CSR has become an important element of the marketing mix. TravelMarketing has always been trendsetting and anticipates on changes within the industries.
Our international partners strongly developed their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives over the past years. Walthers in South Africa strives to manage there own resources in terms of recycling, energy efficiency, water preservation and management. This extends to the events they run, where management of resources is carefully monitored and their suppliers are selected based on their use of ‘green’ principles.
They have two major projects which they actively support: a community in Orange Farm near Johannesburg, in terms of sourcing church or school choir entertainment for events and community projects. The other major initiative is the Sam Nzima Primary School near Hazyview, where they have installed a borehole and water pump, because the school had no access to fresh water. Walthers also provided computer equipment and set up and maintain an internet connection for the children’s use.
The third aspect of Walthers CSR is promoting sustainability in terms of precious African wildlife through support of anti-poaching initiatives, the banning of canned lion hunting, sale of porcupine quills, etc. Guests can become as involved as they wish in the various projects, whether it informally concerns a game of soccer with a local school or repainting the walls of a community centre.
In his spare time Mario Enzesberger, CEO of Liberty International developed in 2009 The Delta Dunes ‘Wild place by the Sea’. A secluded lodge (including 6 open fronted cast-away style rooms) located north of Malindi (Kenya) combining beach, river and bush giving an unforgettable experience. This lodge works closely with the local community and their inhabitants in order to preserve these phenomena.
Liberty aims to improve the standard of living, education, employment, medical facilities through conservation in this particular area. A conservation fee needs to be paid to the Community (who holds 13.000 members and who is partner in the lodge) for every guest that stays in the lodge. There are 150.000 acres of conservancy being set aside. This is owned and managed by the Community, with the support of the lodge.A cultural centre will be set up for those who visit the Delta Dunes in order to learn about the fascinating and very different cultures of the Orma and the Pokomo, the people who live around the river. It is possible to visit these incredible tribesmen from the lodge. For more information: www.tanadelta.org
CSR will become even more important in the near future. Due to the economical situation worldwide, the times of spending enormous amounts on luxurious articles for own employees and clients has passed. TravelMarketing offers you the opportunity to convince your principal that besides the revenue of an incentive trip social involvement can be the ‘key to success’. The local community will be supported and the bond between the participants of the trip will be strengthened.