Marriott International Unveils Global Sustainability And Social Impact Commitments To Deliver Positive Change

31/10/2017 11:20

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- From human rights protections to sustainable hotel development, Marriott International today launched a new sustainability and social impact initiative designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. Under Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, Marriott's new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform seeks to continue the company's 90-year commitment to the communities it serves, the planet and people worldwide.

"As the global hospitality leader with properties and associates across 125 countries and territories, Marriott International has a global responsibility and unique opportunity to be a force for good in all aspects of our business – from helping to reduce carbon and water use to providing our associates with human trafficking awareness training," said Ray Bennett, Chief Global Officer, Global Operations at Marriott International and Serve 360 Executive Leadership Council Co-Chair. "We recognize that how we do business is as important as the business that we do. Incorporating environmental and social initiatives, including human rights awareness training, into our business is not only the right thing to do, it has a direct impact on our profits and beyond."

Guided by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, Marriott created Serve 360 to guide the company's commitment and deliver positive results through four priority areas or "coordinates":

Nurture Our World – Advancing the resiliency and development of our communities.
Sustain Responsible Operations – Reducing the company's environmental impacts, sourcing responsibly and building and operating sustainable hotels.
Empower Through Opportunity – Helping people prepare for jobs in the hospitality industry.
Welcome All & Advance Human Rights – Creating a safe and welcoming world for associates and travelers alike.

Marriott's new goals are being woven into the company across continents, from its global development organizations to its global supply chain networks. Some of the company's commitments by 2025 include:

Reduce water by 15%, carbon by 30%, waste by 45% and food waste by 50%
Contribute 15 million associate volunteer hours, 25% of which will be skills-based, to capitalize on personal talents and core business skills
Train 100% of associates to know the signs of human trafficking
Embed human rights criteria in recruitment and sourcing policies

"Building off our 2007 Sustainability goals, Marriott is proud to issue our next generation of goals, inclusive of social and human rights targets to address some of the world's most pressing challenges," said Tricia Primrose, Global Chief Communications Officer at Marriott International and Serve 360 Executive Leadership Council Co-Chair. "Associates and customers want to work for and do business with a company that aligns with their values and drives positive community impact. We are proud to be part of the solution."

More details about Serve 360 can be found at Marriott.com/Serve360.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,200 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 125 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

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