Sustainability to attract more hotel and conference guests

The Danish hotel chain Comwell joins the UN’s Global Compact, making a future commitment to transparent reporting that describes and documents the hotel chain’s efforts regarding ten principles within human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption, as well as the 17 Global Goals. According to the Danish Chamber of Commerce, a well-founded endeavour regarding sustainability and CSR will increasingly become a competitive parameter that will help to attract international business tourists and conferences to the country in the future.

Based on a desire to take responsibility and make a difference, Comwell has taken a purposeful and structured approach to sustainability throughout the value chain since 2015. This has been accomplished primarily through dedicated work to minimise and streamline resource consumption throughout the company, and a continuous focus on employee well-being, development and an inclusive work environment, among other endeavours.

From the outset, the sustainability efforts have been rooted in the “Ten Principles” and the 17 Global Goals, which is why Comwell sees joining the UN Global Compact as a natural next step on the journey.

“For several years, we have had a strong focus on creating a solid foundation and ambitious goals for our sustainability efforts, including the involvement and training of our employees. By joining the UN Global Compact, we now create transparency regarding our work, based on documentable results for the benefit and satisfaction of guests, employees and partners. At the same time, we see this as a way to make visible how both the hotel industry as a whole and we as a group can contribute to this important agenda”, says HR and Sustainability director Mai-Britt Jensen.

A strong network with a shared responsibility
Furthermore, Comwell also looks forward to contributing to the network’s efforts and helping to raise the bar for responsibility and sustainability in the Danish business community:

“Global Compact Network Denmark is a strong network that can undoubtedly contribute to Comwell’s further sustainability efforts, just as we can hopefully help shine a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities that exist in our industry, and inspire others. Sustainable development is a shared responsibility, which is why we also believe that this is a task best solved together,” Mai-Britt Jensen concludes.

With its 440 members, Global Compact Network Denmark is the largest Danish network for responsible companies. The network is company-driven but also enlists civil society, public institutions and other stakeholders to mobilise more companies to work with business-driven social responsibility for the benefit of both society and businesses. 

At the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which has been a member of the network since 2009, there is no doubt about the value created when a hotel chain like Comwell joins the network:
“Sustainability is increasingly becoming a competitive parameter that will help attract foreign business tourists and conferences to the country. The international framework and guidelines within CSR and sustainability provide a good system for companies’ efforts regarding the agenda and create a better basis for comparison. And here, the UN Global Compact is certainly among the most widely adopted frameworks. At the same time, it is through partnerships and collaborations that we can create the biggest change,” says CSR Manager Malene Thiele.

Global Compact Network Denmark is a member-run non-profit association tasked with facilitating knowledge sharing between the Danish members and providing them with both inspiration and tools on their journey and in their sustainability efforts. The network also works with the UN Global Compact in New York and collaborates with local sister networks around the world to increase the accessibility of international expertise.

Facts about the UN Global Compact:
The Danish network is the local representative of the UN Global Compact, headquartered in New York and established in 2000 by then-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to mobilise the world’s companies in a global movement for sustainable development. Today, it is the world’s largest voluntary initiative for responsible companies, with 12,000 companies and 3,000 organisations having already joined. Companies that join the UN Global Compact commit to integrating ten universal principles within human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption into the company’s strategy and operations, as well as to contributing to the achievement of the 17 Global Goals.