For the record - I love the Ritz ... fond memories of the Pentagon City Ritz-Carlton while working at MCI, and from my honeymoon, too. It's always a pleasure to be a guest at their properties.
Back to the story line ...
"Come stay at the Ritz-Carlton, and give back to the region of the world where you are vacationing," is the premise for the "Give Back Getaways."
So, if you haven't enough time to do good while at home, you can schedule your volunteer activities, just like a massage or facial at the spa.
Like I said, interesting.
It's a part of the company's Community Footprints, their social responsiblity program. Employees identify organizations or causes that need assistance, and schedule dates for guest participation. Guests can check a website to determine if their stay will coincide with a volunteer service opportunity.
As Corporate Social Responsibility programs go, this isn't too unusual, combining both employees and customers. I'll be watching how the company reports on this program - if it calls out the contribution of the guests and how their volunteerism affected the company's CSR bottom line.
Are you curious to know how guests are taking to this program? That too, will be something to note, given the demographics of this company known for luxury.
What I found curious is the statement in the press release that announces the expansion of the program to guests. (It had been an employee-only program until this year.)
What caught my eye? The phrase "... All profits from the half-day programs will be donated to the partner organization."
It does sound just like scheduling a spa appointment, doesn't it? ... I can see it now, at checkin: "I'll have a massage on Tuesday, help protect the turtles on Wednesday, and would like to have a mani-pedi on Thursday, just put it on my bill."
Says Sue Stephenson, VP Community Footprints program, "There is a fee to participate (ranges in general from $35 - $95). Ritz-Carlton covers all internal costs associated with the program, such as payroll costs for our employees who also participate. Any external costs such as transportation are deducted from the fee and then the profits are donated to the partner organization. We have partnered with 72 unique partner organizations around the world who depend on both volunteer support and financial contributions. We have had a relationship with many of these partner organizations for years through our Community Footprints program, providing volunteer, fundraising and in-kind donation support."
That's clear enough.
I do hope that their reporting on the success of the program is just as transparent.
After all, covering internal costs is certainly expected. External costs such as transportation should be minimal, as most RC properties have shuttle arrangements for guests. How much of the fee is considered profit and thus a donation to the organization? Is RC taking credit for the donations and volunteer hours - or do they acknowledge that they have mainly facilitated the volunteerism?
It's certainly interesting!
