Policy Plan

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Our Mission
3. Our Approach in Four Themes

3.1 People and Society

3.2 Environment

3.3 Added Value

3.1 People and Society

• Engagement
• Social impact
• Corendon Academy
• Diversity
• Sustainable employability
• Art and cultural heritage

3.2 Environment

• CO2 emissions
• Efficient energy use
• Recycling
• Water consumption
• Solar energy and water purification in Curaçao
• Nature conservation and biodiversity

3.3 Added Value

• Sustainable procurement of products and services
• Fairtrade & organic cotton
• Recycled carpets
• Fair food and food waste
• Veg(etari)an options
• Tea with a story
• Sustainable coffee consumption in offices and hotels
• An opportunity for local suppliers
• Office furniture
• Corendon and its suppliers

4. United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 13: Climate action
• Goal 14: Life below water
• Goal 15: Life on land

5. Social Partner(s)hips

• MVO Netherlands
• ANVR
• Green Key

6. Corendon Foundation
7. Communication

Corendon Hotels & Resorts (CHR) is an innovative hotel chain that has been part of the Corendon Group since 2014. Our hotels and resorts are located in attractive destinations and are focused on providing personalized service to our guests. We take pride in our reliable, friendly, and service-oriented teams who go above and beyond to exceed our guests’ expectations. In addition to Corendon Hotels & Resorts, the Corendon Group also includes Corendon Package Holidays, Corendon Airlines, and Corendon Dutch Airlines.

Currently, our hotel chain consists of eight hotels, including the largest hotel in the Benelux, Corendon Village Hotel Amsterdam in Badhoevedorp. We also have hotels in Amsterdam Nieuw West, Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, Ibiza, Turkey, and Curaçao.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are important pillars in our business philosophy. As a hotel company, we not only contribute to local employment and economic development but also to cultural exchange and people’s growth. However, we are also aware of the impact that travel has on the environment, culture, and society. Therefore, we are committed to sustainability and preserving our destinations.

In 2019, we introduced our new corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. By integrating CSR into our operations, we ensure that our organization has a positive influence on the future of our hotel locations. In this report, we provide an overview of the various projects and steps we have taken so far in terms of sustainability, as well as a preview of our plans for the coming years.

Our Mission

At Corendon Hotels & Resorts, we believe in being transparent about our sustainability efforts. In 2019, we introduced our CSR policy with the aim of sustainable development of our hotels and resorts and the preservation of a livable world.

Our mission is to contribute to a greener world and promote responsible travel and accommodation, so that future generations can also enjoy the beauty that the world has to offer. Collaboration is crucial in achieving this, both locally and internationally. We work together with our hotels and resorts worldwide to establish the right strategy and increase the impact of our efforts. We understand that the decisions we make today will have an impact on the world of tomorrow.

Our Approach in Four Themes: People, Society, Environment, and Value

Sustainability is deeply embedded in our organization. For the Corendon Group, of which Corendon Hotels & Resorts is a part, we have set sustainability objectives.

For the sustainability strategy at Corendon Hotels & Resorts, we work with the following four themes to communicate our policy:

• Our employees
• Social engagement
• The environment
• Responsible procurement

The tourism industry is one of the largest economic sectors globally in terms of revenue and job creation. We are proud of the positive local contribution we make with our Hotels & Resorts in destinations worldwide.
At the same time, we are aware that travel has a significant impact on the environment, culture, and society. We can only continue to exist if we take good care of our destinations, guests, and hotels. Therefore, as a hotel group, we are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to reduce our impact on the environment and minimize our footprint. We are fully committed to raising awareness of responsible stays, both within our hotels and beyond. By incorporating responsible vacationing into our operations, we ensure that we have a positive influence on the future of our hotel destinations worldwide.

3.1 People and Society

Engagement
A safe, pleasant, and healthy work environment is important for our employees. Therefore, they are also part of our CSR policy. They play a crucial role in supporting the policy, implementing it, and contributing to the organization’s growth. An employee satisfaction survey conducted in early 2019 indicated that our colleagues consider it important for their employer to be socially engaged.

We aim to be an attractive employer that gives back to the communities where we live, work, and vacation.

Social Impact

We are in the process of developing a volunteer program for our employees. We want to give everyone the opportunity to make a social contribution by offering their time, knowledge, and expertise to a socially relevant project aligned with our core themes: People, Society, Environment, and Value.

• Our employees are given 1 paid day per year to engage in volunteer work.
• In the coming year, we will develop a “Social Impact” program for all employees and departments, allowing them to individually or as a team contribute to a social cause.
• Our goal is to achieve 25% employee engagement in volunteer projects by the end of 2023.

Diversity
We are a diverse company in terms of cultural background, age, gender, and abilities.

Our hotels employ over 40 different nationalities. We provide equal opportunities to everyone in our recruitment processes and for career advancement within the organization. For example, we also work with refugees in our Dutch hotels.

Corendon Academy

Equal treatment of future and current employees is fundamental at Corendon Hotels & Resorts. From this perspective, we have established the Corendon Academy, an extensive training program that offers opportunities to individuals regardless of age, background, or culture.

Sustainable Employability

We encourage our employees to lead healthier lives. For instance, ‘Fit by Corendon’ is an initiative that promotes physical activity and healthy living among our employees through activities such as sports competitions, boot camps, and programs providing information on nutrition and exercise. Departments also participate in projects, often linked to charitable causes such as World Day.

Art and Cultural Heritage

Corendon Hotels & Resorts collaborates with organizations and artists dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and promoting local art in the regional areas where our hotels are located. For example, at Corendon Village Hotel in Badhoevedorp, we exhibit pieces from Amsterdam museums, while our hotel in Curacao prominently displays artworks by artists from the Otrobanda neighborhood of Rif in Curacao. This way, hotel guests can experience local art, culture, and heritage and are encouraged to explore the neighborhood, for example, through a walking tour.

3.2 Environment

CO2 Emissions
Climate change is a global challenge, and reducing our environmental impact is an essential part of our policy.

Corendon, as a tour operator and airline, has chosen to focus on targeted CO2 reduction and compensation throughout the entire value chain. They have established a CO2 reduction program, allowing customers to offset the CO2 emissions from their own travel and stay by purchasing a tree. The current Corendon forest comprises approximately 415,000 planted young trees, with the goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030. Planting trees has a positive impact, benefiting future generations. Each tree absorbs approximately 20kg of CO2 per year, equivalent to a 90-kilometer car ride.

• Corendon Hotels & Resorts will implement a tree compensation program for hotel guests in all our hotels within the next 2 years.

Efficient Energy Use

In 2019, we began certifying our hotels with sustainable certification. We have considered all certifications recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Our goal is to certify all our hotels sustainably in the coming years. Two out of three of our Dutch hotels currently hold the Green Key Gold certification and consume 50% less energy than an average comparable hotel. We implement energy-saving measures in our offices and hotels, such as LED lighting and a heat-cold pump that regulates temperature based on outdoor conditions. Additionally, we compensate for our CO2 emissions through a Gold Standard climate project.

• In the next 2 years, we aim to certify all our Dutch hotels with the Green Key Gold certification.
• We strive to have our hotels in Curacao and Ibiza also certified sustainably by 2025.

Recycling

We separate and recycle waste in both our offices and hotels. We collaborate with various partners to maximize the recycling of our separated waste, including plastic, paper, and general waste. We have separate bins for plastic, paper, and waste in our hotels.

We renovate old buildings and convert them into hotels or offices, using recycled materials, including carpets made from recycled materials and Fairtrade cotton for furniture upholstery.

We give waste a new purpose. The matte black toilet accessories in the public restrooms of Corendon City Hotel and Corendon Village Hotel are made from 100% recycled plastic. When we need new products, Satino Black collects the old toilet accessories and recycles them into new ones. These products are also produced in a carbon-neutral manner, using sustainable energy and green gas. This means no CO2 is emitted during the production process, making them CO2-neutral.

We aim to reduce our plastic consumption, as plastic does not degrade and has significant consequences for marine life. In our hotels, we minimize the use of disposable packaging. The disposable packaging we do use is less harmful to the environment, made from materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) or food production by-products like sugarcane or corn. These materials are biodegradable and compost in nature.

In Curacao, we are a partner of Green Phenix, a social enterprise working towards a circular and inclusive economy in the Caribbean region. They collect plastic waste and convert it into new, sustainable, and meaningful products. Our hotels in Curacao contribute by delivering their plastic waste, including HDPE, PET, PP, and aluminum cans, on a weekly basis to be processed into new products.

We also ensure that all cardboard from our resorts is recycled.

• In the Netherlands, the use of single-use plastic has been prohibited since July 1, 2021.

We aim to replace all single-use plastics with more sustainable alternatives in our hotels on Curacao within 2 years.

• We also strive to reduce the use of (disposable) plastic water bottles to zero by 2025.

Currently, waste management on Curacao involves disposing of all garbage in a landfill. Corendon is actively engaged, through the industry association CHATA, in lobbying for better legislation and practices regarding consumption and waste management.

• Through lobbying efforts on the islands of Ibiza and Curacao, we contribute to the establishment of a circular economy where waste is reused or processed in a meaningful way.

Water Consumption

We strive to save water wherever possible. All our toilets have a dual flush system, and we inform our hotel partners and guests about water-saving practices both locally and at their vacation destinations.

Solar Panels and Water Purification on Curacao

In collaboration with the local water company Aqualectra, Corendon has shared ideas and insights to develop innovative solutions for creating a sustainable hotel concept. At Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort, we use solar panels on all roofs to generate 2.3 megawatts of electricity, making the resort self-sufficient during the day.

We also pump water from the sea and use reverse osmosis to convert it into freshwater. This water is used for showers, sinks, toilets, and swimming pools. Only the toilets are connected to the sewer system, while the water from the pools, showers, and sinks is filtered. A quarter of the filtered water is used for gardens, and the remaining three-quarters are supplied to local farmers, contributing to a more sustainable development of local agriculture.

• We strive to optimize energy and water consumption in our hotels, minimizing waste and inefficiency.

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity

Curacao has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for over twenty years. This designation includes the surrounding waters and coastal areas of the island, rich in mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Mangrove forests are globally threatened but are crucial for biodiversity, water purification, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection.

• As the Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort is located in a special nature area with mangrove forests, Corendon will clean up the mangroves on its own property and adjacent areas once phase 2 of the complex is completed. The land will be cleaned in consultation with nature conservation organizations on the island, removing piles of litter and restoring the area entirely.

3.3 Added Value

Sustainable Procurement of Products and Services
Within Corendon Hotels & Resorts, we have developed a sustainable procurement policy and engage in ongoing discussions with our suppliers about alternative and more sustainable products. We prefer to work with suppliers who prioritize sustainability and collaborate with them to make our assortment more sustainable.

• By 2023, we aim to consolidate the procurement processes for the hotel group, creating volume that reduces production costs and the number of traffic movements per hotel component.

Fairtrade & Organic Cotton

At Corendon Hotels & Resorts, we choose bed and bath linen (such as sheets, pillowcases, and towels) made from organic cotton with the international Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. With the GOTS certification, we ensure that at least 70% of the linen consists of organic fibers. Organic cotton production involves no artificial fertilizers or genetically modified plants, resulting in a significantly lower impact on the environment, nature, and local communities. Our bed and bath linen also carry the Fairtrade Max Havelaar label, ensuring that cotton farmers work under good conditions and receive fair wages.

Recycled Carpets

The carpets in Corendon City Hotel and Corendon Village are made from 100% recycled yarn. In Corendon Village Hotel alone, we have over 12,000 square meters of recycled carpet. The process involves dismantling old carpets and creating new ones from the recycled materials. This approach not only saves costs but also reduces 70% of the CO2 emissions associated with carpet production, which mainly come from raw material extraction and processing. The wallpapers in our hotels come from Vescom, a company dedicated to sustainability.

Ethical Eating and Food Waste

We make every effort to minimize waste. This includes conscious purchasing, avoiding both excess and shortages. Leftover vegetables and fruits are used in soups or smoothies. Any excess breakfast items are offered to our employees during their lunch break. If guests have taken more food than they can consume during breakfast or dinner, they can request a doggy bag to avoid food waste.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented an All You Can Dine concept at Corendon City Hotel, where guests can place targeted orders for a prescribed number of dishes until they are satisfied. If guests order more than they can eat, we charge them 1 euro, which goes to the Food Bank. This approach prevents excessive ordering, and if it does occur, it benefits those in need.

• We aim to completely eliminate food waste and implement appropriate programs to reuse or recycle leftover food in all our hotels and destinations by 2023.

Organic Products

We strive to use fresh organic products whenever possible. In our Corendon City Hotel, we incorporate twenty different types of organic vegetables and fruits. Our wines are also of organic origin. Organic products are cultivated without artificial pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, synthetic preservatives, or artificial flavorings, colors, or aromas. By using organic products, we contribute to environmental preservation, biodiversity promotion, animal welfare, and the sustainability of rural areas, without compromising the enjoyment of our guests.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options

Within our restaurants, we offer an expanding range of vegetarian and vegan options. These options not only cater to vegans but also provide a sustainable alternative to consuming animal products.

Tea with a Story

That’s the tea we serve in our hotels. Our guests not only enjoy a unique cup of Fairtrade tea but also receive a personal message from Sri Lanka, the country of origin for the tea. The concept, called “Communitea,” embodies the idea of receiving “Post from Sri Lanka.” The community in Sri Lanka designs the tea packaging using personal belongings, drawings, and objects. Each drawing is unique and can be seen on the tea bags. Each tea bag carries a personal message from one of the tea farmers.

Sustainable Coffee Consumption in Offices and Hotels

For several years, we have been serving sustainable coffee from Peeze at our office. Peeze is the first Dutch coffee roaster to provide 100% certified Arabica coffee, paying fair prices to the producing farmers, roasting their coffee in a climate-neutral way, and minimizing waste through the use of recycled or recyclable materials. Additionally, we use organic sugar and coffee creamer.

Office Furniture

We have also purchased second-hand office furniture through OPnieuw! OPnieuw! is a social enterprise that refurbishes and gives a second life to A-brand office furniture. Not only is the purchase of these products cost-effective, but it also aligns with our sustainable procurement policy.

OPnieuw! employs individuals with barriers to the labor market, creating a win-win-win situation.

Opportunities for Local Suppliers

We prefer working with local suppliers. Our suppliers of fresh produce in Amsterdam and Badhoevedorp are all located within a maximum radius of twenty kilometers. We have consciously made this choice to reduce CO2 emissions and support the local labor market. For example, our peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes come from Osdorp nursery. The nursery employs (former) addicts, homeless individuals, and people with mental health issues, providing them with opportunities for work and social integration.

On Curaçao, we collaborate with local farmers to increase the production of locally grown vegetables and fruits, reducing the need for imports. This stimulates employment for the local population, supports the local economy, and contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint of the products.

Corendon and Its Suppliers

In addition to these examples, there is still much to be gained in terms of sustainable procurement. Therefore, in the coming years, we will focus even more on sustainable procurement policies. It is important to establish agreements with our suppliers and other partners regarding their approach to human rights, working conditions, child labor, and the environment. We expect our suppliers to have responsible policies in place and comply with international laws and regulations related to these issues. We have developed a set of standards and requirements and will incorporate them into our procurement process.

• Every supplier and partner will receive our purchasing terms and Code of Conduct when entering into a contract, which they must adhere to.

United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

Corendon Hotels & Resorts achieves its CSR goals, among other things, by committing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By integrating the SDGs into our sustainability strategy, we actively contribute to a better and more sustainable future for everyone through our core activities.

We make the largest contribution from our organization to the following five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Tourism is one of the driving forces behind global economic growth. By promoting fair employment in the tourism industry, various groups benefit from this economic growth. Our policy focuses on promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs, supports and preserves local culture and production. That’s why we established the Corendon Academy, a training and education program both domestically and internationally, providing job opportunities in the hospitality industry for individuals with or without experience, who receive on-the-job training within our hotels.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

We are conscious of the things we buy and use. This includes sustainable products and goods that we procure for our hotels worldwide.

Goal 13: Climate Action

We pay close attention to our energy and water consumption, waste and waste management, and ensure that these are done as efficiently as possible. In the Netherlands, two out of our three hotels have already received the Green Key Gold certification.

Goal 14: Life Below Water

We take measures to preserve and sustainably use oceans and seas in our destinations. This includes initiatives such as promoting sustainable fishing practices and protecting coral reefs by restricting tourist access to certain beaches.

Goal 15: Life on Land

We are committed to restoring ecosystems and conserving biodiversity. The emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases contributes to the greenhouse effect, leading to climate change. To give back to the Earth, we have planted trees in Turkey between 2010 and 2019 to combat soil erosion and offset CO2 emissions. (We have requested collaboration opportunities with LifeTerra, and hopefully, we can mention more about this.)
Additionally, we contribute to the restoration and cleanup of mangroves in Curaçao. In collaboration with local conservation organizations, the land has been remediated and manually cleared of debris. Mangroves are important ecosystems that play a vital role in biodiversity, coastal protection, carbon sequestration, water purification, and tourism. Mangrove habitats are under significant threat worldwide.

Social Partner(s)

MVO Netherlands

In 2019, Corendon joined as a partner in the network of MVO Netherlands. MVO Netherlands connects entrepreneurs and other societal organizations to enable innovations through unexpected collaborations. In addition to the network of ANVR in the travel industry, their network is a valuable addition outside our own sector, allowing us to learn from other companies about their approach in transitioning to the new economy.

ANVR

Corendon is a member of ANVR and participates in various groups within ANVR that focus on sustainability and mobility. The goal of these participations is to promote collaboration in the travel industry and establish joint projects that benefit the industry.

Green Key

Green Key (formerly known as Milieubarometer) is an international quality label for companies in the tourism and recreation industry. Globally, more than 2,500 companies in 54 countries are affiliated with the Green Key certification. Companies with a Green Key certification meet several mandatory and optional measures related to environmental care and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Green Key Netherlands has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The higher the classification, the more optional measures a company takes. Green Key is a program of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an organization with a global presence aiming to promote appreciation and knowledge of nature and the environment. Green Key is the program for the tourism sector and accommodations.
For Corendon Hotels & Resorts, it is important to stay up to date with all legislation, measures, and innovations in the field of environment, energy, and other topics within hospitality, so that we can design and organize our hotels as sustainably as possible. Sustainable hospitality not only ensures responsibility towards the future of our organization but is also important for conscious purchasing, cost savings, and motivating our employees to work for one of the most sustainable hotel chains in the Netherlands.

• We aim to have all European hotels Green Key Gold certified by 2023.

Corendon City Hotel and Corendon Village Hotel have held Green Key Gold certification since 2019.

Corendon Foundation

The Corendon Foundation is an independent foundation that aims to contribute to the improvement and sustainability of holiday destinations by supporting local projects, ensuring that future generations will want to live, work, and vacation there.
The Corendon Foundation only supports projects that are linked to the core activities of our hotel organization and contribute to the sustainability of our destinations.

This is done within the framework of the following 4 themes:

1. Educating children and youth: promoting self-sufficiency, creating employment opportunities in the tourism sector, and supporting educational projects for young people aimed at a better future.

2. Protection and restoration of nature and the environment: conserving natural attractions and protecting flora and fauna.

3. Art, culture, and heritage: encouraging cultural activities, preserving cultural attractions, and promoting local art and culture.

4. Local economy and employment: promoting local excursions, products, and services, and providing a platform for smaller initiatives at our destinations.

Since its establishment in 2011, the Corendon Foundation has supported various projects within the tour operator and airline. Information about these Corendon Foundation projects is reported on our website at https://www.corendonfoundation.com/projects/.

Since 2019, we only support projects linked to Corendon Hotels & Resorts.

• We aim to support a minimum of 2 relevant projects for all destinations by 2023 and report them on the website.

Communication

We extensively communicate about sustainability, social projects, and collaborations. We also share news about achieved goals regarding process improvements within our hotels. We target both our guests and our employees through emails, web posts, social media, e-learning programs, newsletters, platforms within and outside our organization, in three different languages: Dutch, English, German, Papiamentu, and Spanish.

• We strive to create an optimal awareness and understanding of sustainability and sustainable practices among both our guests and colleagues. To achieve this, we communicate through all available media channels at regular intervals, focusing on sustainability and social issues. The goal is to inspire both our guests and employees to actively contribute to more sustainable actions.

• We will provide regular updates on the progress of our intended objectives.