Corporate Social Responsibility
Employees at a Wuhan hotel feeding doctors and nurses is a godsend to medical staff working under difficult conditions. Every day, they prepare more than 1,000 nutritious meals. And they deliver them directly to staff combating the coronavirus outbreak.
In This Post
CSR – Walking the Walk
When it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), many companies talk the talk. But one Hong Kong-based multi-national is actually walking the walk.
Staff at hospitals in Wuhan, China, are working under very difficult conditions. In addition, they are putting in very long hours.
In a show of support, the Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan, is providing more than 1,000 meals per day to these valiant professionals.
The meals are prepared in the five-star hotel’s sanitized kitchens. Furthermore, kitchen employees prepare them under strict health safety procedures.
Then the meals are delivered directly to hospitals and other health-care facilities. And they are targeted at the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff.
In fact, some staff have cut off their hair to make wearing protective gear easier. Moreover, some staff are wearing adult diapers to avoid taking toilet breaks. It’s not easy getting into and out of bulky protective clothing!
CSR – a Role Model for Other Companies?
The effort has not gone unnoticed. In fact, it has drawn praise from the community. Can it serve as a role model for other companies?
“Our hotel’s volunteering initiative received positive feedback in the community,” says Rina Shao, General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan.
“More people are extending assistance through sourcing vegetables, packaging boxes, and procuring other supplies for the medical facilities.”
But corporate social responsibility is nothing new for the hotel group. In fact, the group’s sustainability initiatives have a long history. And they can be grouped under an umbrellas of five key areas:
- Environment
- Health and Safety
- Employees
- Supply Chain
- Stakeholder Relations
“This campaign strives to educate our stakeholders, inspire and engage our employees, enjoin our business partners and align ourselves with the local community initiatives” the company’s website says.
In conclusion, this example of a Wuhan hotel feeding doctors and nurses is part of an on-going commitment to CSR.
Other recent Shangri-La initiatives include …
- Empowering people with Down Syndrome in Dubai
- Helping flood victims in Indonesia
- Planting mangroves to protect coastlines on World Wetlands Day
The list goes on and on!
Wuhan 101
As the capital of Hubei province, Wuhan has a population of roughly 11 million people. In fact, it is the most populous city in Central China.
Wuhan is 574 miles (923 kilometers) due north of Hong Kong. It is 655 miles (1,055 kilometers) south of Beijing. And it is 426 miles (685 kilometers) west of Shanghai.
In fact, Wuhan is an important centre of industry and commerce. And many foreign countries – such as the United States – maintain consulates-general in the city.
So why an American consulate in a city that most Americans have never heard of? An estimated 1,000 U.S. nationals live in Wuhan! They include businessmen. And students … And teachers … The list goes on!
Unfortunately, Wuhan has the dubious distinction of sitting at the centre of the 2019-2020 coronavirus outbreak.
In fact, the virus was first identified in the city in December 2019. When 41 people came down with pneumonia, there was no clear cause. Current thinking is that the virus got its start at a wet market in Wuhan.
Shangri-La Wuhan Hotel Overview
The Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan, sits in the heart of the city’s financial district. In fact, it is one of the city’s most luxurious hotels.
The 442-room hostelry has a fine-dining Chinese restaurant. In addition, there is an international buffet restaurant. Finally, the hotel has a stylish lobby lounge. Needless to say, their kitchen is state-of-the-art!
Hotel Location
Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan – 700 Jian She Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan, China. Telephone: (86 27) 8580 6868.
The Verdict
While I haven’t dined at the Shangri-La Hotel in Wuhan, I have dined at Shangri-La hotels in several other cities.
For example, I’ve eaten at their hotels in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, China. In addition, I’ve eaten at their hotels in Cebu, Philippines, and Tokyo, Japan.
And based on my experience, the medical staff in Wuhan are being well taken care of!
An enthusiastic two thumb’s up to Shangri-La! What an excellent example of Corporate Social Responsibility! May their efforts serve as a role model to other companies!
Further Reading
This post on Wuhan hotel feeding medical staff during the coronavirus outbreak contains affiliate links. Consequently, if you book a room, I may receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you.