INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT
CSR FOCUS The Balinese resort supports local orphans by partnering with organisations such as SALAM Children’s Home (an orphanage in Tabanan, Bali that provides a home for 50 kids) and Bali Life (a non-profit foundation that cares for 25 orphaned children) to help provide an education and a nurturing home environment.
LATEST CSR INITIATIVE At Christmas, the Intercontinental Bali Resort made sure it was a season of giving by selling wooden angel dolls and other artwork to raise money for the orphanage. Guests, visitors and staff managed to raise a total of Rp10.9 million (US$806), which will be put towards purchasing everyday necessities such as clothing, toiletries and nutritious food. The children from SALAM were also treated to a special meal and performed carols in the lobby on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS In the past, Intercontinental Bali Resort has helped Bali Life secure a plot of land to plant vegetables, raise livestock and become self-sufficient. It also regularly organises eco-friendly events, such as regular beach clean-up sessions.
SHANGRI-LA HOTELS AND RESORTS
CSR FOCUS Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts prides itself on being commited to protecting the environment. The group's day-to-day operations promote responsible environmental practices and most Shangri-La hotels are certified "ISO 14001" – meaning they follow a structured framework to minimise their environmental footprint.
LATEST CSR INITIATIVE To encourage creativity of undergraduates, and promote "upcycling" to the business community, Shangri-La partnered with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design to launch a year-long Upcycling Design Competition, which came to its conclusion late last year. Students were tasked with repurposing waste materials such as slippers, bamboo steamers, wine bottles, wallpaper, tiles and bed sheets to create new products. Some of the winning products included a table football and a "carrier camel" to store luggage. The success of the competition has seen it copied by Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa (Sri Lanka), which has just launched an “Elephant R.U.N. (Reuse + Upcycle = New Art)” sculpture competition.
OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS Shangri-La launched "Sanctuary" in 2010, a project aimed at biodiversity conservation and habitat protection. To date, there are a total of 19 Sanctuary projects in place, such as Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu, which set up a 64-acre nature reserve in 1996 to care for orphaned orangutans.
SONG SAA PRIVATE ISLAND
CSR FOCUS Inspired by their passion for the ocean, Song Saa owners Rory and Melita Hunter created the Song Saa Foundation in 2013 to promote their vision of sustainability for the Koh Rong archipelago of southern Cambodia. It has since evolved into a regional pioneer for marine and coastal conservation.
LATEST CSR INITIATIVE The foundation has launched a new project dedicated to the protection of one of the planet’s rarest and most vulnerable marine ecosystems: sea grass. With support from Cardiff University in Wales, the Foundation’s team of trained ocean experts are now carefully documenting these priceless habitats, to enable better preservation.
OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS The foundation is also an active participant in the creation of Cambodia’s first marine national park and runs a youth programme – the Song Saa Sea Turtles – to educate children of the archipelago about their environment.
CATHAY PACIFIC
CSR FOCUS Cathay Pacific is actively involved in a variety of community initiatives that have seen its efforts recognised by governing bodies such as the Social Welfare Department and the Hong Kong Council of Social Services.
LATEST CSR INITIATIVE As part of the Appreciate Hong Kong Campaign, organised by the Hong Kong government, Cathay Pacific operated a special "Community Flight" – the sixth since 2007. Two hundred and fifty Hong Kong residents from less-advantaged families were given the chance to experience the first flight of their lives.
OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS Frequent CX customers will know of the close ties that the airline shares with UNICEF through the “Change for Good” fundraising programme. The Hong Kong-based carrier also supports several educational, environmental, medical and volunteer schemes. For a complete list, see here.
AIR ASIA
CSR FOCUS Air Asia supports several initiatives, with a focus on environmental sustainablility and helping its home country of Malaysia.
LATEST CSR INITIATIVE Air Asia and its long-haul arm Air Asia X recently launched a climate awareness movement - the #GREEN24 campaign. Part of this involved a community event at Air Asia’s base in Kuala Lumpur, where environmental organisations took to the stage to educate on the subject of climate change and promote action.
OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS In May 2015, Air Asia began producing AirAsiaMAKNA t-shirts - designed and produced by the airline's employees to raise funds for the National Cancer Council of Malaysia (MAKNA). Retailing at RM30 (US$7), by October 2015 this initiative had raised RM120,946 (US$29,180).
Do you think there are better CSR initiatives out there? Tell us in the comments below!
Clement Huang
