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Community Partnerships
2 | Advancing
Corporate Office
Minimise negative impacts and initiate positive impacts
Outcomes
By the end of this stage you will have achieved the following outcomes from the Pathway Framework:
Establish partnerships for destination level projects.
- Community wellbeing assessment has been conducted to inform community sustainability programme.
- Partnerships have been established for destination level sustainability projects.
- User and access rights for key resources, including land and water, are documented where applicable.
- Staff are informed and trained about the natural and cultural heritage of the local area.
- The local community is offered the opportunity to access the tourism facilities and services provided.
- A communication /feedback/ grievance mechanism is in place for local communities.
- The organisation engages with communities/sites in reviewing guidance and creating and agreeing additional guidelines as necessary.
- Copyright and intellectual property rights have been observed and necessary permissions obtained.
- Living cultural heritage and traditions are evident in cuisine, retail, events and other services offered.
- Where artefacts are used, laws and bylaws have been identified that permit such use. Visitors are prevented from removing or damaging artefacts.
Setting up for success
Take ownership
Identify owners across all key organisational teams
Implement a Sustainability Monitoring System (SMS) if not done already
Review and update governance procedures
Engage stakeholders
Review and engage stakeholders previously mapped, and identify any additional key external stakeholders in the value chain to engage with on Human Rights, Labour practices and EDI
Find other brands and management companies you can learn from
Establish a feedback mechanism for key stakeholders to comment on sustainability initiatives
Check whether there are any local, regional or national plans that could be aligned to support wider efforts
Understand impact & dependencies
1. Review development and sustainability projects to assess community engagement and impact
2. Review staff training regarding indigenous community rights and respecting natural and cultural heritage
3. Review community feedback and grievance mechanism system
4. Review representation of local cuisine, products, and events offered at properties
Set targets
5. Set targets to improve community involvement in sustainability projects that positively impact local communities and environment
6. Review and strengthen previous targets, including targets for local sourcing and supply chain
Resource: Net Positive Action Planner
Take action
7. Review plan to identify relevant actions
Resource: Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Resource Directory
8. Engage sustainability partners to see how local community engagement, participation and welfare can be included in social and environment sustainability initiatives
9. Partner with DMOs or relevant organisation to assess community wellbeing status and plan for improvement
10. Review and update governance procedures relating to community welfare and indigenous people’s rights
11. Raise GMs awareness about community welfare commitments and their role in achieving them
12. Improve customer communication to include opportunities for them to participate in local community wellbeing and sustainability projects
Reviewing & Reporting Progress
Monitor & Report
Conduct an external audit on key environmental and social data
Review progress by comparing against previous performance and industry benchmarks where available (such as CHSB). Repeat on a regular basis (e.g. monthly/quarterly)
Review benefits seen through actions
Review challenges encountered along the way and plan solutions to implement
Update leadership on progress
Create a revolving fund to reinvest savings from efficiency measures into new sustainability initiatives, if not done already
Inform corporate customers and investors of performance and activities by including information in communications and meetings
Publicly report progress against company targets on an annual basis
Share your case studies with us!
As hospitality companies progress towards Net Positive Hospitality, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is keen to share good news and best practice from across the industry. Our Net Positive case studies are shared across our website and LinkedIn, acting as a positive space to celebrate these actions, achievements, and commitments.
We invite hotels to get involved by sending case studies to press@sustainablehospitalityalliance.org and / or tagging @Net Positive Hospitality and @Sustainable Hospitality Alliance within LinkedIn posts relating to environmental sustainability or social responsibility.
Community Partnerships - PDF Checklist
Download checklist
Click the link below to access a PDF checklist to use offline.
View our accompanying factsheets
Find out more and enquire
Test the outcomes of ESG solutions
The Net Positive Hospitality Simulation brings the Pathway to life, helping users understand the impacts of their decisions, test sustainability actions and create a tailored sustainability action plan.
3 | Accelerating - Neutralise negative impacts and build robust positive impacts
Ready to move on to the next stage?
Once you have completed Community Partnerships – 2 | Advancing, you are ready to move on to 3 | Accelerating.
