|
|
| With regard to... Citizenship |
--By Jerry Sikes, RRP/CHA
"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours
is
that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight."
- Theodore Roosevelt -
There is an old adage in the Hospitality Business which is: "The only thing that
matters is Location, Location, Location." That message is the opposite of that other famous adage: "If
you build it they will come!" The difference is subtle and a mix of the two could make more sense: "If
you build it where they are likely to come - you will have a better chance to succeed."
Building in an existing community at or near a natural attraction such as a beach or a man-made one such as an
amusement park enhances the likelihood that they will come. That is the reason for the abundance of Timeshare or
Vacation Ownership developments in the vicinity of Walt Disney World, Myrtle Beach, Vale Valley, Waikiki or the
Strip in Las Vegas.
Where there is a community there will be an infrastructure on which to build. In general terms it will mean things
such as a population to fill human resource needs, businesses to provide needed supplies, fire and police protection,
streets and roads, hospitals, schools, churches and a system of public works such as sewer, water, and power.
This brings us to the subject of citizenship... When you or your firm moves into a community you/they automatically
become a member of it. Citizenship is the quality of your or your company's response to membership in that community.
The economic and social forces which touch us, our employees and our guests demand that we take an active role
in social, environmental and community concerns. This is not good corporate or individual business, it is an essential
part of everyday life. While we cannot reshape our society, we know we are a part of it, and we certainly have
a stake in it. The quality of life in our communities directly affects the success of our business.
The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College has developed the Standards of Excellence which are
designed to link corporate community activities to its core business goals. These standards contain seven management
practices, processes, and policies.
STANDARD 1: LEADERSHIP
Senior executives demonstrate support, commitment and
participation in community involvement efforts.
STANDARD 2: ISSUE MANAGEMENT
The company identifies and monitors issues important to its operations and reputation.
STANDARD 3: RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Company management recognizes that building and maintaining relationships of trust
with the community is a critical component of company strategy and operations.
STANDARD 4: STRATEGY
The company develops and implements a strategic plan for community programs and
responses that is based on mutual issues, goals and concerns of the company and the community.
STANDARD 5: ACCOUNTABILITY
All levels on the organization have specific roles and responsibilities
for meeting community involvement objectives.
STANDARD 6: INFRASTRUCTURE
The company incorporates systems and policies to support,
communicate and institutionalize community involvement objectives.
STANDARD 7: MEASUREMENT
The company establishes an ongoing process for evaluation in community involvement
strategies, activities, and programs, and their impact on the company and the community.
I'm sure by now you're surely asking: "How does any of this apply to me or my company?" To answer
that question I will refer to the Scottsdale Camelback Resort and its Owners Association as an example. Scottsdale
Camelback Resort is a relative small independent resort with only 111 units and 60 employees. The Owners Association
has a five member Board of Directors and approximately 4200 owner/members.
ACTIVITIES
Scotttsdale Visitors and Convention Bureau
Phoenix & Scottsdale Chambers of Commerce
Arizona Tourism Alliance
Valley Innkeepers
Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association
Arizona Restaurant Association
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Inc., (NEWH)
American Resort Development Association (ARDA)
ARDA Arizona
Community Association Institute (CAI)
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)
Resort & Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA)
Valley of the Sun Concierge Network
SCORE
Thomas J Pappas School
Children Angel Foundation
Christel House
and Others
I have titled the list Activities because simply holding memberships is just not a demonstration of Leadership,
Issue Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Accountability, Infrastructure, or Measurement.
Let's take a closer look at several of these involvements: Clark Rowley is Past President of the Phoenix Chapter
of HSMAI and currently serves the International Board as Chairman of the Chapter Relations Advisory Board. He represents
ARDA on the Arizona Tourism Alliance, teaches Timeshare 101, a DRE approved & accredited course for the renewal
of real estate licenses and holds a Arizona real estate salespersons license. Fred Soufal (President of the HOA)
is an active SCORE Counselor and serves on the Board for the Phoenix & Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra's. Jennifer
Meza is a member of the Board of Directors for RCRA. The resort adopted grades 7 & 8th at the Pappas School
for Children of Homeless Families and hosted 40 of them at a holiday Christmas party at the resort. Eric Downey
maintains a monthly donation drive to help meet the ongoing needs of the school and its students. The Resort, its
Owner Association and its Management Firm were recently members of the local host committee for the inaugural Christel
House Open played at the Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix.
Final Thought
A small independent resort, or major corporations can have the same objectives for becoming good citizens and community
activists. Individually, some people exercise their personal citizenship and others indicate that because their
company or another staff members did something that excused them from any personal activity. Prior to the recent
Christel House Open the Regional Operations Manager for a major timeshare firm asked for and sold 40 raffle tickets
while another individual who is a Regional VP representing his major firm in Arizona indicated that his firm had
made a national commitment, his immediate superior was involved at the California venue and his travel schedule
prevented him from selling even one of those raffle tickets...(or for that matter purchasing one himself)
One of these individuals pulled his own weight and the other, while able, rode on the back of others...
*Within the Timeshare Community both the Walt Disney
World Company and Trendwest Resorts, Inc. are members
of the Center for Corporate Citizenship. If you would like
to find out more about membership; click on
http://www.bc.edu/centers/ccc/Pages/mem_app.html
|
Jerry Sikes,
RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has 35 years in the Hospitality
Industry / 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as Chairman of the Arizona
Timeshare Management Association.
Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of Timeshare Management and a frequent
contributor of articles for industry publications. He writes informative and easy to read weekly columns on the
business of properly managing resorts and people, and on other issues of interest to the industry.
READ THE COLUMN
Email: boyjerry@cox.net
Web site: http://www.protimeshare.com |
|
|
