Involvement in Global Philanthropic Program Benefiting Local Charities Nearly Triples from Previous Year; Available May 1 – August 31, 2008
CHICAGO – April 18, 2008 – Preferred Hotel Group, in cooperation with participating member hotels and resorts, announced today that 59 member hotels worldwide will participate in this year’s “The Giving Room,” more than triple that from last year. From May 1 through August 31, for every night a hotel’s designated “Giving Room” is occupied, 10 percent of the selected room or suite’s revenue will be donated to the hotel’s charity of choice. At the conclusion of the program, donations will be matched by funds from the Ueberroth Family Foundation.
“The Giving Room” is an outgrowth of Preferred Hotel Group’s GIFTTS program which stands for Great Initiatives for Today’s (Tomorrow’s) Society, a recognition initiative launched in August 2006. Designed to acknowledge and encourage socially responsible actions by member hotels and employees in the areas of philanthropy, environment and community service (www.phggiftts.com), GIFTTS applauds great ideas for effecting positive change at the local level.
“In honor of Preferred Hotel Group’s 40th Anniversary, our goal for this year’s ‘Giving Room’ program was to enlist participation from at least 40 members worldwide,” said John Ueberroth, Chairman and CEO, Preferred Hotel Group. “Once again our members have risen to the occasion. We are humbled to see the global dedication to philanthropic endeavors both by our members and their guests.”
In its inaugural year, “The Giving Room” raised nearly $20,000 in total donations for charitable organizations in seven countries and generated nearly $100,000 in room revenue for participating hotels. From India to Peru, the United States to the Netherlands, the 2008 “Giving Room” program will provide aide to communities in 18 countries around the globe. One hotel group in particular, the Eden Hotel Group has committed all 16 of its hotels in the Netherlands to the program.
“At the Eden Hotel Group, we always try act responsibly and in the best interest of our guests, hotels, environment and our staff,” said Frans Wientjes, Director of Operations, Eden Hotel Group. “This initiative from Preferred Hotel Group exactly matches our own objectives and social responsibility goals. As a group we will support one charity – The Hunger Project. “The Giving Room” enables us to achieve awareness as well as funds for The Hunger Project. And the fact that the Ueberroth Family Foundation doubles the outcome is just wonderful.”
Members’ charitable choices span the globe and include projects such as Singapore’s ‘Community Chest’ and ‘Seva Mandir,’ a volunteer organization in Rajasthan, India that assists in the development of rural and tribal issues. In the United States, charities such as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium of Clearwater, Florida and the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are among the designated beneficiaries.
"Preferred Hotel Group's 'The Giving Room' program is a really effective way to give back to the community and we are honored to be participating by supporting Camp Harbor View, a constructive and positive summer program for 600 of Boston’s city teenagers" said David J. Colella, Vice President and General Manager of the newly renovated Colonnade Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. "In addition to making a tangible difference within our community, the program makes a positive impression on our guests and staff.”
The following is the list of participating members by region and their selected charities:
Asia Pacific
- Devi Garh, Rajasthan, India, Seva Mandir
- DongFang Hotel, Guangzhou, China, Charity Pending
- Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, National Cancer Society
- Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia, Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat
- The Landmark Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand, Red Cross Charity (Based in Thailand)
- The Metropolitan Hotel New Delhi, New Delhi, India
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