Marriott International, Caesars Entertainment and several other firms directly affiliated with the meetings and events industry earned a spot on the newly released list of America’s Most Responsible Companies compiled by Newsweek and global data research firm Statista.
Some 2,000 companies in 14 industries in the United States were evaluated, and 300 made the final list, in which firms were given numerical rankings. They included Marriott International (107), Caesars Entertainment (146), and Park Hotels and Resorts (275), a real estate investment trust comprised of a geographically diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts. Three airlines—American Airlines (97), Delta Air Lines (112) and Southwest Airlines (155)—also made the list.
Caesars Entertainment was the only gaming entity to make the list. “Our 60,000-plus dedicated employees continue to make a meaningful impact within our properties and well beyond,” said Tony Rodio, CEO of Caesars Entertainment. “As we kick off a new year and new decade, we’re looking to grow on the commitments we’ve made and continue to make a lasting impact on the communities we serve.”
The research was carried out in a four-stage process that began with prescreening more than 2,000 companies on a set of criteria in June. The prescreening eliminated companies that have not published a CSR report, sustainability report or other data for 2017 or later years. It also eliminated firms that focus primarily on defense and those that have been involved in major lawsuits, scandals and similar issues.
Companies that passed the prescreening were analyzed in detail, which consisted of an independent survey of 6,500 U.S. citizens, conducted in August and September, that asked about their perceptions of the companies. Research was also conducted, based on publicly available key performance indicators derived from corporate annual reports, CSR reports, sustainability reports and corporate citizenship reports.
Each company was given a score based on its performance in the survey and the analysis, which covered three areas: environment, social and corporate governance.
“Companies, we all know, need to make a profit to prosper and survive,” says the introduction to the Newsweek story. “Making a buck, after all, is important to investors, employees and vendors. But over the years, executives have come to realize that they need to do much more. That is, by giving back to the communities they operate in and standing up as good neighbors and citizens.”
