Four Seasons Corporate Social Responsibility

Meetings and Events with Real Personal Value

allisondunfield — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:20:17 +0000

At Four Seasons, being a good corporate citizen is more than a policy or a program, it defines who we are and the decisions we make. Guided by our shared values to Build Communities, Advance Cancer Research and Support Sustainability, each of our hotels has established initiatives to demonstrate their commitment to these values in a way that makes sense locally.

We know that many organisations have similar values and are committed to being caring global citizens. That’s why we’re inviting groups attending meetings or events at Four Seasons hotels and resorts to join us and participate in a special activity that makes a difference. Great for team-building and motivation, these activities are also rewarding ways to do genuine good – whether planting trees, preparing meals at a women’s shelter or reading to children battling cancer at a local hospital.

We’re offering a variety of opportunities to enhance your experience away from home and to leave a lasting impression on the community you’re visiting. These activities may be arranged independently or as part of a meeting package.

For more information about a specific opportunity or to make a booking, please contact the hotel directly.

Please select a region below to view a list of properties and available initiatives.

Americas

Europe

Middle East and Africa

Asia/Pacific

Four Seasons launches Greening Meetings program

allisondunfield — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:15:37 +0000

At Four Seasons, being environmentally responsible is part of who we are. And we know that our clients share those same values. That's why Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts introduced the Greening Meetings program. The program, available at every one of our hotels and resorts across the globe, allows meeting planners to select a variety of environmentally friendly options to create the most sustainable events possible, at no additional cost.

These can include: dry erase boards as opposed to paper flip charts, onsite recycling and paperless conference correspondence, china and silverware instead of disposable utensils and plating for meals, menus including a generous amount of locally grown fare and the donation of leftover decoration and display materials to local organizations.

Guests attending events can also re-use their room linens to reduce water consumption, and unused portions of room amenities will be donated to charitable groups. Each property also has a Green Team, which is dedicated to promoting and developing environmentally friendly practices. Planners are encouraged to speak with the Green Teams to learn how to customize the initiatives to meet each group’s distinct needs. It couldn’t be easier to go green.

Protecting Sea Turtles in Nevis

christina.basil — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:59:29 +0000

Ginger likes to spend summers on the sunny beaches of Nevis. In the fall, instead of jetting back to a home in the north, she dives down beneath the waters of Montserrat, to the south-east. As a metre-long hawksbill turtle, Ginger spends 90 per cent of her life underwater. We know this because her movements have been tracked since 2007 when she was tagged as part of the Eastern Caribbean Hawksbill Tracking and Conservation Project.

With its quiet, unspoiled beaches, the tiny island of Nevis is a favourite nesting ground for sea turtles. That’s why the research program was established in August 2006 by Four Seasons Resort Nevis, the Nevis Turtle Group and the Sea Turtle Conservancy (formerly the Caribbean Conservation Corporation). Ginger is one of six turtles tagged for the project, and each time she surfaces to breathe, her location is tracked and logged through GPS satellites. Through this information, scientists hope to learn more about the species’ migratory behaviour so that protection efforts can be improved.

Hawksbill turtles have been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1996. The species faces many threats including trawl fishing, illegal shell trade, marine pollution and loss of nesting grounds to development. Sadly, it is estimated that just one turtle survives for every thousand or more eggs laid. The strength of sea turtle populations is believed to be a critical indicator of the health of the world’s marine and coastal ecosystems.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis has been working with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to protect these animals since 2004. It raises awareness and funds in support of sea turtle conservation through on-property activities. Children who participate in the Kids for All Seasons program receive a complimentary membership to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and are automatically enrolled in the Adopt-A-Turtle program. During nesting season from June to October, guests can take part in carefully guided beach walks to look for nesting turtles. At night, the Resort uses dim beach lighting so as not to disorient turtles.

To date, the Resort has contributed $119,000 USD to the Sea Turtle Conservancy to protect and preserve sea turtle populations. Through these efforts, it is hoped that hawksbill sea turtles will return to Nevis beaches for years to come.

Remembering the Elephants in Thailand

christina.basil — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Many first-time visitors to Thailand are shocked to see elephants and their owners begging on the busy streets of Bangkok. Elephants are very expensive to keep and their handlers – known as mahouts – often take them from the jungle into urban centres to beg for money from tourists. Many of these elephants are mistreated, malnourished and on the brink of death.

Thankfully, 30 rescued elephants are getting a second chance at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF). Established in 2006 in partnership with Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle and Anantara Golden Triangle, the Foundation works to provide a safe haven for abused and retired elephants.

Asian elephants are currently listed as an endangered species by the International Union of Conservation for Nature. They face many threats including loss of habitat and poaching for ivory. To help elephants break out of the cycle of being bought and sold by different mahouts, GTAEF tries to take in both the animal and its handler. The rescued elephants live at GTAEF on 160 acres of shared land between Four Seasons and Anantara.

Many visitors of Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle have been inspired to join our efforts to save the Asian elephant. For the cost of $1,000 USD per month, guests can sponsor an elephant through the Camp’s adoption programme. These funds go to the elephant’s mahout to pay for food and veterinary care.

Some guests are even moved to start their own fundraising efforts. When Caroline and Perry Butler of Juslyn Vineyard and Footcandy shoe stores returned home from a stay at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, they launched a wine label and shoes in support of the cause. Perry developed a Juslyn Vineyard “Rescue” label and Caroline reached out to famous designers Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin who each created a special shoe for Footcandy. All proceeds were directed to GTAEF.

To date, Four Seasons Tented Camp and its guests have raised approximately $159,000 USD for the Foundation. Through these efforts, these special elephants can live out their days with an endless supply of sugar cane, bananas and veterinary care.

Growing Together: Voluntourism in Costa Rica

christina.basil — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:37:15 +0000

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is on a mission to provide textbooks for every student in its community. The Resort launched Books for All (Libros Para Todos) and guests and employees have been generously donating funds. To date, the initiative has raised more than $25,000 USD towards 8,632 textbooks for 2,158 students.

Books for All is just one of many social programmes offered at the Resort. In 2010, it launched Growing Together (Creciendo Juntos) as an overarching community outreach programme. Guests are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities offered. These include:

Support a Family – This programme is offered to provide assistance to struggling families. Guests can shop locally with a Four Seasons employee who knows the household’s needs before delivering the items to the family directly, or they can invite them to go shopping or to lunch for the day. To date, 15 families have been sponsored through this program and a total of $7,500 USD has been raised in food and clothing donations.
Backpack Buddies – Many students are in need of school supplies. Guests are encouraged to purchase a backpack and fill it with notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers and other goodies from home. Backpacks can also be purchased through the Resort. To date, 160 backpacks have been donated to children in need.
Paint a School – Volunteers who want to roll up their sleeves for a good cause are invited to donate supplies and help paint schools. So far, six local schools have received much-needed paint jobs. In three schools, guests and employees also helped plant community gardens.
Adopt an Animal – Abandoned or injured animals can’t always be integrated back into the wild, but they can live out their days in Monkey Park, a local environmental refuge that rescues abandoned and injured animals. The facility offers these wild animals a loving home while they are nursed back to health with food and veterinary care. Donations and visits are always welcome.

Participants in Growing Together include families, individuals and groups. Guests work with Resort staff to identify projects they’d like to help out with, and where there is particular need. Through the programme, guests and employees are making a positive contribution to the Guanacaste region, and building lasting partnerships in the community.

Donating Teddy Bears in Boston

christina.basil — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:54:02 +0000

In 1995, Four Seasons Hotel Boston began the Teddy Bear Tea to celebrate the spirit of giving and to brighten up the holidays for children less fortunate. Almost two decades later, the Teddy Bear Tea is still going strong and brewing up holiday cheer.

Every December, a tree created from hundreds of teddy bears is set up in the Hotel lobby and youngsters are invited to donate stuffed animals underneath it. Many attach “Get Well Soon” and other kind messages to their bears for the children who will receive them.

Before Christmas, the toys are packed up and distributed to kids through more than a dozen local, not-for-profits including Toys for Tots, the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and the Ronald McDonald House. Whenever possible, the bears are hand-delivered by Four Seasons employees dressed up as Santa and his elves.

“It’s really rewarding to watch the smiles appear when the kids receive their teddy bears,” says Brooke Vosika, executive chef. “This simple act of kindness has such a positive impact on the children and it’s a joy to be a part of it.”

Over the years, more than 40,000 bears have been donated to children by children. The Teddy Bear Tea has even become a tradition for many families, as parents who attended when they were young now bring their own kids. With each year of the Teddy Bear Tea, more and more youngsters are experiencing the joy of giving to others in need.

Passing on the Gift of Knowledge in the Maldives

christina.basil — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:55:59 +0000

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives are committed to helping young Maldivians broaden their prospects for the future. The Resorts offer a one-year Four Seasons Apprenticeship Programme to promising youth between the ages of 17 and 20.

Although the program has been offered for the past decade, it made national headlines in spring 2010 when it became a government-accredited, certified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program with competency standards and qualifications recognized throughout the country.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa are the first in the country to offer a TVET-certified apprenticeship programme to young Maldivians.

The curriculum includes classroom study and hands-on training in areas such as food and beverage preparation, marine transport and housekeeping. Apprentices are taught by senior hotel managers with years of international hospitality experience and are equipped with the practical skills necessary for full-time employment. Students also receive free room and board, monthly remuneration and access to all the employee facilities at the Resorts.

To date, more than 200 young Maldivians have graduated from the programme. Upon completion, students receive a nationally recognized TVET certificate. Graduates are not required to work at Four Seasons once they finish, but many of them do and go on to rewarding careers within the company. One student who completed the program in 2003 has already advanced to a position as assistant department head. The program has become so well recognized that other hotel companies are now inquiring about when the apprentices are ready for hire.

In addition to advancing professional development, the Resorts are actively involved in educating youth about the need for environmental preservation. As part of the Baa Atoll Youth project launched in 2009, Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru’s assistant dive manager partnered with a Maldivian environmental consultant to teach students about conservation issues, initiatives and projects relevant to their home islands. The pair travels to surrounding islands to host workshops and has also hosted training sessions at the Resort. It is hoped that the program will inspire new environmental advocates and future leaders committed to preserving the delicate ecosystem.

Revitalising the Alexandra Canal in Singapore

christina.basil — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:52:47 +0000

Staff from The Regent Singapore, A Four Seasons Hotel are quite accustomed to beautifying things so it’s no surprise that they jumped on board to help revitalize the Alexandra Canal. Employees brought their special "Four Seasons touch" to plant cat tails and reeds in wetlands along the river in support of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency.

But it’s not all about looks. In addition to a more visually pleasing waterway, vegetation and wetlands play an essential role in the purification of water. They provide habitat for fish, insects, birds and other wildlife, and contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

After the project was complete, a 1.2 kilometre stretch of the Canal was transformed from a concrete channel to a rejuvenated waterway. It was carefully designed to include a series of wetlands, a cascading water feature and an observatory deck with vegetation to treat rainwater runoff.

In addition to participating in the planting event, volunteers from Four Seasons also attended PUB’s Volunteers of Water training to learn more about conservation methods to share with colleagues back at the Hotel.

Water conservation has been a key focus for the team. The Hotel installed water efficient devices in guest room tap and showerheads, rain sensors for its irrigations system and uses recycled water in its cooling towers and fountains.

For its efforts, The Regent Singapore was recognized with PUB’s Watermark Award in 2010.

Supporting Cancer Research and the Parkway Run in Philadelphia

christina.basil — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:26:25 +0000

For staff at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, the last Sunday in the month of September marks a very important event. Every year on this particular day, Four Seasons employees – alongside thousands of Philadelphians – dust off their running shoes for the annual Parkway Run/Family Fun Walk. The Hotel has partnered with The Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to host the fundraiser for the past 15 years.

The Run/Walk takes place along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and has become a popular family affair. In fact, in 2010, it drew a record of 7,500-plus participants. Runners and walkers are treated to a buffet breakfast afterwards, prepared and served by Hotel staff.

To date, the event has raised more than $3.5 million USD for The Cancer Center, a leading pediatric cancer treatment center in America. These funds have been used to support research for cures as well as to help establish programmes that create a better life for the increasing number of survivors.