For Mehvesh Mumtaz Ahmed, a truly memorable travel experience is about more than just staying in a hotel. For the vice president of social impact at Rosewood Hotel Group, it’s about the guests who come to stay, the employees at the properties, and giving back to the communities where the hotels are located.
“I find inspiration in the human instinct to do good,” Ahmed tells GRAZIA USA. “It’s easy to become jaded given the many challenges the world faces, but my energy stores get replenished each time I talk to someone who wants to make a difference, no matter how big or small.”
Since starting with the renowned hospitality brand, Ahmed has worked on helping to make a difference. At the core of Rosewood’s brand identity, sustainability and social impact are not just initiatives but fundamental elements of each property’s experience. From eco-conscious culinary offerings and educational guest programming to sustainable design and celebrating local culture, every detail is meticulously crafted to embody commitment to both the planet (its Rosewood Sustains program) and its people (Rosewood Empowers).
Ahmed also helped launch the new Rosewood Impact Trailblazers program, which encompasses six of the hotels in the portfolio. (There are 44 Rosewood Hotels in 20 countries.) These trailblazers include Rosewood Phuket, Rosewood Baha Mar, Rosewood São Paulo, Rosewood Phnom Penh, Rosewood Mayakoba, and Rosewood Hong Kong, with each committed to achieving at least one ambitious “stretch goal” by 2025. These goals focus on transformative sustainability practices like achieving carbon neutrality, the elimination of single-use plastics, and a 90 percent waste diversion rate. Additionally, they aim to locally source 70 percent of produce and protein, develop significant long-term community partnerships, and transform at least one hotel restaurant into a business driven by purpose.
“My ultimate goal is to create a reality where the ideas of luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive but actually synonymous—and I hope Rosewood will show how,” Ahmed admits. “We want to ensure that every sustainable, socially responsible choice we make does not compromise on the luxury quality of an experience, but rather elevates it and makes it unique.” Ahmed adds that “it’s incredible to see
the initiatives that have come to life through the tenacity and passion of our team. Take BluHouse at Rosewood Hong Kong, the group’s first restaurant wholly informed by the criteria of a ‘business with purpose,’ which seeks out talent from the most underserved and overlooked communities in Hong Kong. It also sets aside a portion of revenue towards further supporting those in need in the neighborhood.” Ahmed also cites Rosewood Mayakoba as an inspiration for its work in creating a local community school in 2017: “Today, the school welcomes over 450 students, and Rosewood Mayakoba’s guests and staff continue to support with tuition and supplies.”
Another major driving force for these sustainable changes is the guests. “One of the most encouraging trends we’re seeing in hospitality is the desire and demand from travelers for meaningful experiences that allow them to authentically engage with the places and communities that they are visiting,” Ahmed says. “Travel is no longer just about staying in the most beautiful room or indulging in a five- course meal. It’s now about discovering the heart and soul of a place through experiences designed to celebrate and preserve it. It’s exciting to see.”
