products.

to mitigate moves in a positive direction the complexity of the subject the depth at which it should be considered and implemented has grown.

The key is not to just to consider the implications of the resort on the natural environment but also to the people of the local environment (as well as the employees

. Luxury hotels and resorts are often situated ibut fragile environments with populations of less fortunate and under developed

that contribute to the natural beauty of the land that are in dire need of In the case of Rice, the wonderful rice paddy terraces it is home to

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) A company’s (Rice) obligation to be accountable to its stakeholders (local community, employees, customers and service providers) in all its operations and activities with the aim of achieving sustainable development not only in the economical dimension but

cultural and environmental dimension

So forms the basis for the Triple Bottom Line measuring tool.

PROFIT * PLACE (environment) * PEOPLE (community)

a company always looks at its bottom line Profit when operating itsthe revenue achieved, its operational costs and

Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Rice

The hospitality industry has long been aware of the reality of climate change in the modern world and to the industry’s direct and indirect contributions to the emerging

Environmental and to be actively

ing the negative impacts of waste disposal, electrical and water useage and the use of

the complexity of the subject and has grown.

natural (as well as the employees

. Luxury hotels and resorts are often situated in beautiful under developed

in dire need of In the case of Rice, the wonderful rice paddy terraces it is home to.

A company’s (Rice) obligation to be accountable to its stakeholders (local community, employees, customers and service providers) in all its operations and activities with the

ment not only in the economical dimension but

operating its business. costs and hence its

Now environmentally responsible hotels and resorts operate Triple Bottom Line baseline accounting. Budgets and measuring tools are now also in place for measuring both PLACE (the environmental impacts resulting from the resort and its operation), and, PEOPLE (the local community, resort employees and guests). These are operated in a similar way to a normal profit and loss resort operational account. Investment is made in Place and People initiatives and a stringent monitoring device indicates the benefits or losses of the exercises undertaken to see if the bottom line for these independent accounts is in the red or black, as well as for the resorts operational Profit account. It is considered that a hotel is only truly conforming and successful with its CSR if all three - Profit, Place and People are in the black. A wise financial strategist will know all three baselines can provide profitability if planned, integrated and implemented efficiently, hence Rice will appoint the role of Chief Sustainability Officer to a senior management employee at the resort to direct, oversee and provide transparent reporting. Rice Community Engagement ProgrammeRice Community Engagement ProgrammeRice Community Engagement ProgrammeRice Community Engagement Programme Under the division of PEOPLE, Rice has set forth an internal nine point agenda based on guidelines set by GSTC – Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, an initiative led by the United Nations World Tourism Association www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org Rice will individually project manage initiatives to: • SUPPORT COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

• USE LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS AND SERVICES WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

• MAINTAIN POLICIES AGAINST COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITY PEOPLE.

• GUARD AGAINST HOTEL ACTIVITIES THAT COULD JEOPODISE OR ENDANGER THE PROVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES AND INCOME FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

• PROTECT LOCAL SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

• INCORPORATE LOCAL DESIGN ELEMENTS AT THE RESORT WHEREVER POSSIBLE WHILST RESPECTING THEIR ORIGIN AND RELIGION.

• TRAIN AND HIRE LOCAL PEOPLE FOR EMPLOYMENT WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

• ASSIST WITH CHILD EDUCATION AND WELFARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

• ASSIST WITH COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.