Across all industry sectors, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming an ever more important criteria in determining where business is placed. By simply including CSR among the main RFP requirements, right alongside such key aspects as affordability, accessibility and destination attractiveness, organizations communicate the message and expectation that their MICE partners need to be responsible corporate citizens.The impact of steering meeting business to socially responsible partners is a great way to have a positive impact on society.
One issue of great global concern at the moment is that of migrants, refugees and integration.According to the BBC, more than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, sparking a crisis as countries struggled to cope with the influx, and creating division in the EU over how best to deal with resettling people.![]()
Spotlight: The Estrel Berlin and their excellent CRS in the area of integration:
In response to the refugee crisis, the Estrel Berlin created a proactive task force in 2015 to identify and discuss what the Estrel could do to support these refugees and mitigate the crisis. Many possible scenarios were put forward, discussed and evaluated. Finally, a decision was made to implement the first “Job Fair for Refugees and Migrants” to be held on 29 February 2016. In addition to covering the cost of the planning, PR and implementation of the Job Fair, the Estrel Berlin offered its brand new convention hall II for the event. Potential employers as well as support organizations were given the opportunity to exhibit free of charge in this gorgeous, 4,600m state-of-the-art hall, putting them in direct contact with employment seeking individuals. At the same time, refugees were informed of the fair and invited to attend, free of charge, enabling them to speak, with the aid of complimentary translators, with numerous potential employers as well as support organizations onboard to facilitate their integration.The first fair featured 211 exhibitors, was attended by 5,000 participants and offered more than 1,000 positions to job seekers. “The response from both job seekers and employers was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to collaborating again with Berlin’s business community to create a platform for integrating work and vocational training. We see it as our social responsibility to ensure a successful future economy and peaceful coexistence,” says Ekkehard Streletzki, initiator of the largest event of this kind in Germany and owner of the Estrel Berlin. In September 2016, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck praised the job fair initiative and its success. In 2017, with the refugee crisis still among us, the Estrel Berlin hosted the second job fair for refugees and migrants on 25 January 2017. Emphasizing practical introductions to jobs in the hospitality, health and trade industries, the 2017 event, with its 195 exhibitors, attracted 3,500 employment seeking refugees and offered upwards of 3,000 pote ntial jobs. “The Job Fair for Refugees and Migrants is a call to Berlin companies to show their commitment to a prejudice free working environment and give refugees new perspectives.” says Thomas Brückner, General Manager of the Estrel Berlin. In keeping with this philosophy supporting integration and diversity, the General Managers of the Estrel Berlin, Ute Jacobs and Thomas Brückner signed the Charta der Vielfalt (diversity charter) on December 6th 2016.This charter is a corporate initiative to promote diversity in companies & institutions and support a working environment free of prejudice, emphasizing the value of all employees, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel is the initiative’s patron and the Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Aydan Özoğuz, its supporter and spokesperson.“The response from both job seekers and employers was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to collaborating again with Berlin’s business community to create a platform for integrating work and vocational training. We see it as our social responsibility to ensure a successful future economy and peaceful coexistence,” says Ekkehard Streletzki, initiator of the largest event of this kind in Germany and owner of the Estrel Berlin.Europe's largest hotel, congress & entertainment center, the Estrel Berlin, with its 1,125 hotel rooms and 25,000 m² of state of the art event space all under one roof, employees of 500 employees from 40 different counties, all working together to successfully orchestrate upwards of 1800 events a year – truly a testimonial to functioning integration. The Estrel Berlin’s excellent example of CSR is evidence of the positive influence companies and organizations can have on their communities.Considering the current state of world affairs, it is perhaps helpful and uplifting to recognize that we are not limited to relying solely on government to implement social change. By supporting organizations with a solid CSR portfolio with your meeting spend, you give them the means to positively impact our world.
