Ritz Carlton Launches “Give Back Getaways”

Volunteers at work

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has launched “Give Back Getaways”, a worldwide social responsibility initiative enabling guests to take the opportunity to give their time to the local community they are visiting.

“Give Back Getaways” is the most recent opportunity to volunteer under Community Footprints, The Ritz-Carlton social and environmental responsibility programme. From building a library for the young children of migrant workers at the Dandelion School in Beijing, to helping with renovations and landscaping at the Children Hospice SONNENHOF in Berlin, “Give Back Getaways” offer guests a variety of opportunities dedicated to child welfare, feeding the hungry and preserving the environment.

The employees at each Ritz-Carlton hotel were challenged to identify an organisation or cause in need of support in their community. They then partnered with the group to prioritise needs for hands on assistance, and scheduled dates throughout the year when “Give Back Getaways” will be offered.

From helping to protect endangered sea turtles in Cancun, Mexico, to serving as a spotter and mapping the location of endangered Blue Iguanas in Grand Cayman, each of the programmes 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 programme. All profits from the half-day projects will be donated to the partner organisation.

“We have come to recognise 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.

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 programme has been expanded to include guests in this critical mission.

Visitors to Berlin can roll up their sleeves, don their work gloves and accompany hotel staff from The Ritz-Carlton as they launch a spring cleanup of the SONNENHOF facilities for children with serious illnesses. Throughout the year other “Give Back Getaway” programmes will be scheduled including planting trees in the garden, renovating the petting zoo and cooking at an August “Children’s Day” barbecue to entertain and feed the youngsters and hospice staff.

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. In Jamaica, guests will partner with resort employees and the children of SOS Children’s Village to beautify surroundings at the children’s home by planting trees, native plants and vegetables.

“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 organisations in their neighborhoods. 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 “volunteerism” in the hospitality industry.”

The latest “Give Back Getaway” is offered at the Hotel Villa Padierna, Spain. Depending on the season, guests will either plant trees, water recently planted trees or install bird nests in the most affected areas, under the leadership of Ecologistas Pinsapo members, who will also teach ecology and ways to protect the environment.
Founded in Marbella 15 years ago, Ecologistas Pinsapo has actively defended nature and the environment both locally and globally.

Further information:
GiveBackGetaways

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