Roy Bryant
BUAD 326.003
11/30/2011
Final Exam Assignment
Kimpton Hotels’ EarthCare Program, case no. 7
1. What are the benefits of Kimpton’s environmental sustainability initiatives? What are its costs? - Kimpton’s environmental sustainability initiatives have proven successful and beneficial both in terms of its environmental and business benefits. Environmental improvement is one of the benefits of diverting waste. Some of the benefits are exemplified in their rollout phases, including: introducing non-disruptive and cost-reducing operational practices such as a recycling program, non-toxic cleaning products, promotional materials printed on recycled paper, complimentary coffee that was organically grown,
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2. How would you justify the EarthCare program to Kimpton’s board of directors and stockholders? That is, what is the business case for this program? - The top executives considered this program for many positive reasons. First off, the company’s brand and mission rested on the EarthCare program – to maintain the care integrity, and uniqueness that customers had come to associate with its chain of boutique hotels. Kimpton wants their impact to be felt all over, where this program can influence other hotels to start an environmental initiative. Also, the EarthCare program is willing to stay abreast with ongoing standards and norms of the company. It will also being about new success, new business partnerships, possibly increase employment, and being eco-friendly is more advantageous than not.
3. What challenges face the EarthCare program, and how might Kimpton overcome them? - The case study describes some of the potential operational risks and challenges including: • Resistance by General Managers who may fear losing their autonomy because of a corporate mandated program. • Potential resistance by hotel staff to new products and procedures. Kimpton had a low turnover rate. Their employees had been there for years and had become accustomed to doing things in a certain manner. For example, they stated “many cleaning staff
They upgrading a hotel first upgraded employee facilities. When a survey at London hotel showed dissatisfaction with workers’ areas, installed new floors, lockers, and showers within three months. Four-seasons needed to get it down to the front line: clerks, bell-staff, bartenders, waiters, cooks, housekeepers, and dishwashers, the lowest-paid and in most companies the least-motivated people, but the ones who would make or break a five-star service reputation. Four-seasons needs employees able and willing to respond on their own to whatever comes up, employees who can spot, solve, and even anticipate problems. That means delegating authority as well as responsibility. Four-seasons pay attention on how to treat employees and make them feel confortable when they work in hotel because employees could bring positive attitude towards customers if they in good mood.
Because of how I was raised I know more about the world at large than you might expect for someone who has lived in very few places. I was born at 12:49 A.M. in Murphy, North Carolina, weighing about 9 pounds. My mom ran a shiitake mushroom farm, and my dad worked on landscaping and real estate. When I was 4 years old, I moved to Earthaven Ecovillage, meeting 4 kids that would turn out to be my friends for life! Earthaven Ecovillage is an alternative sustainable community of hippie-type people who use solar power and composting toilets. At first, I was skeptical because some of this was new to me, like the toilets! Then, I got used to living at a place that felt like a summer camp for hippies, and it became normal to me. But Earthavens
Now, in 2008, this issue is of even more importance, and less of a device to attract business from the environmentally-aware demographic.Guest involvement in a more green hotel environment has become more apparent with a recent survey in the New York Times found that 16 percent of hotel guests chose where they will stay based on the environmentally-friendly options available to them and the practices of the hotel. A 2007, New York Times article titled, “Enjoy Your Green Stay,” states that green options for hotels have become widespread so quickly because of the rising cost of energy. It should be no coincidence that
The purpose of this paper is to compare the sustainability practices of two companies in the same industry. The two companies chosen for comparison are The Hershey Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises, both of which are in the consumer staples industry. These two corporations are ranked sixth and eighth, respectively, on the Newsweek Top Green Companies in the U.S 2015. They have taken pride in creating sustainable product designs, having environmentally sustainable processes and supply chain management.
I decided to do my research at Lowe’s Home and Improvement. Lowe’s Home and Improvement is a hardware store that sales everything from your basic household appliances to minor cleaning supplies. Lowe’s believes that in order to maintain great customer service they feel that they must follow these simple rules: Provide customers with environmentally-responsible products, packaging and services at everyday low prices, educate and engage employees, customers and others on the importance of conserving resources, reducing waste and recycling, review and communicate progress made toward achieving established goals and objectives, and to engage on public policy issues related to sustainability. In this report I will discuss how I observed two
Throughout the years, lodging has changed greatly compared to then. Reliable changes have been made such as better beds, more sanitary rooms and just further maintenance toward the overall stay. Also it is much easier to find safe and clean hotels, unlike before. Choices upon choices are brought to everyone. Before, bedrooms were not kept very clean or didn’t look to appealing to say the least. Most rooms, without a doubt, looked like hospitals or jails. Then there’s service. Although we don’t know whether the service from workers were poor or not in the past, having superior manners toward customers is a must now.
One of the many resources available to Home Depot is the use of environmentally friendly supplies. Recently, Home Depot began shifting to greener products and practices, such as no longer using wood from the Amazon forest, and removing harmful chemicals like formaldehyde from their paint products. They have also began to use water recycling pumps for their irrigation centers and are in the process of creating solar powered roofs for their stores which can drastically reduce their carbon footprint. Home Depot is also recycling and reusing as much as they can, from lightbulbs to power tools. The VRINE model below measures the impact of this resource. Although it is valuable and exploitable, it is not rare or non-substitutable. This makes it a valuable resource for the short term but not a sustainable resource for competitive advantage.
Going beyond environmental compliance can bring business benefits. Konekesko have realized that acting in a socially and environmentally responsible way is more than just a legal duty. It affects their bottom line and the long-term success of the company.
I am again going speak about Kimberly Clark and introduce additional sustainable information on their efforts to reduce waste and on their continued process improvements, in the areas of manufacturing. We will review the company’s strategic initiatives for reducing waste as it relates to process manufacturing, which contributes to the majority of their solid waste, water and energy issues, and we will conduct a solid waste audit assessment, and review the findings in this un-official report.
The Sales and Marketing Department proposes the employment of eco-friendly technology in the process of refurbishment of Eagle Nest 's 3-star Hotel facilities and rooms in the U.S.A. with the following objectives:
Many hotels utilize sustainability as a strategy setting for operations, and as a critical success factor (Boerner, 2010). A company become more sustainable by evaluating the positive and negative environmental, economic, and socio cultural impacts on hospitality industry and helps the operation to be in profit and minimize waste or harmful aspects. Environmental certification program for hotels Provides technical guidance. Participating facilities area warded between 1and5 Green Keys depending on loyalty to criteria (LRA Worldwide,
The past several decades have seen a growing awareness in the hospitality industry regarding the environmental and social impacts of hotel development and operations – to the extent where sustainability issues have permeated nearly every aspect of the industry. This has been driven by multiple factors including owners’ and operators’ desire to reduce operational costs, changing investor attitudes toward the environment, increased regulatory focus on facility operations and development, and a
To my general point of view, this program is an initiate path to be sustainable. Lots of hotels are participating in recycling their used soaps, lotions and shampoos. Though it is considered to be a trend in the hospitality industry, there are many benefits when participating in this environment-friendly program. The first positive point worth mentioning is that hotel would have save their expenses when doing soaps, lotions and shampoos recycling. 'Saving money by reducing long-term operating costs ' (MacDougall 2013, pp.5) Acording to the USA Today, hotels don 't need to pay fee for delivery recycle items to Clean The World. They are not only save money but also help the hotels look tidy and clean. Secondly, this is also a great way of marketing to make more people know about your company. Therefore, it helps improve your reputation to the public. Due to the fact that local community or government may use the hotel as a good example to encourage people using
Environment is something everyone needs to feel responsible for and to protect. However, not many people are aware of how simple it is to make different choices that can have positive impact on the environment. Therefore, our company can help the community with what we have and what we can do.
Recycling program of Clean The World, contribute positive solutions to the recycling process of hotels, helps protecting the environment and people life in present and the future. Not only the hospitality industry but also for all other industry in the world, the responsible they have for the society in general and for the environment particularly are very important. It brings great influence to the image of the business to the public, especially since the customer will based on the company’s reputation to make the decision. Jennifer Silberman, corporate responsibility chief at the Hilton Worldwide said, it is one of those programs that when you tell consumers about it, it will drive a favorable reputation (Barbara DeLollis, More hotels recycle left-behind toiletries, USATODAY). Particularly for hotels to participate in an ethical program like this will helps to develop the image of a