Responsible Business - Let's take responsibility

Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of the broader commitment of the Rezidor Hotel Group (RHG) to sustainable development for many years. In 2001, this commitment was fortified and placed within the scope of a programme called Responsible Business (RB). Each hotel has a unique RB Action Plan covering areas such as community outreach, environmental improvement, employee well-being and health and safety. To read more about the RB programme, please go to http://www.responsiblebusiness.rezidor.com/.

The hotels are engaged with both local charity groups and the corporate international charity organisation of RHG, the World Childhood Foundation. The mission of World Childhood Foundation is to defend the rights of the child and to promote better living conditions for vulnerable and exploited children at risk all over the world.

Responsible Business is present across all RHG brands in all regions and can be best broken down into two key philosophies:

• Respecting social and ethical issues in the company, as well as in the community
• Reducing our negative impact on the environment

These are actively pursued on a companywide level, with excellent global standards in energy and water conservation, charity work, recycling and other key areas of the Responsible Business policy. However, the Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham has gone one step further to decrease its impact on the environment and get involved in the local community. Examples include:

Social and ethical responsibility

• Annual entrants into Great Birmingham Run and Birmingham Walkathon
• Company-funded staff football team enters regular tournaments
• Encourage and assist staff in organising volunteering, blood donation, clothes swaps and other non-profit activities
• Fundraiser for local charities such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity
• Major partner in Birmingham Southside Business Improvement District (BID), working with other local businesses to improve the community

Environmental responsibility

• Active recycling ensures all possible recyclable materials are diverted from landfill waste, from everyday items such as printer cartridges, light bulbs, and plastic packaging to large items such as old monitors and fridges.
• Low energy light bulbs ensure the hotel's energy consumption is as low as possible.
• This Green Tourism Business Scheme accredited hotel is committed to improving its annual assessment results to maintain its independently awarded grading.
• Water saving taps and showers reduce consumption while maintaining performance, and the “Water water everywhere” towel recycling program offers guests the chance to reuse their towels when staying for more than one night.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Responsible Business activities and achievements include:

• A special Job Shadow Day was held for leisure and tourism teachers to provide an in-depth insight into the hospitality industry. The event was set up by the Radisson Blu Hotel and Education Business Links, which works to bridge the gap between young people, teachers and business.
• As part of its commitment to be a Birmingham Responsible Business, the hotel served as a key venue for local performers to showcase their varied talents during the 2006 Gigbeth festival. The festival brought together promoters, musicians and music organisations to provide industry exposure for fast-rising talents and to offer networking opportunities, advice and guidance and to promote Birmingham's music scene in a coherent manner.
• Children from NCH Young Careers charity took part in a penalty shootout with NCH mascot Cedric the Dragon and baked a special £300,000 Cedric the Dragon-shaped cake in the Radisson Blu Hotel kitchen to be auctioned off to guests. The hotel also offered the children an afternoon tea at Filini, cookery lessons and overnight stays. This event was a fantastic opportunity for the children to experience being guests in the hotel, and the cookery lessons provided practice for necessary life skills.
• The Radisson Blu Hotel chose NCH Birmingham Young Careers as its charity for 2005. The hotel's programme of hospitality events aimed at giving respite to children and young people who care for sick or disabled family members.
• The Radisson Blu Hotel was honoured with a 2006 award from the Birmingham Employer Coalition. A sizable portion of the hotel's staff was previously unemployed, and many of these employees are from Birmingham's most disadvantaged wards.
• The work of Birmingham artist Ros Willis hangs proudly in the corridors of the meeting and events floors. The Radisson Blu Hotel's support has helped this local talent fulfil her life-long ambition.
• Working with East Side City Jobs, the hotel has recruited local residents to provide a high level of service to its guests.