While hotels often give back to the communities they are in year-round, there tends to be more of a spotlight on it around the holidays.
I recently spoke with Valencia Hotel Collection Chief Operating Officer Roy Kretschmer about the hotel management company's rebrand from Valencia Hotel Group amid its 20-year anniversary.
During that conversation we got to talking about investing in human talent. One way Valencia does that is through helping all its employees to give back in a way that's meaningful to them. This is instead of the whole organization supporting just one charity, cause or organization at a time.
What Kretschmer said was unlike anything I'd heard from other hotel properties or companies.
Each year, every Valencia employee gets 40 hours of paid "PDO," which stands for "Philanthropic Days Off."
Staff can spend a whole week off work supporting a cause of their choice. How empowering is that?
I think it should be an expectation of every company now to allot employees hours and resources to volunteer, especially considering this is part of what the next generation is looking for from their employer.
Business Insider reports that "expressing a clear dedication to diversity and social impact" is among the top ways companies can attract Gen Z workers.
I feel fortunate that CoStar Group's CoStar Builds program allows for us employees to take time to volunteer on special days.
Our office in Cleveland has been able to participate in many initiatives that I feel really have made a difference.
From taking an afternoon to clean up a local park to organizing donation drives, no matter how big or small, it makes a difference.
Let's take a look at what hotels are doing this holiday season to help their communities.
Returning this year at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, is its "Cookies for Caring" program. Since 2015, the hotel has been filling holiday tins with cookies to sell to guests and locals in support of local nonprofits. The hotel has raised nearly $60,000 since it began participating in Cookies for Caring.
This holiday season, The Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., is partnering with Miriam's Kitchen, which helps to end homelessness. According to Miriam's Kitchen's website, the organization engages "our guests with healthy, made-from-scratch meals, we connect them with personalized social services that assist them with rebuilding their lives. Beyond our intensive program offering, we regularly engage community leaders and elected officials who fiercely advocate on our guests’ behalf."
The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida, has a giving back program tied to its holiday meetings and events. For every carving station ordered for 2023 holiday events, the hotel will also donate to food to those in need at the Clara White Mission. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to preventing and reducing homelessness through advocacy, job training and employment opportunities.
“As the holiday season is right around the corner, we’re thrilled to offer a specialty promotion, allowing planners to get a jump start on their holiday event planning while benefiting a great cause here in Jacksonville,” Brittany Doyle, regional marketing manager at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, told the Jacksonville Free Press. “The promotion will be available leading into the busy holiday season. With 118,000 square feet of versatile function space and newly renovated accommodations, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville is proud to provide a premier venue for holiday events.”
I'm certain these are just a few examples, and so many more hotels are giving back this season. I would love to hear what your hotels are doing to enrich the lives within your communities.
Send me an email or connect with me on LinkedIn.
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