ECONOMIC & SOCIAL

We acknowledge that as a result of the legislative, social and economic inequalities of the past, we have an obligation to address the differences that exist in South Africa. We strive to effect broad based economic transformation through training and skills development, enterprise development, job creation and procurement.

We are committed to promoting a better quality of life for all with particular attention to social integration, especially with issues such as health, child protection and women empowerment.

The personal well-being of all our staff is very important, which is why the Peer Educators program is in place. Certain employees have been selected to become Peer Educators in terms of Cape Grace’s Employee Wellbeing Program. Their duties include but are not limited to initiating discussions regarding staff welfare; identifying any well-being issues related to HIV/AIDS and initiating and arranging staff training with regards to HIV/AIDS.

Salt is a registered non-profit and public benefit community outreach organisation, affiliated to the Assembly of God Church in the Cape Town suburb of Table View. They work with other faith based organisations in order to bring change and uplift the local community. Cape Grace has chosen to financially support this organisation in their various feeding projects.

We’ve also aligned ourselves with the Desmond Tutu HIV /Aids Foundation which is run in association with the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town's Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine. By using a combination of academic expertise and social activism, the foundation is involved in a number of initiatives. Cape Grace is proud to be associated with an organisation that tackles HIV/AIDS head-on.

FAIR TRADE IN TOURISM SA

Cape Grace is certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA). The FTTSA certification trademark is the first in the world to endorse fair and responsible tourism practice. Certification is based on adherence to specific criteria such as fair wages and working conditions; fair distribution of benefits; ethical business practice; and respect for human rights, culture and environment.

Cape Grace has been continuously awarded for its achievements as one of the best hotels in the world. FTTSA has certified Cape Grace based on its exceptional employment practices, supply chain management strategies and strong focus on staff welfare. Employees are valued as key assets, evident in the extensive training and development programmes in place and in the hotel's policy of recognising staff excellence through service awards.

ENVIRONMENTAL

We recognise that we have an impact on the environment due to the consumption of energy, water and other resources used throughout our daily operations, as well as indirectly through our supplier chain. Therefore we are committed to reducing the harmful environmental and social impact of our operations.

Our vision is to be responsible towards the environment and local community by adopting initiatives that encourage sustainability.


Our mission

• Comply fully with environmental legislation
• Minimise our use of energy and materials
• Provide our employees with training and resources required to
  increase their environmental awareness
• Monitor our environmental impact
• Contribute towards community development


Current Initiatives

Energy
• Lights and air conditioning units are only switched on
  for arrival and occupied rooms 
• Energy-efficient globes
• Weight sensitive elevators
• Insulation on pipes and boilers
• The use of natural light is encouraged


Water
• Indigenous water-wise plants
• Jacuzzi filtration
• Low-flow shower heads
• During swimming pool drainage, the water is stored in several
  pods until the pool need to be re-filled, instead of disposing of
  all the water (100 000 liters)


Waste
• Shredded paper is used in packaging instead of plastic
• Paperless marketing
• Outdated and broken computers are donated to Footprints 
  E-waste
• Flower refuse is used off-site for compost
• Kitchen oil  is collected and recycled into biodiesel
• On site sorter separates recyclables to minimize dumping waste
• Recycling of:
    Printer / photocopier cartridges
    Cardboard and paper
    Plastic
    Glass
    Cans
    Used batteries
• Spa products are environmentally friendly and not tested on
  animals with the product manufacturers involved in carbon 
  offset programs
• Staff are encouraged to bring batteries and globes from home
  to be disposed of in a responsible manner

EDUCATION & AWARENESS

Planet Committee
The Planet committee is committed to increasing environmental awareness among staff members. They achieve this by making use of various initiatives, such as competitions, articles in the staff newsletter, meetings and posters.


Employee Assistance Program
Cape Grace has an extensive Employee Assistance Program in place. From helping staff members to find a psychologist to providing them with debt counseling advice, help is always at hand.


Training
The hotel employs a full-time trainer whose sole purpose it is to provide training across all operational areas. This includes general training on Cape Grace to specific food and beverage training. Widespread training is also provided in areas such as Computer Literacy, First Aid, Health and Safety and Emergency Response.


Internship Program
Students who study hotel management are employed on 6 month internship programs that cover a multitude of areas within the hotel in order to gain practical, first-hand knowledge of the hospitality industry. They are integrated into the operation of the hotel in much the same way as permanent employees so that they experience the real work environment.

Trainees are managed by a senior operational manager and tailor-made programs are set for each student according to school requirements as well as individual preferences. Evaluation from both school and hotel ensures students’ optimal growth and development.