Eco-vacations, purposeful travel and responsible tourism are just a handful of terms buzzing around the travel and hospitality industry. But they all boil down to the same idea: travelers want to feel good on vacation by taking time to relax and leaving destinations better than how they found them. Kind Traveler reported that 96% of survey respondents said that it was important that their travel dollars make a positive impact where they visited.
At Hilton Grand Vacations, we believe that sustainability isn’t just a trend. It’s our social responsibility to positively impact the communities where we live, work and vacation. Here are some ways we give back so that you can feel good about your next getaway.
Environmental Sustainability
Kings’ Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Honored in Hawaii Green Business Awards
We strive for improved environmental sustainability and maintain a Malama Hawaii mindset — which means giving back to the community and being a good steward in the Hawaiian Islands. We’re proud to be recognized in this year’s Hawaii Green Business Awards for our sustainable practices and contributions toward Hawaii’s sustainability goals.
The team at Kings’ Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, in Waikoloa, Hawaii, has pledged to 30 initiatives across six areas of sustainability. If you’ve noticed energy-efficient thermostats and low-flow showerheads in your rooms or native plants and filtered water bottle fill stations around the resort, you’ve seen a few of the changes we’ve made to be greener. We also offer Owners and Guests opportunities to do their part and connect with the land, whether it’s planting trees or recycling.
HGV Donates on World Wetlands Day
Kings’ Land isn’t the only Hawaii property to malama (or give back). We donated $5,000 to Save the Wetlands Hui, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to Maui’s wetland conservation and restoration, as part of World Wetlands Day.
The nonprofit currently focuses its efforts in Kīhei, where Maui Bay Villas, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, is located. Wetlands play a critical role in Maui’s ecosystems and natural infrastructure, from housing native plants and animals to protecting local ecosystems by reducing erosion and keeping pollutants out of the ocean.
However, this donation isn’t a one-time contribution. Our team at Maui Bay Villas is working with Save the Wetland Hui to develop volunteer opportunities, such as removing trash and planting native species, so that Members, Guests and Team Members can get involved. The next time you stay in Maui, add a little Malama Hawaii to your itinerary.
We continue to commit to developing sustainable practices to help protect the environment and community so that you can preserve and enjoy the beauty of your favorite destinations for years to come.
Homelessness
Our top priority is making people feel at home, offering Hilton Grand Vacations Owners a “home away from home” when they travel. But we believe that everyone should have someplace to call home.
In 2021, Hilton Grand Vacations announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. Not only did we donate $100,000 to support new home builds and home repair projects nationwide, but we’ve also collaborated on volunteer opportunities for Team Members to help in their communities.
Team Members in Central Florida came together to work on a home for a first-time homeowner in Pine Hills with Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County. This build was part of Women Build, a national initiative to build homes for women and their families in honor of Women’s History Month. HGV Serves volunteers installed siding and doors, worked on landscaping and painted the house. Team Members are also preparing to participate in builds in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Disaster Relief Efforts
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires, can impact your favorite travel destinations, but we help take care of communities affected by these disasters.
Hilton Grand Vacations has a long-standing partnership with the American Red Cross to assist disaster relief efforts. The Red Cross offers invaluable service to those impacted and displaced by disasters. The nonprofit responds to over 60,000 disasters in the U.S. each year, and as the intensity and frequency of these disasters grow, they rely more and more on public donations.
For Red Cross Giving Day, we announced a $50,000 matching donation and encouraged people to donate. Disaster relief is one of our four philanthropic pillars, so we support organizations, such as the Red Cross, that organize emergency assistance, disaster relief and volunteer efforts when disaster strikes where we live, work and vacation.
These are just a few ways we give back to the communities we work in. We’re just as passionate about serving beyond our properties as we are serving Members and Guests.
Read “6 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Travel More Sustainably” to make your next getaway a little greener.