"GIVE BACK GETAWAYS"
LAUNCHES APRIL 1, BY THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY, L.L.C.;
Program Offers Travelers The Chance to Volunteer Their Time To Local Groups Dedicated To Child Welfare, Feeding The Hungry, Preserving The Environment
Denver and Bachelor Gulch properties debut their local "Give Back Getaways"
CHEVY CHASE, Md. - April 3, 2008, Guests at The Ritz-Carlton Hotels around the world can volunteer their time to improve and assist the local community where they are vacationing. The program, called "Give Back Getaways" offers guests a variety of opportunities from helping to protect endangered sea turtles in Cancun, Mexico to helping with renovations and landscaping at the Children- Hospice SONNENHOF, which offers support for children with critical illnesses in Berlin.
"Give Back Getaways" is the most recent opportunity to volunteer under Community Footprints, The Ritz-Carlton social and environmental responsibility program. "We have come to recognize the interest many of our guests have in becoming more involved in the region where they are spending their vacation. Many of them are active volunteers in worthwhile activities at home, and want to continue this spirit of giving when they visit other parts of the world," explained Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer. "We believe Give Back Getaways is a unique way for our hotels to partner with guests to provide an experience both memorable and personally enriching," he added.
The employees at each Ritz-Carlton hotel were challenged to identify an organization or cause in need of support in their community. They then partnered with the group to prioritize needs for hands on assistance, and scheduled dates throughout the year when "Give Back Getaways" will be offered. From building a library for the young children of migrant workers at the Dandelion School in Beijing, to serving as a spotter and mapping the location of endangered Blue Iguanas in Grand Cayman, each of the programs offered will include instruction by professionals so participants can make a meaningful contribution to the project they select to participate in as a volunteer for the half-day program. All profits from the half-day programs will be donated to the partner organization.
In Colorado, visitors to The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, with the guidance of the Wildlands Restoration Volunteer Project, will be assigned to specific areas on designated days to participate in memorable, eco-friendly activities, such as restoring wetlands, planting seeds and trees, installing erosion, drainage and fencing systems and clearing invasive weeds. From April 19 through September 17, 2008, specific sites will be selected, including the Spring Brook Trail in the foothills and the new St. Vrain State Park.
Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek will work side-by-side with children from SOS Outreach at a handpicked community program. The promise of a happier, successful future for our nation's disadvantaged youth begins with building stronger self esteem and character. SOS Outreach was founded in 1993 in Colorado's Vail Valley to help these special kids develop important life skills through snow sports, mentoring and a time-proven curriculum based on the five core values of the program: Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion.
At The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, guests will join a biologist from the Cancun Department of Ecology for rewarding hands-on experience protecting mother turtles during nesting and helping them return safely to the sea. Guests will head out at night to search for nesting turtles, gather sea turtle eggs and bring them to a safer location at turtle camps where they can be buried without interfering with their natural cycle. Employees at the resort have been involved in this project for over a decade, and are very proud that the program has been expanded to include guests in this critical mission. Additional "Give Back Getaways" include cooking and serving meals at the North Texas Food Bank, restoring homes in the ancient water town of Wuzhen, China, planting native Cyprus trees in the dwindling wetland forests of the Florida Everglades, and building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Jakarta, Indonesia and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Beginning April 1, 2008, guests will be able to check availability of the programs in advance of their stay by accessing the Give Back Getaways page on www.ritzcarlton.com and www.givebackgetaways.com.
"Even if people have never volunteered in their home communities before, we believe "Give Back Getaways" offers a new personal vacation experience which can be memorable and rewarding", explained Simon Cooper.
"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has always been committed to the support of local charities and causes and our ladies and gentlemen have donated tens of thousands of hours of paid time and their own time to organizations in their neighborhoods. Our employees around the world worked for months to develop the Give Back Getaways offerings and are immensely proud to have the opportunity to share the soul of our company with our guests" explained Sue Stephenson, vice president, Community Footprints. "We believe extending this opportunity to our guests to participate in sharing their time and their skills is a fine example of "voluntourism" in the hospitality industry.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., (USA) currently operates 70 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over 30 projects are currently underway with openings planned for Sanya, Shenzhen and Rancho Mirage in 2008. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is the only hospitality company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information contact The Ritz-Carlton toll free reservations at 1 (800) 241-3333, your travel consultant or visit
www.ritzcarlton.com.