Aitken Spence Hotels triumphant at ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards

Tuesday, 1 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE 7th annual ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards were held on 24 February in Colombo under the aegis of Chief Guest, Nobel Prize winner, Prof. Mohan Munasinghe while the guest of honour for the event was ACCA President, Mark Gold.

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings Ltd. was adjudged the joint winner in the Medium Scale Category and now joins the ranks of being one of the most transparent companies in the world. This win highlights the importance Aitken Spence Hotels gives to sustainability, transparency and accountability and provides a clear indication that the company possesses extensive knowledge on how economic, social and environmental impacts of an organisation should be reported.

The judging criterion is split into three categories and looks at completeness in scope and coverage, credibility and communication. Reports are evaluated by an eminent independent judging panel consisting of experts in the field of sustainability and environmental reporting disclosures.

“We are delighted to have been adjudged the joint winner in the medium scale category. This commendation reflects Aitken Spence Hotels’ track record of commitment to corporate accountability and championing sustainable tourism by producing industry best practices. The tourism industry is experiencing a boom with many new entrants. As a country we need to be focused on positioning Sri Lanka as a sustainable tourism destination, to optimise the abundant benefits tourism can bring to the country’s economy and its people”, said Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels.

The awards, held in over 30 countries, is based on judging guidelines established by ACCA worldwide, and is open to any type of organisation encompassing all business sizes. The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards are already functional in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UK and the USA with similar awards, largely based on the ACCA criteria, existing in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Aitken Spence Hotels’ enduring efforts in making tourism a sustainable resource is made tangible by winning accolades such as this. Winning the ACCA award for Sustainable Reporting and achieving remarkable feats such as having all its hotels in Sri Lanka attain the prestigious EarthCheck benchmark status under the globally recognised sustainability management systems programme attests to the company’s commitment of delivering exceptional sustainable experiences to their guests.

Aitken Spence Hotels manages a portfolio of hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Oman. The company’s expertise in hotel design, building and management is complimented by its dedication and commitment to excellence. Located in some of the key tourist locations, each of the properties cater to a diverse client base.