We’re delighted to announce that Situ has been shortlisted in three categories for the 2023 Serviced Apartment Awards: Best Apartment Agent, Best Marketing or Branding Campaign (for our ESG campaign), and the Sustainability Award. The awards ceremony itself will be held on May 18, 2023, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London.
The shortlists were chosen by an independent panel of expert judges made up of travel buyers, consultants, investors, designers, journalists, and architects.
Why two sustainability-focused awards?
We have been working on aspects of our Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach for several years, constantly striving to be a good business. One that is good to work for from an employee’s perspective; one that is trusted by clients to manage their travellers’ accommodation needs; a company valued by supply accommodation partners to transact with; and a business that cares about the environment.
At the beginning of the journey our approach was somewhat fragmented and not transparent to key stakeholders. There was also the sense that this sort of ‘stuff’ can be difficult, and the next steps too big to take. We wondered how to move on, or even how to begin in certain areas. After getting some of our key Situ people together, including Managing Director, Phil Stapleton, and relevant managers, the marketing team, and members of various employee-led committees (including Sustainability; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; and Social) it became apparent that we needed something that could hold all our good ESG promises, targets, plans, and efforts in one central place – and that’s how ‘Be More Starfish’ was born!
The campaign is based on the parable, ‘The Star Thrower’ by Loren Eiseley, which tells the story of an old man who comes across thousands of stranded starfish on a beach, and a young boy who keeps picking them up one by one and throwing them back into the sea. The old man says, “Why bother? You can’t save them all!” The little boy picks up another starfish and throws it into the ocean, saying, “But I made a difference to this one!”.
‘Be More Starfish’ is all about the underestimated power of individual action, small steps and actions that grow into something more meaningful, measurable, and which as result, can make a big difference.
Congratulations to all the nominees: we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the awards. We’re thrilled to be part of one of the main industry celebrations of the year!