The document discusses sustainability and social responsibility initiatives at Rice resort. It explains that as awareness of climate change has grown, it is now standard for hotels to have environmental policies and work to reduce their carbon footprint. However, sustainability also requires considering the local community and employees. Rice has therefore established a triple bottom line approach to ensure it is profitable while also supporting the environment and people. Key programs outlined include engaging the local community through infrastructure support, hiring local staff, and assisting with education, healthcare and cultural preservation.

1. Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Rice
The hospitality industry has long been aware of the reality of climate change in the
modern world and to the industry’s direct and indirect contributions to the emerging
and detrimental threats of this ecological dilemma.
As a result it is now standard pr
practise for hotels and resorts to have an Environmental
E
Policy in place for the design, build and operation of their property and to be actively
working towards reducing their carbon footprint by mitigating the negative impacts of
ing
common practises such as waste disposal, electrical and water useage and the use of
toxic and non bio-degradable products.
degradable
As this trend to mitigate moves in a positive direction the complexity of the subject and
the depth at which it should be considered and implemented has grown.
The key is not to just to consider the implications of the resort on the natural
environment but also to the people of th local environment (as well as the employees
the
and customers of the resort). Luxury hotels and resorts are often situated i beautiful
. in
but fragile environments with populations of less fortunate and under developed
inhabitants that contribute to the natural beauty of the land that are in dire need of
support. In the case of Rice, the wonderful rice paddy terraces it is home to
to.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
A company’s (Rice) obligation to be accountable to its stakeholders (local community,
employees, customers and service providers) in all its operations and activities with the
aim of achieving sustainable development not only in the economical dimension but
development
also in the socio-cultural and environmental dimension
cultural
So forms the basis for the Triple Bottom Line measuring tool.
PROFIT * PLACE (environment) * PEOPLE (community)
Commonly a company always look at its bottom line Profit when operating its business.
looks
How much money it invests, the revenue achieved, its operational costs and hence its
bottom line profit.

2. Now environmentally responsible hotels and resorts operate Triple Bottom Line
baseline accounting. Budgets and measuring tools are now also in place for measuring
both PLACE (the environmental impacts resulting from the resort and its operation),
and, PEOPLE (the local community, resort employees and guests).
These are operated in a similar way to a normal profit and loss resort operational
account. Investment is made in Place and People initiatives and a stringent monitoring
device indicates the benefits or losses of the exercises undertaken to see if the bottom
line for these independent accounts is in the red or black, as well as for the resorts
operational Profit account.
It is considered that a hotel is only truly conforming and successful with its CSR if all
three - Profit, Place and People are in the black.
A wise financial strategist will know all three baselines can provide profitability if
planned, integrated and implemented efficiently, hence Rice will appoint the role of
Chief Sustainability Officer to a senior management employee at the resort to direct,
oversee and provide transparent reporting.
Rice Community Engagement Programme
Under the division of PEOPLE, Rice has set forth an internal nine point agenda based on
guidelines set by GSTC – Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, an initiative led by the
United Nations World Tourism Association www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org
Rice will individually project manage initiatives to:
• SUPPORT COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
• USE LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS AND SERVICES WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
• MAINTAIN POLICIES AGAINST COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL
COMMUNITY PEOPLE.
• GUARD AGAINST HOTEL ACTIVITIES THAT COULD JEOPODISE OR ENDANGER THE
PROVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES AND INCOME FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
• PROTECT LOCAL SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES WITHIN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
• INCORPORATE LOCAL DESIGN ELEMENTS AT THE RESORT WHEREVER POSSIBLE WHILST
RESPECTING THEIR ORIGIN AND RELIGION.
• TRAIN AND HIRE LOCAL PEOPLE FOR EMPLOYMENT WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
• ASSIST WITH CHILD EDUCATION AND WELFARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
• ASSIST WITH COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.