Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley entrance - EDITED

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a series of new Corporate Responsibility (CR) targets for 2013-2017.

The new targets will continue to focus on driving impact through IHG’s three core CR programs: IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme and IHG Academy and will see IHG track and report supply chain diversity and integrate CR criteria into the selection and evaluation process for all preferred suppliers.

“Being a Responsible Business is part of IHG’s DNA… It is at the heart of everything we do,” said IHG Chief Executive, Richard Solomons.

“Our three flagship Corporate Responsibility initiatives – IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme and IHG Academy – continue to go from strength to strength.

“We are very proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but there is always more to be done. These targets are a clear signal of our commitment to doing business responsibly and to creating shared value for IHG, our owners, the environment and the local community,” he said.

The programs include:

IHG Green Engage
IHG Green Engage is an easy-to-use online system that helps them manage and minimise their impact on the environment by tracking the use of energy, carbon and water and the management of waste in their properties along with the associated costs. A key feature of IHG Green Engage is over 200 Green Solutions which their hotels can implement to reduce their environmental impact and achieve energy savings of up to 25%.

IHG Academy
The IHG Academy is a global partnership programme between IHG hotels and either a local community or education organisation that provides local people with skills development and employment opportunities at IHG.

IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme
The IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme helps their hotels support guests, colleagues and local communities in times of disaster with financial support, vital supplies and accommodation. A core part of the programme is the IHG Shelter Fund made up of hotel and corporate employee fundraising. It means they have the resources to help those impacted right away. They also provide their hotels with guidance on when and how best to respond when disasters occur.

During the course of this week, IHG has been raising money for IHG Shelter in a Storm Programme through IHG Race Around The World, our global internal fundraising event.

Colleagues around the world have pledged kilometres through walking, running, swimming, cycling and other activities, with IHG in turn donating USD$1 to the IHG Shelter Fund for each kilometre pledged – up to a maximum of USD$300,000.