LocaL charities , gLoBaL funding
Global Update
Boost to Banyan tree
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is launching a casual and contemporary brand called Dhawa , which takes its name , philosophy and design from the dhawa tree in East India . The brand has five touch points : Rooms are dubbed Cocoons with oversized pillows and a moveable table with built-in power outlets . The bathroom , known as the Pod , is equipped with a rain shower , LED mood lighting , spa-branded amenities and Bluetooth music speakers . There will be a communal space on each floor of the hotel , called the Nest , with complimentary refreshments including ice cream . Void is located in the lobby and provides relaxation pods , while the all-day restaurant and bar is called Nook . The sensory experience also includes neon lights , pop operatic music and surprise daily boosters . The Dhawa Bo ’ ao , China in the eastern coastal town on Hainan Island opens in March , while Dhawa Cayo Las Brujas , Cuba , opens in July . Plans also include Pu ’ er , Leishan and Luo Yang , in China , as well as Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand .
LocaL charities , gLoBaL funding
Park Hyatt Washington ’ s General Manager Andrew Davidson first walked into Miriam ’ s Kitchen , a nonprofit that provides meals , transitional housing and mental health treatment to the homeless in Washington , D . C ., as a volunteer . One month later , he was inspired to recruit his hotel colleagues for help , and they have remained regular volunteers for the past two years .
“ Miriam ’ s Kitchen delivers the same quality of service that we deliver to our own guests ,” Davidson says . “ It ’ s important for us at the hotel to break away from the work day and serve people in need . It ’ s humbling for all of us to see another side of life .”
This past December , thanks to the Hyatt Community Grants program , Davidson , along with his daughter and Park Hyatt Washington team , delivered a US $ 14,000 check to Miriam ’ s Kitchen to further the organization ’ s efforts in the community . The hotel was among 31 Hyatt hotels around the world that awarded grants totaling US $ 350,000 to nonprofits in local communities in 2015 .
Since its inception in 2008 , the Hyatt Hotels Corp . -funded grant program has helped direct more than US $ 2.4 million to 197 nonprofits in
Park Hyatt Washington ’ s employees have prepared and served meals at Miriam ’ s House for about two years .
43 countries around the world . Grant-winning nonprofits must support one of Hyatt ’ s core four philanthropic pillars : environmental sustainability , education and personal advancement , economic development and investment , and health and wellness .
“ To make the most impact where Hyatt operates , we need to allow our colleagues who work and live in those communities to identify the greatest needs in their cities ,” explains Brigitta Witt , global head of corporate responsibility at Hyatt . “ The Hyatt Community Grants program empowers our colleagues and local nonprofit organizations to guide our company ’ s charitable giving and truly address the pressing issues that are unique to each region and city .”
To further promote the Hyatt Community Grants program , the company launched a social media campaign in conjuction with “ Giving Tuesday ” on December 1 . Over the span of 15 days , Hyatt shared the 31 stories of its grant winners on its social media channels to highlight how Hyatt is supporting the communities that the company is in worldwide .
“ Our corporate responsibility efforts are a natural extension of our business , and it ’ s simply the right thing to do ,” Witt adds . “ We are in the business of caring for people so they can be their best .”
16 HOTELS January / February 2016 www . hotelsmag . com