How does Comwell incorporate ESG into its day-to-day operations? This was the focus of a visit by a delegation from Singapore to Comwell Copenhagen Portside – Dolce by Wyndham, as they sought to gain an insight into specific initiatives and draw inspiration for the work within their own organisations.
The visit from Singapore was part of a business promotion initiative focusing on the development and implementation of ESG measures. The delegation included representatives from, amongst others, hotels, the construction industry, care homes and public authorities. This was the second year running that Comwell had hosted a delegation from Singapore.
Representing Comwell were Annette Viborg, Sustainability Partner, and Rasmus Rasmussen, Head of Sustainable Gastronomy, who work on ESG initiatives at Comwell, particularly in the S and E areas.
They shared examples from day-to-day operations and explained how this work is being put into practice across the entire group.
Great interest in practical measures
The participants were particularly keen to learn about initiatives they could take back and implement in their own organisations. Plenty of notes were taken and photos snapped, and the questions covered both practical solutions and what it takes – and how much it costs – to implement them.
“There was great interest in how we work with ESG on a day-to-day basis. Participants asked about solutions and the practical considerations that need to be taken into account when implementing them. It was clear that they wanted to take specific measures back with them and apply them in their own operations,” says Annette Viborg.
Rasmus Rasmussen spoke, amongst other things, about the layout of hotel buffets and the considerations behind the placement and presentation of the dishes. Here, participants also asked about staff working hours and whether changes to the presentation would require more time in the kitchen.
“The questions were very specific: How do we organise the buffet, how do we arrange the food, and what does this mean for staff time? These are precisely the kinds of considerations that are important when an idea needs to work in a busy day-to-day environment. That’s why it was interesting to share our experiences and hear their perspectives,” says Rasmus Rasmussen.
From the presentation to the guided tour
Following the presentation, the delegation was given a guided tour of Comwell Copenhagen Portside – Dolce by Wyndham. Here, they went behind the scenes and saw parts of the hotel’s operations that guests do not normally see, such as the CO₂ refrigeration system, cold stores, the goods reception area and the waste sorting room.
“There was also a great deal of interest during the tour. The participants took lots of photos and asked questions about the layout, the workflows and the solutions we use on a day-to-day basis. They were very curious to find out how it all works in practice, as they want to take these ideas back home and apply them in their own businesses and organisations,” says Rasmus Rasmussen.
Positive feedback from the participants
Once the presentation and tour had finished, the participants reflected on the visit and the inspiration they could take home with them. Among other things, they said:
The strength of Comwell’s model lies in demonstrating that sustainability does not require sacrificing quality or profitability – it relies on smart process design, circular thinking and continuous monitoring.
For Annette Viborg, sharing experiences is important precisely because it can serve as an inspiration to others.
“When we demonstrate how we work in practice, whilst also listening to the participants’ questions and perspectives, we too gain something from the meeting and become more aware of our own ESG initiatives and new opportunities or challenges. We are therefore very much looking forward to welcoming a new delegation from Singapore next year,” says Annette Viborg.
About Comwell Hotels
Comwell is a Danish family-owned, nationwide hotel chain with hotels throughout Denmark, as well as ODEON in Odense and Comwell Centralværkstedet in Aarhus. For over 55 years, Comwell has been operating meeting and conference hotels and has won numerous awards over the years for its meeting, service and dining concepts.
Comwell was the first to introduce Danes to the modern meeting package back in 1969. Today, this remains Comwell’s core business. Comwell also caters for training and course programmes, workshops, job interviews, board meetings, exhibitions and events, and has over 2,500 rooms and 320 meeting and conference rooms at its disposal.
The three-year project, supported by Plantefonden, is now well under way. Chefs from Comwell Hotels and Coor have just embarked on a series of masterclasses and visits to producers, where knowledge-sharing and an interest in Danish produce take centre stage.
Eight event coordinator and receptionist trainees from Comwell have been on a joint trainee trip to gain fresh inspiration for their day-to-day work and build strong relationships across the hotels.
See, taste, experience, learn, understand – and network. That is the essence of Comwell Hotels’ trainee trips, when trainees visit some of the suppliers. The aim is to help trainees understand the ingredients and instil in them a respect for the journey the products take from farm to table.
