Local Sourcing & SMEs
3 | Accelerating
Corporate Office
Neutralise negative impacts and build robust positive impacts
Outcomes
By the end of this stage you will have achieved the following outcomes from the Pathway Framework:
Expanding local supply chain initiatives.
- Targets for local sourcing of goods and services have been achieved.
- Opportunities for joint ventures and partnerships with local entrepreneurs are pursued where appropriate.
- Local entrepreneurs are supported in the development and sale of sustainable products and services, based on the area’s nature, history and culture.
- Locally owned businesses are given access to premises and customers for commercial activity.
- Local supply chain SME development is supported through collaborative partnerships.
Setting up for success
Take ownership
Enable owners across all organisational teams to be innovative
Review and update governance procedures
Engage stakeholders
Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and test an innovation project
Find other brands and management companies you can learn from
Understand impact & dependencies
1. Review outcomes and impact (positive and negative) from your local sourcing initiatives
2. Assess local sourcing across all departments and management level to identify gaps and opportunities for expansion at a regional level
3. Create a baseline for hotels reporting on local suppliers' productivity and meeting standards
Set targets
4. Review and update targets set for local sourcing of goods and services
5. Share progress and discuss review of any targets with management teams to ensure alignment while prioritising local needs
6. Demonstrate your commitments publicly
Take action
7. Review available guidance to identify additional relevant actions which increase local sourcing or sourcing from SMEs. You should focus on the quality of relationships with local suppliers and how you can help them strengthen their business as well as increasing the portion of goods that come from them or the number of local suppliers you work with
8. Determine financial and non-financial resources needed and gather required resources
9. Facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms for local suppliers to collaborate and share best practice
10. Advocate for supportive policies that promote local supply chain development
11. Actively engage your staff and encourage innovation
12. Engage with customers and enable them to make more environmental choices
13. Modify brand standards to include procurement codes which apply to franchisees
Reviewing & Reporting Progress
Monitor & Report
Conduct an independent assessment for environmental and social impact
Review progress by comparing against previous performance and industry benchmarks where available (such as CHSB). Repeat on a regular basis (e.g. monthly/quarterly)
Document learnings and any recommendations for follow-on actions to share with internal and external stakeholders
Review benefits seen through actions
Review challenges encountered along the way and plan solutions to implement
Update leadership and staff on progress
Seek certification by a globally recognised certification programme (e.g. GSTC recognised or an ISO standard)
Inform corporate customers and investors of performance and activities
Report your progress publicly on an annual basis. Publish disaggregated data and align reporting with established frameworks, e.g. CDP, GRI, TCFD, Integrated Reporting
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.
Download checklist
Click the link below to access a PDF checklist to use offline.
View our accompanying factsheets
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.
Ready to move onto the next stage?
Once you have completed Local Sourcing & SMEs – 3 | Accelerating, you are ready to move on to 4 | Leading.
