Small action makes big difference
By Binh Nguyen in HCMC
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| Staff of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon take small actions inside and outside these buildings every day to help build a better environment in which they work and live - Photo: Mong Binh |
Thomas Schmelter, regional general manager of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for Vietnam, and his team are accelerating application of modern communications technology at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon, as this will result in major contribution to saving the energy and above all the environment.
Just less than one year of opening in downtown HCMC, the InterContinental Asiana Saigon has been able to smoothly progress with its long-term program to cut costs but increase revenue thanks to environment-friendly moves for online communications. The hotel boasts almost 90% of communications and business activities now made possible via e-mail and other network facilities that help achieve the two goals at the same time.
One example demonstrates how the InterContinental Asiana Saigon takes full advantage of the Internet and Intranet systems for communications and daily business. Instead of having to count on paper forms as many companies still do for internal requests, employees of the property just need to fill in an available e-form and then email it to the responsible person. Then, the executives type their remarks of either approval or objection on the form with time and date clarifications before replying it to relevant departments and employees.
The e-forms have proved inexpensive but more efficient with employees’ applications for annual leave; purchase or food and beverage orders of departments; complimentary accommodation and meals, and hotel-airport pick-ups for guests. This means they are using the printer less for their requests and thus saving a lot of electricity and time.
At the mid-town hotel, e-mail also works well with announcing meetings and transmitting important messages within the staff community. When e-mail cannot function with sizeable documents, disks are used to save these files rather than send printed paper copies to the executives for editing, reviewing and approving.
E-communications for directories, bulletins, reports among others are encouraged and appreciated at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon. Employees are told not to print documents on papers unless this is absolutely necessary.
Riding on the success in the initial period of operations, the luxury hotel is developing its website and e-brochure for frequently requested information in order to reduce use of energy for office machines and impact on the environment.
“Paper usage in many parts of the word is on the rise,” Schmelter said. “The world’s paper hunger also significantly contributes to climate change, and animal is not only a victim for that, so as the human.”
Good practices need awarding, and encouraging words are one of the awards given by the management of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon. As for Schmelter, he often confers big thanks on his team for having developed such electronic systems to make internal communications more cost-saving and more environmental-friendly.
“At IHG, we believe that environmental protection is part of our corporate social responsibility,” Schmelter said, referring to a number of activities organized or participated in by staff to help build a better community and a greener world in Vietnam.
Just in July, employees of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon went out with brooms and other tools in their hands to collect garbage in and around the April 30 Park in the heart of HCMC. They teamed up with the Youth Union of Ben Nghe Ward in District 1 for the worthwhile event.
Schmelter elaborated the event was a testament to the InterContinental Asiana Saigon’s support for the community where its people did business. “Seeing hundreds of our employees cleaning the beautiful park is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to this community.”
The 305-room hotel on the corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan streets is just within a short walk of HCMC’s popular tourist sites and landmarks including the park of many old beautiful trees. Therefore, keeping the park ever green is to reserve and add attraction to the hotel in particular and this economic hub in Vietnam in general.
The action of InterContinental Asiana Saigon’s employees at the park last month sent a good message to the community and inspired people to do something within their ability to protect the environment of HCMC.
“We hope in some small way, our support can help raise awareness of environmental preservation in Vietnam,” Schmelter said. “I believe that by taking a small action, we can make a big difference for the environment.”
The Saigon Times Daily