AEHCOS Responsable

2024. To mark International Childhood Cancer Day, the Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol (AEHCOS) donated 0.7% of its annual budget, a total of 3,500 euros, to Fundación El Sueño de Vicky, which is dedicated to childhood cancer research.

Part of this donation will go to the paediatric brain tumour unit at Hospital Infantil Niño Jesús in Madrid, and specifically to the online rehabilitation programme that allows children to continue their therapy at home once their treatment has finished.

The handover took place at the AEHCOS headquarters, attended by president José Luque and vice-president Javier Hernández, and, on behalf of the foundation, its president Laura García and general manager Alexandra Sannwald.

AEHCOS thus reaffirms its social commitment, making donations to charitable organisations every year. Research is the only way to defeat this disease, said Luque. Laura García thanked AEHCOS for the gesture and highlighted the direct impact it will have on the lives of many children.

2023. At its meeting on 24 November, the AEHCOS Executive Committee unanimously agreed to give 0.7% of its budget, 3,500 euros, to Fundación Centro Español de Solidaridad de Málaga (CESMA), whose aim is to set up a programme in our province for young people with addiction problems, following the educational and therapeutic model developed by Proyecto Hombre.

The handover took place at the association’s headquarters. AEHCOS was represented by president José Luque and executive vice-president Javier Hernández. CESMA was represented by Belén Pardo, director of Proyecto Hombre Málaga; Juan Serrano, vice-president; and Yahvé Serrano, manager.

2022. The Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol (AEHCOS) has signed an agreement with Cruz Roja Málaga to promote the employment of people who face the greatest difficulties in accessing the labour market.

AEHCOS is joining the Cruz Roja Málaga Employment Plan to improve the employability and hiring of people at risk of exclusion, raise awareness of equality and inclusive markets and, more broadly, join forces to generate actions that encourage good practice and support the people taking part in the employment programmes run by Cruz Roja Española.

«An association such as ours, representing more than 340 establishments and 92,000 hotel beds and employing over 18,000 workers in the sector, cannot turn its back on the social reality that Cruz Roja has shown us. For us it is a moral obligation to work with organisations that improve our environment, and we are very pleased to contribute our effort and experience so that people facing difficulties can find their place in the world of work», explains the president of AEHCOS, José Luque.

The Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol (AEHCOS) is making an inventory of hotel rooms available to Ukrainian refugees, in collaboration with the Confederación Española de Hoteles y Apartamentos Turísticos (CEHAT). These rooms, estimated at around 350, will be available for a minimum of one week.

As the president of AEHCOS, José Luque, puts it, it is vital to be available at times of humanitarian need, and the hotel sector in the province of Málaga wants to help so that Ukrainian refugees can have temporary accommodation while they wait for possible permanent residence.

More than 4 million people are expected to leave Ukraine, having had to abandon their country, with Spain one of the possible destinations. The hotel sector of the Costa del Sol and the province of Málaga stands with them and makes itself available in this humanitarian emergency. The president of AEHCOS has already offered the association’s support to the president of the Provincial Council for any urgent accommodation needs.

The AEHCOS Executive Committee, which has worked intensively over recent hours to provide an estimate of available beds as quickly as possible, expects to reach a thousand places in the coming days in order to provide temporary emergency help to the first refugees arriving in the province.

The Ukrainian tourism market in Spain amounts to some 30,000 travellers from that country currently on holiday.

AEHCOS wishes to show its solidarity with the island of La Palma through this support campaign, based on voluntary donations, for the residents affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano.

The trusted organisation holding the funds raised is Cáritas Diocesana, an official confederation of charitable and social organisations established in Spain with more than 70 centres that coordinate and promote charitable and social action.

Given the serious situation faced by these families, whose main economic activities are agriculture and tourism, and the scarcity of resources available to them, the funds raised will go towards:

• Rehousing families. 2,000 families affected (6,500 people) and more than 1,000 homes destroyed or structurally damaged.
• Maintenance, care and basic needs (food, clothing, etc.).
• Repair, refurbishment and adaptation of temporary housing.
• Strengthening psychological and legal support services (insurance for destroyed homes).

2019. As it does every year, AEHCOS donates 0.7% of its budget to an NGO, in recognition of and gratitude for the great work these organisations carry out in society, and in the province of Málaga in particular.

On this occasion, the collaboration was approved unanimously by the AEHCOS Governing Board in favour of the NGO Nuevo Futuro. It was received by its president, Ángela Fontana Barrionuevo. The event took place in the function rooms of Hotel Ilunion Málaga on 14 November.

2018. The XI AEHCOS Awards gala will take place on 23 October 2018 at Hotel NH Málaga, where CUDECA will receive a donation of 0.7% of the association’s budget.

«With this we seek to help turn the process of dying into a process of living. Although we cannot add days to life, we want to add life to days, through our special way of caring» (CUDECA).

2017. The Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol has given a donation of 0.7% of the AEHCOS budget to Fundación Andrés Olivares. The event took place on 27 June 2017 at the Cueva de Nerja, during the X AEHCOS Awards ceremony.

The purpose of this donation is to allow children with cancer to go on being children.

The foundation aims to be recognised for its work in improving the quality of life of these children and their families through a comprehensive care programme.

2016. For another year, AEHCOS has donated 0.7% of its annual budget to social action.

On this occasion the donation went to the Málaga association Biberódromo, which provides food to more than 200 children in Málaga aged between 0 and 24 months.

The agreement was signed by the president of AEHCOS, José Carlos Escribano de Garaizabal, and its vice-president for Málaga, Francisco Moro, together with the president of Asociación Biberódromo, Manuel Montes Cleries, and the tourism councillor of Málaga City Council, Julio Andrade.

AEHCOS continues to strengthen its social action in the province of Málaga and to demonstrate the spirit of solidarity that is so needed in these times.

About Biberódromo
Biberódromo is a charitable association that provides basic and essential supplies for infants aged 0 to 24 months from families in need and at risk of exclusion. It also works to improve the cultural, family and professional situation of their mothers. Its donations cover supplies such as formula for newborns, follow-on formula, fresh milk, yoghurt and other dairy products, baby food, biscuits and cereals, among other foods. It also distributes nappies in the appropriate sizes and, on occasion, clothing and toys. To do so it relies on donations from members, banks, the city council, companies and various groups and individuals who share its commitment.

2012. AEHCOS has been collaborating for several years with the association Haití Viva, enabling small businesses to expand and thereby creating new jobs in Haiti.

To this end our association allocates 0.7% of its budget to business projects that support the development of areas in need, and on this occasion it has reinvested the amount recovered from financing previous projects.

Both associations have been working to set up new projects, and our support will currently go towards:

• Expanding a fish sales business. This company, which already received funds in 2012 when it started up, intends to expand by creating a new permanent job in order to meet its growing demand for fish.
• Purchasing school supplies such as 12 new computers, school chairs and desks, and one power generator with batteries, so that students living in remote areas can receive publicly funded education.
• Support for increasing peanut production. This will increase farmers’ capacity in this line of production, as the crop grows very well in the area. Farmers will in turn be able to expand their planting areas.

2012. AEHCOS is committed to bringing CSR to all our businesses. AEHCOS Responsable took part on 24 October in the workshops given by the Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga on how to develop a social responsibility strategy in SMEs.

There are more than 3 million companies in Spain, of which 99.98% are SMEs; in Málaga the figure is 99.95%. One underlying idea: the future of CSR lies with SMEs.

Many companies now manage their business according to CSR criteria and are increasingly aware that the companies that prove sustainable over time will be those that adopt responsible behaviour in environmental, social and economic terms. Measures such as reducing water or electricity consumption, recycling, or steps to help reconcile work and family life are, in many cases, free of charge and support the sustainable growth of our businesses.

What do we need in order to build a solid CSR strategy?

Step by step: as consumers we are aware that, for example, there are more organic products on sale than a few years ago, we notice the establishments around us that adopt recycling measures, and we pay more attention to the packaging of the products we buy every day.

The key is to carry this over into other roles: as a business owner, as a social agent, as a service provider, as a job creator, and so on.

A few years ago the main concern was simply to offer the best products to our customers. Today it is necessary to take other factors into account, such as improving the company’s productivity or seeking new markets. Socially responsible companies are more productive and more competitive, and so increase their value.

More and more companies treat CSR as a key guide to action, and these efforts are rewarded. Bodies such as the Provincial Council of Málaga recognise the social, economic and environmental commitment of companies in Málaga with a distinctive award for those that have successfully implemented CSR values. The Confederación de Empresarios Malagueños, for its part, has this year granted twenty-five memberships of the United Nations Global Compact, along with certificates to companies taking part in the programme «Sustainable and socially responsible SMEs in Málaga».

In our sector, Grupo Intermundial and CEHAT have launched the «2012 Hotel CSR Award», which in its first edition will recognise the efforts of hoteliers in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility actions.

The AEHCOS collaboration with Haiti is bearing fruit, generating a dozen jobs and the technological improvement of a fruit and casabe processing plant, as well as a kerosene stove factory.

In line with its philosophy of standing alongside non-profit organisations and supporting sectors in need, AEHCOS has collaborated with the Haití Viva association over the past two years, supporting projects to create businesses and jobs in Haiti and allocating 0.7% of its budget to this purpose.

The first project, a fruit and casabe processing plant, created six permanent full-time jobs and has now returned almost all of the funds received as a loan.

Its sales have increased by more than 25% compared with June of the previous year, thanks to new customers in Canada.

2011. The AEHCOS general assembly again decided to allocate 0.7% of its 2011 budget to one of the projects run by ZAFEN, an organisation for the economic development of Haiti. This is the second consecutive year that the association has collaborated with Haití Viva.

The AEHCOS donation will support an increase in the production of kerosene stoves, with aims that include combating deforestation in the area.

These contributions make it possible to increase the supply capacity of the shop that sells these kerosene stoves. Being able to buy raw materials has increased production for new customers. The stoves are in particular demand from schools that provide hot meals to their pupils.

In addition, the workshop opened by the owner in 2000 teaches and trains a group of young people to make these stoves. To date more than 30 students have been trained and are working in other parts of the country making stoves.

Six permanent jobs have been created and filled by young people from the community. As a further objective, making these stoves helps combat deforestation in the area. The stoves are sold at very affordable prices in the community, which encourages their purchase and reduces the use of charcoal, a driver of large-scale tree felling.

It is worth noting that these microloans are repayable: once the business begins to make a profit, the money is returned and reinvested in another project.

The president of AEHCOS, José Carlos Escribano, signed this collaboration agreement with the representative of Haití Viva, Serge Piard.

For the Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol this is a non-negotiable commitment. That is why it has decided to support entrepreneurship projects run by micro-entrepreneurs in Haiti, so that they can build sustainability and self-sufficiency in the area.

2011. At AEHCOS we act responsibly towards our businesses.

In the past, what identified a competitive company was essentially the price of its products. Today companies must invest in continuously improving the relationships they depend on: customers, suppliers, employees and partners.

In the competitiveness ranking Spain held sixth place in 2009, while in 2011 it fell to eighth. How can we stand out? Through price, through the quality of the service we provide, through our facilities, through energy-efficient measures, and through responsible behaviour.

Some examples of socially responsible behaviour that can make our hotels more competitive:

PURCHASING

• Using environmentally friendly paper and recyclable packaging.
• Using detergents and cleaning products made under environmental management systems.
• Buying in bulk, avoiding unnecessary portions and packaging.
• Using recycled IT materials (ink cartridges, toner).
• Buying toilet paper that is not made with chlorine or dye.

WASTE

• Separating vegetable oil, glass, paper and cardboard, batteries and organic waste.
• Avoiding products in non-returnable containers in small or individual portions.
• Using mineral salt chlorination in swimming pools.
• Using email throughout the company, with the resulting saving in paper.
• Managing hazardous waste through authorised operators.

SAVING WATER

• Using dual-flush systems in toilet cisterns.
• Changing towels and bed linen according to guests’ wishes.
• Using drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler systems in gardens.
• Installing water-saving devices in room showers and washbasins.

IDEAS WE CAN IMPLEMENT AT NO COST

• Appointing an energy controller, responsible for proposing initiatives to achieve maximum energy savings.
• Producing a manual on saving energy and, above all, water.
• Raising environmental awareness among hotel staff through savings committees.

INCENTIVES AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

Agencia IDEA provides incentives for projects to develop CSR protocols, equality plans, work-life balance measures and eco-innovation.

For companies this means an additional percentage on the eligible base, ranging from 5% to 20%.

Grants are available for installing control software for all facilities and programmes to adjust them for greater efficiency.

The Energy Agency provides incentives for measures such as:

• Replacing traditional light fittings with low-consumption lighting.
• Installing automatic card-operated lighting systems in rooms.
• Double glazing on doors and windows.
• Automatic systems to switch off air conditioning when room doors and windows are opened.
• Installing dusk-sensor lighting in outdoor areas.

AWARDS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

The Provincial Council of Málaga recognises the social, economic and environmental commitment of organisations in Málaga with an award for companies that have successfully implemented CSR values. Last December the third edition of these awards was held, and the winning companies were El Fuerte, Ticteck and Asociación Arrabal.

2011. A fairer world, more respectful of the environment, is the wish of both organisations signing this collaboration agreement between Asociación Madre Coraje and the Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol.

The non-governmental association Madre Coraje has spent 10 years recycling non-hazardous urban waste collected from participating establishments. This waste is used to make soap for humanitarian aid and is sold to obtain bio-diesel, which funds shipments for humanitarian aid, development education and development projects in Peru and the other countries where it works.

By signing this collaboration agreement, the aim is for AEHCOS and its more than 350 members and 70 collaborating companies to supply Madre Coraje with:

• Used vegetable frying oil.
• Clothing, household linen and all kinds of textiles.
• Toner and ink cartridges.
• Alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries and accumulators.
• Items withdrawn from restaurant and kitchen services, as well as decorative objects.
• WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), whether in use or damaged (recycled to recover metals and other products that re-enter the production cycle as raw materials). Categories: IT, brown goods, white goods except refrigerators, and small appliances.

For its part, Asociación Madre Coraje offers AEHCOS talks and exhibitions to spread the values of recycling and the need to protect the environment, including the marine environment, and to raise awareness among staff, customers and suppliers so that they contribute and take part individually and collectively.

The agreement seeks to strengthen environmental awareness in order to improve the quality of life of our residents and visitors, making selective recycling easier and more widespread.

2010. The AEHCOS general assembly decided to allocate 0.7% of its 2010 budget to one of the projects run by ZAFEN, an organisation for the economic development of Haiti.

The AEHCOS donation will support the strengthening of the fruit and casabe processing plant. This help will allow the purchase of equipment and tools to improve the plant’s production capacity and efficiency, creating 8 permanent full-time jobs.

The president of AEHCOS, José Carlos Escribano, signed this collaboration agreement with the representative of Haití Viva, Serge Piard.

For the Asociación de Empresarios Hoteleros de la Costa del Sol this is a non-negotiable commitment. That is why it has decided to support entrepreneurship projects run by micro-entrepreneurs in Haiti, so that they can build sustainability and self-sufficiency in the area.