Corporate Social Responsibility in hospitality: are sustainability initiatives really sustainable? Case examples from CitizenM, Lefay and Six Senses

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-545
Author(s):  
Virginia Maria Stombelli
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Future ◽  
Virtuous Cycle ◽  
Positive Direct ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose In 2016, the United Nations published the agenda for sustainable development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), asking everyone to commit to reach the Goals’ targets by 2030. Accordingly, hospitality brands developed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to deliver positive direct, indirect and induced impacts to the triple bottom lines’ environmental, social and economic dimensions. The purpose of this paper consists in investigating the benefits that companies want to obtain, engaging in these activities. Three very different hotel brands’ CSR are analyzed to consider their undeclared coordination with the UN SDGs namely CitizenM, Lefay and Six Senses. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on secondary qualitative data retrieved from websites. Findings When choosing to commit to CSR initiatives, companies not only behave as good corporate citizens but also pursue their economic interests. By so doing, they receive benefits that vary from improved image and reputation amongst guests to enhanced satisfaction and commitment amongst employees, passing through reduced fiscal burdens and financial savings. Practical implications The UN SDGs seem to potentially create a virtuous cycle in which Goal 8, decent work and economic growth, must be a leading cornerstone. To make the cycle work, socio-economic engagement and factual certainly should be improved and hospitality companies should pay a role both by measuring and publishing the benefits of committing to CSR and funding sustainability research that can be beneficial to their business, too. If this happens and the UN SDGs’ targets are met, the future will benefit from a circular economy, whereby resources will not be disposed of but maintained, repaired, reused, remanufactured and refurbished before being recycled. In other words, sustainability is not only about creating a better life for every living being but also about developing favourable business environments to benefit companies. Originality/value The comparison of hospitality brands’ with theoretically identified benefits represents the starting point of a wider multi-dimensional reflection on coordination between companies’ CSR and UN SDGs. Recommendations to sustain the sustainability virtuous cycle and to look at the future are drawn.

Family businesses, corporate social responsibility, and websites

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (7) ◽  
pp. 1442-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Iaia ◽  
Demetris Vrontis ◽  
Amedeo Maizza ◽  
Monica Fait ◽  
Paola Scorrano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Italian Wine ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the distinctive elements of CSR communications that characterize the communications models of family businesses in the Italian wine industry, and to compare them with nonfamily businesses. Design/methodology/approach Using a case study approach, a sample of large and medium companies practicing corporate social responsibility was identified. The content of their websites was examined using content analysis and text mining (correspondence analysis techniques and word association analysis using the T-Lab software). Findings The analysis indicates that the ownership structure nature makes a difference in the online CSR communications process. The cultural identity in both family and nonfamily businesses is founded on intangible factors such as tradition; however, being a family business is a fundamental driver in the online CSR communications process, no longer forming a bond among players in the wine industry, but rather linking with other wine family businesses. Research limitations/implications One limitation of this work is the small size of the investigated sample. An added value it contributes is its focus on the Italian wine industry. The paper provides the essential elements that family and nonfamily wine businesses should consider in customizing their CSR communications with the brand’s specific details. Originality/value The authors highlighted the similarities and differences of family and nonfamily wine businesses in terms of their online CSR communications. The authors also observed how the family wine business identity, in its multidimensional construct, has common factors with what we call “familiness.” This research could establish a starting point for further work within this important sector.

Can investing in corporate social responsibility lower a company's cost of capital?

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Cajias ◽  
Franz Fuerst ◽  
Sven Bienert
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Equity Capital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Cost ◽  
A Company

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings on the ex ante cost of capital of more than 2,300 listed US companies in a panel from 2003 to 2010. It examines whether financial markets value continuous investment in CSR activities through higher market capitalization and lower cost of capital. Design/methodology/approach – The measure of the cost of capital reflects the perceived riskiness of individual companies expressed in the unobserved internal rate of return that investors expect to hold a risky asset. Based on descriptive portfolio estimations, panel and quantile regressions, the authors model the cost of equity capital as a function of CSR strengths and concerns obtained from the KLD-database and accounting controls. Findings – The authors show that firms' CSR strategies differ significantly across industry sectors. Customer-orientated companies such as telecommunications and automobile outperform asset-driven sectors such as real estate or chemical companies. Furthermore, the authors find a 10-bp positive effect for one standard deviation of firms' intensive allocation of resources in sustainable activities. Research limitations/implications – Since the authors are interested in the effect environmental, social and governance activities have on the firm's perceived market valuation rate, the authors apply the Fama-French model because of its efficiency in explaining realized returns, rather than incorporating analyst's long-term growth forecasts into the proxy for the equity premium. Practical implications – Managers of companies with low or intermediate CSR scores may consider the financial benefits of improving their social and environmental performance. A good starting point is usually to draw up a company-wide CSR agenda, possibly guided by a dedicated CSR task force, mapping out the potential costs and benefits of such measures. In addition, by improving their CSR ratings, a company may get access to additional resources, ranging from the growing ethical investment industry to employees for whom CSR performance matters when choosing an employer. Originality/value – The authors expand the existing literature by considering firm's CSR level to be in relation to the overall CSR performance and decompose firm's CSR agenda into strengths and concerns rather than counting the number of activities a firm is involved in. The applied methodology allows a better understanding of firm's CSR agenda and its implication for capital markets and investors on both long and short investment terms.

From surface to deep corporate social responsibility

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Richards ◽  
Irina Safitri Zen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Learning ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and explore the policy concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a focus for sustainable development. To this end, it develops and explores the implications of a distinction between CSR as a marketing strategy and a more sustainable long-term commitment to changes in organizational culture and also society. Design/methodology/approach This a conceptual paper which develops a policy research framework for examining the CSR rationale as well as general concept as applied to the “plastic bags” public awareness campaign in the Malaysian case study. On this basis, its central inquiry approach is to develop and explore the distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR policy implementation as also related modes of social learning. Findings The findings from the conceptual inquiry recognize that corporations which fail to apply a deep rather than a surface commitment to their own CSR polices will sooner or later be judged on that basis by their customers as well as external stakeholders. Although CSR policies will always involve a corporate marketing focus, this is sustainable only if framed by a long-term organizational commitment to accountable change. Originality/value The paper makes, develops and further explores a basic accountability distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR as a management commitment, corporate policy implementation and related processes of corporate cultural change. This links to the paper’s associated innovation of linking CSR as both internal organizational learning and a larger sustainable development process of social learning.

Corporate social responsibility in tourism as a tool for sustainable development

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 2358-2375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcin Hatipoglu ◽  
Bengi Ertuna ◽  
Duygu Salman
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Shared Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intermediate Outcomes ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThis study aims to analyze corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in tourism as a tool for sustainable development in the CSR program of a multinational enterprise in Turkey.Design/methodology/approachThis study includes qualitative research on a single company, content analysis of company-originated documents, participant observations, questionnaires for tourism project coordinators and follow-up interviews with company directors and project managers.FindingsThe paper identifies immediate context variables, program management, the complementary nature of interests and the diverse capabilities of the partners and an ongoing evaluation process as the determining factors for creating shared value for CSR programs in tourism.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the challenges of impact assessment and measurement of long-term effects, the study proposes a systematic framework for evaluating shared value creation generated by CSR activity.Practical implicationsThe evaluation methodology introduced in this research will be of use to CSR program developers in interpreting and reporting on the anticipated outcomes and impacts of their interventions in sustainable tourism development.Social implicationsA lack of outcome evaluation and impact assessment may affect accountability and, hence, the legitimacy of CSR programs. This study attempts to mitigate that limitation by introducing a novel methodology.Originality/valueThe value of CSR in tourism is a highly contested issue, despite its high potential for contributing to sustainable development. This longitudinal research goes beyond presenting immediate outputs of a CSR program in sustainable tourism; it discusses intermediate outcomes in the form of capitals, community well-being and shared value for society at large.

Sustainable development through five senses of effective corporate social responsibility strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muneer Al Mubarak
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Strategy ◽  
Five Senses ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to introduce a five senses concept (sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell) that enhances corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. It sheds light on the effective CSR senses, which are required by firms for better performance and sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach The main approach for collecting information for discussion is the literature review focusing on topics such as CSR strategy, CSR activities, sustainability and sensemaking. Findings While searching the literature, little was found on sensemaking and very little was found on CSR five senses, a gap which needs to be looked at. A gap was also found between what firms do and what are expected from them to deliver to society in terms of CSR activities which puts sustainability at risk. Practical implications Firms are expected to improve performance when these five CSR senses are incorporated in their strategy and activities. This approach makes firms work effectively to meet different stakeholders’ needs and wants internally and externally; hence, a better satisfaction level can be achieved and sustainable development is likely to be better secured. Originality/value The idea of CSR senses has been neither thoroughly discussed nor sufficiently developed as a five CSR senses concept in the previous studies. This study contributes to the CSR knowledge and practice in many venues by offering a conceptual model that suggests important senses of effective CSR strategy, hence, bridging the CSR gap that might exist in strategy and practice. Therefore, researchers and practitioners are expected to benefit from this study that can result in better CSR control and sustainable development.

scholarly journals Social responsibility and quality: issues of competitiveness and sustainable development

2021 ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Krisztián Kis
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Market Participants ◽  
The Future ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Quality Issues ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Part Complexity

It can be stated that quality is a multifaceted concept, and it makes the difference between any perceivable or conceivable entities visible. The meaning of quality has greatly changed over the years, its content has expanded and quality has become the most important single factor for success. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that “quality means business”. However, quality, as it will be seen, means much more than that. Corporate Social Responsibility and the service of Sustainable Development Goals have become part of organisational quality. Nonetheless, without innovation, there is no quality or competitiveness, thus, there is no business either. This is the 21st century, which, according to Joseph M. Juran, will be the century of quality. It is important to note that companies are not just economic units or merely market participants, but also social factors and entities influencing the environment. For this reason, compliance with social norms and ethical expectations is also an important aspect of their operation. To meet the expected and latent needs of customers and users, and also the requirements of society as well as the natural environment in a way that all stakeholders are equally satisfied is a fundamental issue for companies, today and even more so in the future. The main purpose of this chapter is to discuss how quality should be understood, and what the relationships between the issues involved are. In the chapter, it is argued that quality, Corporate Social Responsibility, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development are interrelated concepts. Therefore, it is the further purpose of this chapter to discuss how social responsibility and innovation affect quality, and how quality contributes to competitiveness and sustainable development. In this chapter, quality issues are dealt with from different aspects. In the first part, the concept of quality is presented, which deals with the evolving notion of quality and the future of quality in light of social responsibility. In the second part, complexity issues and emergences are introduced, while quality is discussed as an emergent property, and the role played by social responsibility and environmental concerns in competitiveness and sustainable development are explained, and furthermore, innovation from quality and responsibility perspectives are examined.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Islamic banks of Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Anowar Hossain Bhuiyan ◽  
Md. Abud Darda ◽  
Md. Belal Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arts And Culture ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences an organization in deciding its ethical approaches in the corporate practices and also important to maintain sustainable development. Islamic banks are capturing almost 40% of the total bank account holders in Bangladesh and contributing to the socio-economic and environmental development of the country through their CSR activities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of CSR activities of Islamic banks for sustainable development in Bangladesh from the perception of the beneficiaries. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a questionnaire survey of 200 conveniently selected beneficiaries from five purposively selected Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Respondents’ agreement score for various CSR-related activities has been observed in a five-point Likert scale and, finally, to identify the impact of CSR, exploratory factor analysis has been done. Findings Results revealed that respondents are expressing strong agreement for almost all the activities, and they are much satisfied with ongoing CSR activities by Islamic banks, which implies positive attitudes of beneficiaries regarding CSR activities. The results of factor analysis further confirm the perception of respondents toward CSR activities of Islamic banks in terms of social enhancement, education and health, socio-economic well-being and contemporary arts and culture. Originality/value The Islamic banks should enhance their CSR activities for socio-economic development, provide more allocation in education programs, increase sponsorship in sports events and assist in flourishing Bangladeshi arts and culture.

Corporate social responsibility and future financial performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahmoud Lari DashtBayaz ◽  
Sohila Khorashadizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Return On Assets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
The Future ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditures and firm financial performance in an emerging market. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine the hypotheses by performing panel data analysis on a sample of 159 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2010–2015. Findings The findings suggest that the investment in CSR initiatives is significantly and positively associated with firm financial performance as proxied by changes in return on assets. Moreover, the findings confirm a positive and significant association between CSR expenditures and firm financial performance as proxied by both the future changes in return on assets and the future changes in operating cash flows scaled by total assets. Originality/value The present study has examined the relationship between CSR and firm financial performance in a country where, to the authors’ knowledge as in most other developing markets, such a relationship has not been a subject of empirical research. Besides, the use of a three-dimensional measure of financial performance, primarily considering research undertaken in an emerging market, as a valuable contribution may be observed.

Corporate social responsibility: is it an alternative to government?

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Xavier Dery Tuokuu ◽  
Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
The Government ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained global prominence in recent years. This is because businesses have seen the need to consider the interests of stakeholders not only to enhance their corporate image but also to live good neighbourly lives with the communities in which they operate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the value of engaging stakeholders and recommend multinational corporations not to take over the governance of countries in which they operate as a result of their financial muscle but to play complementary roles to help in the development of those countries. Although CSR is no longer new in Africa according to recent studies, it is suffering from identity crisis, as it has been used generally and severally to refer to different issues. This conceptual paper discusses the notion of CSR practice in Africa and the major issues and debates around it. It looks at the role of government and civil society organisations that are at the forefront playing watchdog and vigilante roles for the benefit of the society. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper. Findings The paper argues that business and society cannot exist without working together and that responsible business is key to sustainable development. It traces the roots of CSR and the emergence of the concept. It advises that what is required in Africa is for the media and civil society organizations to play watchdog and vigilante roles in ensuring that businesses are socially responsible, accountable and transparent. If governments and businesses are transparent and accountable, then the citizens become the greatest beneficiary. The profit margins of businesses will also increase and there will be sustainable development. The paper also indicates that the concept of CSR is gaining grounds in Africa and is no longer new as indicated by previous studies. It recommends that Africa should have its own CSR programmes designed to fit into the African setting. The paper examines the major issues and debates on CSR and concludes that any attempt to introduce uniform laws to ensure responsible business operations universally will not work as situations differ from country to country. The overreliance on corporate entities, particularly Multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporation (TNCs), for the direct development of African economies is not sustainable, as these corporate entities cannot continue to fulfil these obligations meant for the development of infrastructure and still be expected to provide basic amenities for communities under the guise of fulfilling CSR. This process of national development is unsustainable. Originality/value The paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach in designing and implementing CSR programmes. The government, civil society, community and the company should collaborate and constantly have stakeholder engagements as that are the only way of attaining a win-win benefit. MNCs and TNCs should see the government and other stakeholders as partners in development and not lord it over them as a result of their financial muscle. It is recommended that more research work be done in CSR education in Africa. This is to enable business operators and communities understand the true meaning of CSR and to know that the concept goes beyond philanthropy or donations. It will also help them understand that the concept goes beyond community relations to include issues such as human rights, child labour, environmental governance and corporate tax among others.

Corporate social responsibility and consumerism: case examples from Hyatt, Scandic and Walt Disney

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-562
Author(s):  
Sylvie-Cecile Luiten
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Walt Disney ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their link to the United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs) are increasingly important, however prior research on this topic is limited, especially in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to greater knowledge on the subject and determine how other hospitality organizations should move forward the two topics were researched using a framework relating to the triple-bottom-line concept with reference to case studies of three hospitality corporations – Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Scandic Hotels AB and the Walt Disney Company. Design/methodology/approach Most large hotel corporations now report their CSR activities on their corporate websites, which is the most accessible format to find information on activities, and so secondary research was conducted to draw on this. Additional secondary research was undertaken from October 2019 – May 2020 using a number of journal databases including Sage Journals, Emerald Journals, the E-library of the UNWTO and Taylor and Francis Academic Journals. Third-party sites were also leveraged including CSR-Hub, The United Nations and Forbes. Findings While all three corporations mention their efforts in relation to the sustainable development goals, commitment on what activities contribute to which goals was difficult to discern. Furthermore, while there are some activities that all three contribute to, there are many best practices that could be shared across the industry. Originality/value Though the research was limited to secondary sources, the topic is largely unresearched and has the potential to suggest best-practices available more widely across the industry.

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