On World Tourism Day in 2014, Bank i-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations said “harnessing tourism’s benefits will be critical to achieving the sustainable development goals and implementing the post-2015 development agenda.”
That year, Meliá Hotels International published its Global CSR Model based on 6 key principles: (1) human rights and childhood, (2) employability, (3) local development and the fight against climate change, (4) university and knowledge sharing, (5) culture and (6) leadership and reputation.
The definition of the model was a result of the progressive evolution of the CSR concept and of how Meliá understands and develops it. Meliá has developed its own approaches, starting from a philanthropic focus and social action, leading to the definition in 2008 of its first Master Plan which contained a commitment to sustainability as an integrating concept and a lever for generating value and competitive advantage. The consolidation of these ideas in the day-to-day management of the business has meant that CSR is now a means by which responsible management criteria can be integrated throughout the value chain of the hotel business.
Meliá Hotels International bases its business model on a responsible approach which is focused on assuring the Company’s economic viability as the main way to generate value for society. To do this, it provides accommodation experiences and global services under criteria of excellence, responsibility and sustainability. As a family business, the Company aims to contribute to a more just and balanced society aware of both current and future needs, and thus contribute to making the words of the Secretary-General of the United Nations come true.
Following the approval of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the United Nations Summit in September 2015, in which UN member states agreed on the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, Meliá Hotels International integrated the SDG that a hotel company could help to support with its CSR model. The SDG aim, among other things, to end extreme poverty, combat inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change. As a market-leading company, Meliá felt that it should step forward and make the promotion of these SDG an essential part of its own strategy. In 2015 Meliá matched the SDG with the goals of its own CSR model to align Company goals with the universal goals inspired by the United Nations.
The basis of Meliá's Global CSR Model defines the guidelines that must be adapted to different situations, supported by the Company regions and business units with a high degree of independence to get actively involved in numerous actions with local impact.
In addition to highlighting universal problems, the SDG allow the elimination of asymmetries in the understanding of the main problems faced by all countries, giving institutions and companies a simple new language or code within which to frame their action plans to achieve common goals and make progress in measuring their impact.
By integrating the SDG into its Global CSR Model, Meliá aims to reinforce its own approach to:
- Ensure a consistent management model that seeks continuous improvement
- Promote a model of responsible management in the value chain
- Contribute to the generation of social and economic value
- Maintain a proactive attitude in the identification, prevention and mitigation of risks
- Make the fight against climate change a key objective in hotel management
- Strengthen long-term relationships based on trust, respect and transparency
This is how Meliá is working towards moving towards a sustainable future from a responsible present.
