U.S.-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced beginning July 2014, it will no longer serve shark fin in any of its nearly 1,200 hotels or 1,300 restaurants worldwide.
The company has committed to completely eliminating the consumption of shark fin in all restaurants and food and beverage services across its global portfolio of the end of the year.
Since first removing shark fin from its public menus in 2012, Starwood has worked with hotel owners and partners around the world to institute an outright ban on the dish and has already reduced overall purchases of shark fin within the company’s portfolio by 79 percent in the past two years.
“At Starwood, we believe economic growth and the well-being of society are inextricably tied to the health of the environment, including the health of the world’s oceans and its inhabitants,” said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood CEO. “Our worldwide ban on shark fin represents an important, environmentally responsible step to aid in the collective goal of marine preservation. As a company with a collection of hotels that span the globe, Starwood has a unique opportunity to influence travelers and guests worldwide, and to underline the importance of good stewardship of our planet.”
“As one of the leading global hospitality companies, Starwood is committed to reducing our impact on the environment in every aspect of our business, including in our kitchens, which, in turn, shapes the sustainability practices of our diners and guests,” said Ken Siegel, Starwood chief administrative officer and general counsel. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our operations to reflect our commitment to sustainable food and beverage, ocean conservation and sustainable communities, and we believe that steps like banning shark fin or other endangered species bring us closer to our goal.”