18 October 2011

Little Frog Benefits From InterContinental Wellington

The endangered native Maud Island frog now has an important new shelter at Wellington’s wildlife conservation refuge due to this year’s Responsible Business Week efforts by a hard-working InterContinental Wellington team.

As part of the hotel’s sustainability/regeneration contribution to their own community, staff from the leading central city hotel spent a wet and muddy day early in October working at ZEALANDIA: the Karori Sanctuary Experience. They completed the frog’s new shelter as well as assisted with track maintenance and shoveling and clearing paths.

Responsible Business Week is a global initiative by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts working in partnership with National Geographic's Centre for Sustainable Destinations. During the week of 3-9 October 2011, 170 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts across the world took part in activity that supported their local area.

InterContinental Wellington Director of Sales & Marketing, Geoff Naumann, says ZEALANDIA is an obvious choice for the team to help.

“The work the sanctuary does in providing a safe haven for some of New Zealand’s most endangered native animals is invaluable; it completely encapsulates our responsible approach to the planet philosophy.”

The wildlife sanctuary is part of the InterContinental Wellington Insider Collection, a group of local operators hand-picked to work with the hotel’s conference and event clients, ensuring delegates are exposed to an inspiring choice of local experiences.

The hotel team’s efforts last year (also at ZEALANDIA) won them one of just three annual global awards (along with InterContinental Bucharest and Presidente InterContinentel Cozumel - Mexico) acknowledging the natural fit of their activity and gaining them profile in the nationally acclaimed National Geographic Traveler publication.

For the past few years InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have actively supported five principles of Responsible Business, developed in association with National Geographic’s Geotourism Code of Good Practice.

“Geotourism means supporting and protecting what makes our region or city unique. We have a responsibility to respect and protect the nature, heritage and communities that make our location unique,” says Geoff.

“Responsible Business Week encourages our staff to have a deeper appreciation of our world and inspires a passion for its preservation. This year, the weather was against us but it didn’t dampen our spirits – it’s always a very uplifting day.”

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(left to right): Assisting Ron Goudswaard - Conservation Officer, ZEALANDIA (white hat) with creating creature comforts of a different sort are InterContinental Wellington’s Mace Harwood, Concierge; Teina John, Guest Experience Manager Communications; Daniel Fleming, Guest Experience Manager Facilities; Philip Glendining - Head Storeperson.

ENDS

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