PALLADIUM HOTEL GROUP'S 'PALLADIUM CARES' CSR INITIATIVE MAKES PROGRESS IN ITS SECOND PHASE

PALLADIUM HOTEL GROUP'S 'PALLADIUM CARES' CSR INITIATIVE MAKES PROGRESS IN ITS SECOND PHASE

• In its second phase, Palladium Hotel Group's 'Palladium Cares' CSR commitment has made waves in the destinations where it operates
• Through its "4 causes to take action" project comprising of 43 initiatives, 305 Palladium Hotel Group volunteers have positively impacted over 600 individuals by collaborating with 29 local NGOs
• Palladium Hotel Group has furthered its commitment to social responsibility by launching training centres in Jamaica, where over 50 people are already receiving professional training

Palladium Cares, the transformational Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative launched by Palladium Hotel Group in May 2023, has completed its second phase and made significant progress under its pillars of Our People, Our Community and Our Planet.

The fight against inequality

The "4 causes to take action" project was created to tackle the issues of childhood, inequality, the planet and care for the elderly, with each phase being carried out respectively. The second phase to target inequality has now concluded, having made a positive impact on nearly 400 adults. This phase, comprising of 21 initiatives, saw 175 volunteers from the corporate and hotel teams collaborate with 13 NGOs such as Fundación Hogar Sí, Fundación Integra and Fundación Raíces, as well as multiple local associations to provide support to adults with disabilities such as Down Syndrome.

Gloria Juste, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Palladium Hotel Group, said: "We have had the opportunity to accompany these remarkable adults in situations of vulnerability during a period of their training. Whilst growing their professional skills, they have shown us their strength and their fight to overcome their difficulties and be great professionals. Thank you very much to the local associations who allowed us to participate in their work."

After completing this second cause, the "4 causes to take action" project has now carried out a total of 42 initiatives in collaboration with 28 local NGOs, impacting over 600 beneficiaries. The project will now continue with its next phase, caring for the planet, which will run in Europe until March 2024.

To ensure the smooth operation of all of its initiatives, Palladium Cares has created CSR offices in each hotel, with the responsibility to monitor and ensure compliance with the plans, as well as raising awareness among internal stakeholders.

First professional training centres launched in the Americas

In the Caribbean and Americas, Palladium Cares has focused on the implementation of local education and training centres in underprivileged communities where the group operates. The group seeks to aid those who face greater difficulties to develop professionally due to a lack of resources using these centres.

The first achievement in this area was the recent signing of a three-way agreement between Palladium Hotel Group, the Municipality of Hanover in Jamaica, and national academic organisation Heart NSTA (The Human Employment and Resource Training Trust). This agreement allowed the designation of seven spaces distributed across the municipality, as well as ensuring the commitment of a team of teachers from the academic organisation. Currently, over 50 people are already receiving professional training in relation to the hospitality sector, as well as support during their employment process to help increase their job opportunities.

In Mexico, Palladium Hotel Group has partnered with the Origen Foundation, which has been responsible for developing a curriculum adapted to needs of the local community. The group has also strengthened its team with the recruitment of a CSR profile responsible for the territory, who will be responsible for the management, implementation and supervision of the training centre.

Palladium Hotel Group's goal is to benefit 2,500 people in Mexico and 600 people in Jamaica annually, helping to close the inequality gap and improve the prospects of stable and qualified employment for the local population.

Ongoing commitment to sustainability and the environment

In line with the group's commitment to the environment, Palladium Hotel Group has joined forces with National Geographic to shine a spotlight on marine biologist and filmmaker Manu San Félix's Communitas project, protecting the marine environment. The resulting short documentary shows the important work carried out with young people to protect and preserve the Mediterranean Sea, with special attention paid to the Posidonia Oceanica, a seagrass that is vital for protecting plant and animal species through its oxygen production. The initiative carries out both research and educational projects, and includes the Innovative Dive Camp programme, where young people become familiar with underwater exploration from a responsible perspective.

Iñaky Bau, Senior Director of Corporate Brand Strategy at Palladium Hotel Group, said: “The preservation of and care for the environment is a fundamental pillar of Palladium Cares. It is especially key in destinations like Ibiza, where so many of our brands are based. This is why the collaboration with National Geographic to document Manu San Félix's project was such a natural fit for the brand. His work to raise awareness among the population about the need to improve our interaction with the sea fits perfectly with our values, as does his vision of change for a better future through the education of new generations."