The Way Forward: What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

We realized a long time ago that if our whole team got together to work toward having a positive impact on the world, we could accomplish great things. Many companies these days are beginning to realize the same thing and are implementing Corporate Social Responsibility programs, or CSR for short. But, what is CSR and how does it impact travellers like you?

What is CSR?

Corporate Social Responsibility is the way an organization contributes to and improves society by weaving responsibility into every aspect of the business. In general, CSR platforms aim to support employees, care for communities and protect the environment. An organization might, for example, focus on providing clean water to communities in need, and they might tie this goal into their product, service or business model. CSR when done right connects philanthropic activity to responsible business practices – with the overall goal to be in the business of doing good.

How Does Collette engage in CSR?

At Collette Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a company value and we have just rolled out a new platform that enables us to integrate it into our brand identity. In our 100th year, we are excited to take CSR to the next level. The new platform focuses on four key pillars: people, community, product and environment. With these pillars, we are able to clearly define what we care about the most and what all of us are going to do to be agents of change.

People

Taking care and being responsible starts right here at the office. Collette believes in the well-being of our team members and makes sure they are cared for in mind, body and spirit. We do this through excellent benefits packages, learning opportunities and a company culture that centres around caring for ourselves and each other.

Community

Even though we have always been a socially responsible company, we will continue to contribute to our local and global communities to affect real change. Working together as a unified team to empower others through food and education, we have been able to do a lot of good over the years.

The Collette Foundation has launched many projects around the world that have impacted communities. Our One Million Meals initiative, employee volunteer program and many other efforts contribute to making our global presence a positive one.

Product

Our tours are designed with heart. We support local economies through tourism and work to preserve historic cultures and places. Our tours incorporate ways to make a positive impact on the communities we visit. From experiences like volunteering at a project site for one of our global nonprofit partners to supporting a local family business or staying in an eco-lodge, the on-tour experiences are designed with the well-being of our guests, tour managers, local guides and local community in mind. With CSR as a priority, this commitment to responsible travel experiences will continue to develop.

Environment

We are taking steps to minimize our carbon footprint on the environment. At our offices, we have installed newer, more efficient HVAC systems, chosen more efficient lighting, implemented a more robust recycling program and found ways to use less paper. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

How does CSR at Collette Impact Our Guests?

It stands to reason that a company with a culture of caring will extend that same care to our guests. Our CSR efforts impact every aspect of the guest experience from your interaction with us on the telephone, the usability of our website and online booking process, your interactions with the locals while out on tour, and even the peace of mind you get knowing that you’re travelling with a company that is ethical, responsible and caring.

Every day we strive to create a positive impact in the places where we work and where we travel by embodying our culture of giving and leveraging our global presence. Through our commitment to our employees and communities, we aim to make the world a better place, one extraordinary travel experience at a time.