Rezidor donates 75,000 Euro to World Childhood Foundation

The Rezidor Hotel Group donates 75,000 Euro to its corporate charity organization World Childhood Foundation, and underlines once again the importance of its companywide Responsible Business Programme for social, environmental and ethical engagement of all hotels and corporate departments across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The amount has been collected during 2008 and will support the most vulnerable children in the world. World Childhood Foundation, a non for profit organization founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden in 1999, is dedicated to helping street children, children who are sexually abused or exploited, and preventing children from being trafficked for sexual purposes.

“Our hotels have been active and creative, and we were even able to increase the total value of our donation as compared to 2007”, comments Catherine Rubbens, Director Responsible Business at Rezidor, and gives some examples: At the Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, the management team took the roles of valet parkers and bell boys for one full day to raise charity awareness to all guests. The Park Inn at London Heathrow, UK planned a charity triathlon during “Responsible Business Action Month” in September – challenging guests and employees to a competition of running, rowing and cycling. And three hotels in Belgium – the Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel in Antwerp, the Radisson SAS Palace Hotel in Spa, and the Radisson SAS Hotel in Hassel – organized car washes for charity.

This year Radisson SAS and Park Inn Hotels also produced Christmas cards which not only donated some of the cost to Childhood, but also invited recipients to learn more about the work of Childhood and to donate online.

Rezidor was one of the first hotel companies in the world to devise a comprehensive social and environmental programme across all regions in 2001. The company was also one of the first international hotel groups to offer all guests carbon offsetting possibilities. For its engagement Rezidor has received several awards including the Worldwide Hospitality Award in 2004, and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the prestigious organization ITP (International Tourism Partnership).