Updated: February 25, 2021
Hilton on Wednesday announced an initial investment of $1 million to drive sustainable travel and tourism across Africa with a focus on five key areas known as Hilton’s “Big Five”.
The five key areas include youth opportunity, water stewardship, anti-human trafficking, local sourcing and protecting wildlife.
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“Today we are pleased to take our efforts to the next level with an initial commitment of $1 million, which will allow us to invest in and scale up initiatives that build skills among young people, mitigate risks in human trafficking, engage local entrepreneurs across our supply chain, improve water efficiencies and promote responsible wildlife-based tourism,” Chris Nassetta, Hilton’s President and CEO said at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
Nassetta said Hilton was committed to creating a positive social and environmental impact in every community where it operates.
“Africa is an incredibly diverse continent, with equally diverse challenges and opportunities — and as we continue to grow in the region, we are focused on doing so in a way that promotes sustainable travel and tourism”.
The announcement followed the recent launch of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 goals to double its investment in social impact and cut its environmental footprint in half across the globe.
According to Leila Ndiaye, President and CEO of the Initiative for Global Development, “Hilton’s President and CEO’s visit to Africa is timely and sends a strong signal to environmentally conscious investors across the continent”.
“It will set higher standards for future projects in the hospitality industry throughout Africa. Hilton’s growing interest in Africa’s promising and emerging market is a windfall for job creation among youth and will significantly contribute to sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity”.
Hilton’s existing 41 operating hotels in Africa have carried out 460 volunteering projects since 2012 to support their communities and manage their environmental impact.
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