Radisson double carbon offsets
It is unclear as yet whether Radisson will introduce a similar initiative in Australia or the Asia-Pacific region.

Radisson Hotel Group has reported 100% of its global portfolio has completed and been accredited under its Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol cleanliness and hygiene program, with all properties verified via third-party validation by SGS.

One year after its launch, Radisson has renewed its partnership with SGS, which saw the development and implementation of 10-step and 20-step cleanliness and disinfection procedures for both hotels and its Meetings and Events division.

The company has now released its 2020 Responsible Business Report which highlight key initiatives as part of its strategic five-year plan. Heavily impacted by the global pandemic and through significantly reduced international travel levels, the company’s priorities focused on the health and wellbeing of its team members, guests and business partners under three key pillars of ‘Think People’, ‘Think Community’ and ‘Think Planet’.

Guests in quarantine at Radisson Blu Sydney thanked staff by colouring in food packaging containers.

In Australia, the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney has been operating since April 2019 as a quarantine hotel to house Australians returning from overseas for their mandatory two-week isolation.

“The hotel’s Housekeeping team put together special Care Packages consisting of additional towels and amenities kits,” said Radisson Managing Director Australia, Mark Bullock.

“Guests were encouraged to remain active during their isolation by taking part in free virtual yoga sessions.

Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne donated care packages to the local Kasih Projects charity drive.

“The hotel also committed to using recyclable food trays and cutlery for all guests in quarantine. A further cooking sale fundraising drive helped support the hotel’s ‘Cookies for Koalas’ campaign which helped it adopt nine koalas and support the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie.”

At the Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne, the hotel donated care packages to Kasih Projects, a local community initiative providing support to international students and asylum seekers who don’t have access to government support. The hotel has also engaged with local Indigenous artist, Mick Harding, whose art appears on client and guest gifts.

Key sustainability achievements in 2020 saw the group finish the year with a 25% reduction in water usage, helped by a number of hotel closures and reduced occupancies, due to the pandemic. The company’s Meetings division remained 100% carbon-neutral in 2020 and has offset more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon since 2019.

Radisson hotels around the world donated face masks as part of local community initiatives.

“Radisson Hotel Group remains committed to being a responsible business in hotel operations, communities, and our supply chain with the aim of achieving the lowest possible carbon, water and waste footprints,” said Radisson Global Senior Vice President Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications, Inge Huijbrechts.

“In 2020, we continued making progress and reporting on our corporate responsibility commitments in line with the UN SDGs across our operations and hotels, and we are committed to set science-based emission targets aligned with the COP21 Paris Agreement,” she said.