INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP PLC (IHG)

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG)



Table of contents

INTRODUCTION3

Purpose of the Paper3

Company Overview3

Research Methods4

Secondary Data4

Primary Data5

LITERATURE REVIEW6

Environmental Policy (Overview of the Strategy and Action Plan)10

Improvement In Its Environmental Impact10

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION11

REFERENCE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY13

APPENDICES15

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG)

Introduction

A decade ago many tourism and hospitality organisations had very little awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? and many of those that had were very sceptical about it. In recent years a number of tourism and hospitality organisations have accepted the principles of CSR and begun to integrate and embed CSR into their mainstream business and operations strategies. The main components of CSR; rationale for the growing acceptance of CSR principles; the development of CSR strategies and activities in tourism and hospitality organisations and CSR performance in some of the leading hotel organisations are outlined in this paper. However? it is recognised that the complex and dynamic environment of tourism and hospitality may present a threat to the sustainability of CSR. It could be argued that CSR is at a crossroads. Consequently? the question must be raised: “In the context of a turbulent environment could CSR come to be regarded as a 'luxury' that organisations can no longer afford? or could it is seen as the one 'luxury' that they cannot afford to do without?” (Ryan 2003? pp.115-120)

Purpose of the Paper

This paper assesses the motivations of hospitality organisations in embracing corporate social responsibility and how these may shape and limit how far they develop and apply CSR. The further clarification has been done in respect with the case study of InterContinental Hotels Group plc (IHG).

Company Overview

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is a leading global hospitality group? with over 3?300 hotels across nearly 100 countries and territories. The company was established in April 2003 following the separation of Six Continents' hotels and soft drinks businesses from the retail business. The second largest hotel group in the world (calculated on the number of rooms)? the group owns a portfolio of global brands? including InterContinental? Crowne Plaza? Staybridge Suites? Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn. (Intercontinental Hotel Group 2005:2)

The company formally adopted UNICEF as one of its main global charitable partners in 2001. The group has pledged to donate £100?000 each year during the three-year partnership? as well as inviting employees to raise money via local fundraising events. (Line 2002 ? pp.69-78)

UNICEF have helped IHG quantify what its' donations can actually buy? right down to the level of 6 pence for a pencil. This level of detail allows both employees and customers to easily identify what their fundraising efforts achieve and so encourage greater engagement. (WTTC 1997? pp.112-190).

The money raised in 2002 has funded a project promoting education in rural areas in the Philippines? which is helping children gain access to education in a number of ways. Local teachers need training in multi-grade teaching? as well as new curriculum materials but as multi-grade schools are generally in rural and isolated areas? facilities can be inadequate. IHG is helping to upgrade these schools with sanitation facilities as ...