ASIAN HOTELS AND PROPERTIES PLC AnnuAl RepoRt 2012/13

PASSION sustainability report101 ASIAN HOTELS AND PROPERTIES PLCAnnual Report 2012 /13Annual Cricket CarnivalThe Battle of the Spices, an annual crickettournament was organised betweenCinnamon Grand Colombo and CinnamonLakeside Colombo. The match, this year,was sponsored by Cinnamon Grand andheld at the Moors Grounds during which theCinnamon Grand Team emerged champions.Open dialogueWe have a good relationship with the staff andmaintain an open door policy enabling themto communicate directly with the GeneralManager, should they wish. A box named“Tell GM” serves to deliver written grievances,opinions and suggestions of associates.These are collected and addressed by theGeneral Manager, with ratifications beingposted on a board next to the box.Sustainability Awarenessprogrammes for Associates• E- Waste poster campaign: A specialposter awareness campaign waslaunched by the sustainability division,emphasising the prudent management ofe-waste to commemorate Earth Day, forassociates and also for other stakeholdersvia social media. A special E-Waste boxis kept at the staff entrance to encourageassociates to dispose e-waste.• E-Waste awareness campaign forGreen Team members: An awarenesscampaign on the importance of E-Wasteas a part of the hotel’s ongoing awarenesscampaign was conducted for 20 GreenTeam members by Think Green (Pvt) Ltd• E-Waste awareness seminar forassociates: Cinnamon Grand’s pledgeto ‘ Be a Greener Corporate Entity’,launched an E-Waste campaign for222 Senior Executives in collaborationwith Think Green (Pvtf) Ltd tocommemorate World Environment Day2012. The hotel was provided withe-waste disposal boxes, which enabledassociates to dispose their E-Waste inan environmentally responsible manner.Cinnamon Grand is proud to be a pioneerin E-Waste recycling amongst the cityhotels.• Water wastage reduction seminar forassociates: The hotel’s SustainabilityDivision invited a team of personnelfrom the National Water & DrainageBoard (NWSDB) to educate staff on theimportance of reducing water wastagewith an apt title ‘ How to reduce yourwater bill at home and office’ with theparticipation of 100 associates.• Energy efficient seminar forassociates: An energy saving seminarwas conducted for 108 associatesfrom departments that deal with heavyelectricity usage. The guest speaker wasthe Chief Engineering Officer of the CeylonElectricity Board, Mr. Kamal Elleperumawho conducted an interactive seminareducating associates on the importanceof energy conservation and its impact onthem on a personal and domestic level.• Breast Cancer awareness seminar:A breast cancer awareness seminarwas held for the benefit of 35 femaleassociates with the aim of creatingawareness on this ever prevalent threatto all women. Focused on a messageof hope and inspiration rather thanone of despair and fear, the associateswere educated by speakers from theNational Cancer Institute, Cancer ControlProgramme and Mithuruwela (a voluntaryorganisation). A special informationbooklet developed by Cinnamon Grandin association with the National CancerControl Programme was also distributedto all female associates at the hotel.• Work safety awareness seminar:Over 200 associates including all Headsof Departments attended a seminar on‘Safety Procedures at Work’. The Headof the National Institute for OccupationalSafety and Health, Dr. ChampikaAmarasingha emphasized the importanceof safety as an occupational discipline,creating awareness and caution. Shespecified occupational hazards, citingemployee’s and employer’s responsibilitiesin ensuring safe working conditions, whileadvising practices to minimize accidentrisk.• Food waste reduction seminar:The Assistant Director of the CentralEnvironmental Authority highlighted theimportance of food waste managementand its implications in the hospitalityindustry. The seminar was attended by allstaff members including chefs.• Grand opening of Green Corridor: TheCinnamon Grand Green Team launched aunique sustainability awareness campaignfor associates with the opening of the‘Green Corridor’. The information wallin the corridor highlights the state of theplanet, the importance of sustaining greenhabits and the goals of the Green Teamin reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint,thereby creating a learning platformthrough an on-going sustainabilityawareness campaign.• Monthly green forum: A platform oflearning and awareness supported byleading scientists and experts in the fieldof environmental conservation is held forthe staff.