Since the start of the pandemic, hotels have been coming together to help those in need. Although struggling for the past year, hotels are never short of being hospitable. It’s in their DNA, which is why we continue to see hotels giving back to their communities.
National First Responders Day
Forty-five thousand frontline workers received a wonderful surprise from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts on National First Responders Day on October 28th. The international hotel chain gifted the workers with 7,500 Wyndham Reward points, which gives each person a free one-night stay at any Wyndham hotel.
Wyndham has been at the aid of frontline workers since the start, with their #EverydayHeroes campaign launched back in April. Under this initiative, healthcare workers, police officers, truck drivers, teachers, and any essential workers are given the opportunity to receive these reward points if they opted in.
President and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts applaud the essential workers and their hard work on the frontlines each day, “Throughout this pandemic, it’s our essential frontline workers who have helped keep us all safe and our Nation running. On this National First Responders Day, we want to honor their hard work and continued sacrifice.”
American Red Cross
In order to help fund blood drives and provide PPE kits to healthcare workers, Choice Hotels International and Barclays US Consumer Bank donated more than $330,000 to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Back in March, contributions to the cause started with members of Choice Privileges. Barclays then joined the efforts by matching donated loyalty points and doubling the impact.
With their efforts, tons of donations helped disaster-affected communities and healthcare workers on the frontlines.
COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery
Food security, sanitation and hygiene, economic security, and clean air and water are urgent humanitarian needs arising from the pandemic and those that the Hilton Effect Foundation aims to address. The Foundation’s 2020 Hilton Effect grantees are made up of community-based organizations playing a pivotal role in the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
According to the Hilton newsroom, the Foundation has awarded more than one million dollars in COVID-19 community response efforts.
“Linens With Love”
With the help of local travel and hospitality professionals, AC Hotels by Marriott San Jose San Clara and AC Hotels by Marriott Sunnyvale Cupertino launched an initiative called “Linens With Love.” The initiative aims to donate gently used linens and towels to communities impacted by California wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to donating linens to local shelters, AC Hotels donated sheets and towels to create tote bags for essential toiletries and make masks to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.