SALES & MARKETING
“ GUESTS COME HERE FOR THIS UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT , AND HEARING THIS STORY MAKERS THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT STAYING AT THE RESORT AND BEING A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER .”
— SEBASTIAN BLANCO , GENERAL MANAGER , HYATT CARMELO RESORT & SPA
Manager Michelle Devlin says . The hotel and its counterparts in the six-property Red Carnation Hotel Group provide leftover wax from candles to a local candlemaker , who then sells scented candles back to the hotels and at crafts fairs . The hotel gives guests candles shaped like Christmas trees on Christmas Day as gifts . “ We have a greater mission here – of wanting to make a difference in the lives of others ,” Devlin says . “ Our employees also like our value of wanting to reduce waste , and our guests like the story behind these beautiful candles that they receive as gifts , which helps keep them coming back .”
The 44-room Hyatt Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay has seen a 14 % rise in repeat guests from 2016 to 2017 , attributable at least in part to the hotel ’ s investment in a local organic vegetable farmer , GM Sebastian Blanco says .
Farmer Carlos Gonzalez didn ’ t have the production power to grow vegetables year-round . In late 2015 , the hotel donated US $ 10,000 to Gonzalez , which enabled him to buy additional machinery and tools . The hotel ’ s chef also suggested ways to maximize land use on his 4-acre farm . The hotel now buys its vegetables from him , and Gonzalez sells his produce to a few local markets as well .
“ Guests come here for this unique environment , and hearing this story makes them feel good about staying at the resort and being a part of something bigger ,” Blanco says .
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT In some cases , hotels ’ social programs provide sources of labor . The Solmar Foundation in Cabo San Lucas , Mexico , the charitable arm of six-property Solmar Hotels & Resorts , in 2014 created a training center for residents of nearby tent colonies . They are trained in carpentry and gardening at the center , and in housekeeping in a mock hotel room there . A total of 700 people have come through the program , and 400 of them have been hired by the hotel , foundation Director Dinorah de Haro says . Solmar ’ s Mexican hotels employ 2,000 individuals . “ These employees now live in regular homes and have become some of our best employees ,” de Haro adds .
The 134-room Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum in India in September 2015 began partnering with a residence for homeless girls and women , offering computer training so that they can become more employable , and donating funds to create a computer lab and classroom , GM Jai Chugh says . The hotel also established a catering kitchen at the shelter home , in which the girls and women can earn an income providing services for local area functions . One student is even training at the hotel , learning skills that will help her operate her own catering kitchen , Chugh adds .
“ Our team members have become personally attached to the students and visit them with their families now ,” Chugh says .
The Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum , India , donated funds for a computer facility to train homeless girls and women .
60 hotelsmag . com November 2017