Discusses strategy to drive positive impact while supporting business
success in annual corporate responsibility report
Four years after launching its corporate responsibility strategy, Travel
with Purpose, Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) says its investments in
global partnerships and programs to activate hotel and office teams is
not only driving positive social impact, but also supporting long-term
business success.
“Travel with Purpose has played an important role in bringing our vision
and values to life by uniting our organization around a set of global
issues that connect our business to society. We continue to invest in
issues we believe we can positively influence - creating pathways to
opportunities for young people, building stronger communities and
preserving our environment,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and
CEO, Hilton Worldwide. “We’re proud of the successes we’ve had to date,
and look forward to using guidance such as the UN Sustainable
Development Goals to continue to partner with governments, NGOs and
other businesses to do our part to address pressing societal challenges
of our time.”
Travel with Purpose was designed to examine global issues where Hilton
can make an impact while simultaneously contributing to its future
success:
-
Opportunities: Globally more than 74 million young people are
unemployed1, yet the travel and tourism industry will need
to hire 73 million new jobs by 20222. Hilton announced a
commitment to invest in youth in 2014 and has since reached more than
400,000 young people through apprenticeship programs, career
engagement and life skills training.
-
Communities: Tourism makes up 9 percent of global GDP and up to
40 percent GDP in developing countries3 so the success of
companies in the tourism industry is directly tied to the success of
the countries and communities where they operate. Around the world,
Hilton hotels are active in their communities throughout the year and
set aside each October to celebrate this commitment, activating 4,145
volunteer projects resulting in 213,000 volunteer hours during the
2015 Global Month of Service.
-
Environment: Natural resources are diminishing 50 percent
faster than the earth can replenish4, and the survival of
businesses from a wide range of industries – including transportation,
tourism, finance, and food and beverage – will depend on their ability
to manage the major risks posed by climate change, including depleted
natural resources, the loss of biodiversity, and extreme weather
conditions. Hilton has invested in proprietary technology to track,
analyze and improve natural resource management across its portfolio,
and as a result has reduced energy use by 14.5 percent, carbon output
by 20.9 percent, waste output by 27.6 percent and water use by 14.1
percent since 2009, resulting in an estimated $550 million of
cumulative savings.
Hilton recognizes that its most powerful asset is the people who work in
its owned, managed and franchised properties and corporate offices,
acting as “intrapreneurs”
who find creative solutions to challenges in their communities every
day. To support these ideas, and encourage more of them, Hilton has
awarded nearly 200 Travel with Purpose Action Grants to hotels and
offices that partner with local organizations to implement a project
that addresses these global issues.
“Since launching Travel with Purpose, we have developed partnerships
with organizations such as the International
Youth Foundation, World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the 100,000
Opportunities Initiative to advocate for key issues at a global
level coupled with programs like our Travel with Purpose Action Grants
to activate teams to address local challenges,” said Jennifer Silberman,
vice president of corporate responsibility, Hilton Worldwide. “Now that
our programs have matured we’re starting to see the impact we can have
when we engage our hotels around the world and align on key issues that
support the long term viability of our business while also benefitting
society at large. We look forward to expanding our reach and deepening
our impact in the coming years.”
Hilton discusses its strategy and provides updates on its global impact
in its fourth annual corporate responsibility report, available at: cr.hiltonworldwide.com
About Travel with Purpose
Travel with Purpose is Hilton Worldwide's corporate responsibility
commitment to providing shared value to its business and communities by
creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential;
strengthening communities where Hilton Worldwide operates; and
preserving environments through the measurement, analysis and
improvement of the company's use of natural resources. Visit cr.hiltonworldwide.com
to learn more.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company,
spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and
resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 96
years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition
of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of
twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,500
managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties,
with more than 745,000 rooms in 97 countries and territories, including
Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels
& Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree
by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by
Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton
Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer
loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book
directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits
including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are
available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app,
where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their
room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for
more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide,www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide,
and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.
1 United Nations Economic & Social Council: http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/employment.shtml
2
Global Hotels and Motels Industry Profile (New York: Datamonitor, 2011)
3
UN World Tourism Organization: http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284416899
4
Friends of the Earth: https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/overconsumption.pdf
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