InterContinental Hotels & Resorts embarks on a week-long programme of activities around the world to help protect and preserve unique and cultural heritage sites as part of Responsible Business Week 2012. This marks the third year of InterContinental’s Responsible Business Week in partnership with National Geographic.

The theme for Responsible Business Week 2012 is inspired by National Geographic’s support of UNESCO’s World Heritage and sustainable tourism initiative ‘People Protecting Places’. During Responsible Business Week, InterContinental properties are being invited to emulate UNESCO’s mission to protect and preserve unique natural and cultural heritage sites close to their hotels. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention during which special focus is placed on the links between World Heritage and sustainable development, and in particular the role played by local communities.

“Hotels play an important role in communities all around the world. We’re thrilled that InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is making such a commitment to looking after their local heritage sites via Responsible Business Week for the third year in a row, and we’re looking forward to working with the hotels in the conservation of a number of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites beyond this week,” says Kimberly Connaghan, V.P. National Geographic Global Media, Travel, and publisher of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

David Jerome, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, IHG says: “IHG understands that acting responsibly reinforces trust in our brands, builds competitive advantage and strengthens our corporate reputation whilst doing the right thing for our communities. And with hotels all over the world, we have a tremendous opportunity to make travel and tourism more responsible and successful.”

Simon Scoot, Vice President Global Brands, InterContinental / IHG Global Resorts, says: “We know that our customers want to stay with brands that are responsible, and that is why we want to do things in a responsible way. One of the ways in which we demonstrate this is our long term partnership with National Geographic, and now UNESCO. Responsible Business Week is a special time when we come together as a brand to make a difference all over the World.”

In 2011, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts around the world dedicated more than 10,000 hours to Responsible Business Week activities aimed at preserving the communities where they operate. Activities ranged from cleaning local beaches and historical villages and monuments, restoration projects at national parks, to refreshing urban street walks.