BOSTON – The Saunders Hotel Group, a third generation family business, has just been recognized for its worldwide leadership in sustainable tourism by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The Saunders Hotel Group was awarded The Community Benefit Award at this year’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards during the opening ceremony of the WTTC Global Summit in Tokyo, Japan.
“As a family business, we strongly believe that the commitment to helping people in need is part of our mission,” said Jeffrey Saunders, President and CEO of the Saunders Hotel Group and Gary Saunders, Chairman of the Saunders Hotel Group. “We are truly honored that the WTTC has singled us out as a corporate role model for our community efforts.”
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The WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are one of the highest, most prestigious prizes in the Travel & Tourism industry, and recognize companies, and organizations around the world which demonstrate outstanding sustainable tourism achievements. Often referred to as “The Academy Awards of the tourism industry,” they are also the only global sustainable tourism awards that include extensive on-site evaluations of all finalists, conducted by an international team of expert judges.
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“We are firmly rooted in our commitment to sustainability in all that we do,” said Tedd Saunders, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Saunders Hotel Group. “Twenty-three years ago we pioneered green hotel practices at our properties, which led to many industry firsts and dovetailed with our family’s generational efforts to improve the lives of our team members and neighbors. It is so gratifying to be recognized for our company-wide achievements.”
Through initiatives that are driven and supported by all levels, the Saunders Hotel Group supports dozens of local and national non-profit groups with a combination of board leadership, volunteer time, financial backing and in-kind resources. The Saunders Hotel Group provides scholarships based on financial need to students attending the hotel and restaurant management school at Newbury College. Leaders of the Group also serve or have served on a number of boards and committees, including the Back Bay Association, Friends of Copley Square, Boston Green Tourism, and the Governor’s Council for Travel and Tourism.
The Saunders Hotel Group has been an industry trendsetter in sustainable tourism practices since 1989, and has been dedicated to minimizing its footprint through corporate environmental initiatives as well as finding opportunities to help its various communities both locally and regionally. The Saunders Hotel Group began innovating green practices at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers when it was under their ownership in the late 1980s, years before any other North American properties did so. In the early 2000s, when converting the historic Boston police headquarters into the 4-star Jury’s Hotel, the Saunders Hotel Group worked with the city of Boston and local community partners to build affordable housing in the area. The Saunders Hotel Group employs more than 100 corporate-wide sustainability initiatives at their properties today, including hybrid cars, waterless urinals, state of the art windows, and ozone laundry systems. For more info, contact Tedd at TSaunders@EcoLogical-Solutions.net
About Saunders Hotel Group
The Saunders Hotel Group, known for its commitment to gracious hospitality, innovation, and environmental leadership, operates six distinctive properties: Lenox Hotel (Boston), Comfort Inn & Suites (Boston/Logan Airport), Hawthorne Suites Hotel (Alexandria, VA), Hampton Inn (Norwood, MA), and The Premiere Hotel and Suites (New Haven, CT)To learn more visit www.saundershotelgroup.net.