#HospitalityStrong

Giving Back in Every City

April 21, 2020

Everywhere you look, you will find stories of destinations, hotels and restaurants giving back.

Send your stories about the hospitality industry giving back to Barbara Scofidio at [email protected].

Atlantic City

Clean the World Foundation has joined forces again with Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming to fight the spread of COVID-19. The latter have donated 350,000 bars of soap, which will be provided to individuals and families across the globe that are highly vulnerable to hygiene-related illness.

The soap coming into Clean the World has decreased significantly, so the organization is relying on its hospitality partners to donate hygiene supplies to allow the foundation to meet its soap production goals. The foundation plans to send 3 million bars of soap in the next 90 days to the hardest-hit areas affected by COVID-19.

Also in Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is giving back by distributing over 35,000 lbs of fresh food to local charities including The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City and The Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Team members from hotel operations to the marketing department worked together to prepare over 250 sandwiches and 200 “grocery” bags of fresh fruit and vegetables for the community.

Dallas

Hotels throughout Dallas are providing needed supplies, sharing important messages and caring for first responders. Omni Dallas’ famous 23-story LED-lighting system is now broadcasting important messages like “Flatten the Curve” and “Wash Your Hands,” and the hotel now sells quarantine kits that include essentials like eggs, milk, sugar, flour and even toilet paper. Wyndham Garden North Dallas opened its doors to first responders for free stays, even after having to lay off half of its own staff.

California

The City of San José Housing Department has collaborated with Team San Jose to set up two halls of the city’s convention center as temporary homeless shelters to keep people safe and off the streets during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Amenities include restrooms, showers, individual pet kennels, laundry facilities, boxed meals, electrical outlets, language interpreters, and 24/7 security. In addition to providing building use services, Team San Jose has employed previously laid off staff to administer meal preparation of more than 800 meals for those being housed at the convention center as well as delivery to those sheltering at the Santa Clara Campgrounds and nearby motels.

In Palm Springs, more than 50,000 jobs are supported by tourism in the Coachella Valley, so The Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation is collecting donations to support local workers in the tourism and hospitality industry facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. All donations will provide economic relief to Greater Palm Springs families who depend on work in the hospitality and tourism industry for their livelihood.

Throughout the state, Visit California is encouraging consumers to support their local community by enjoying delicious to-go meals from neighborhood restaurants and spreading the word across social media with California Takeout Tuesday. Every Tuesday, Californians are encouraged to order takeout from a local business and post about it on social using #CATakeoutTuesday and tag the restaurant and/or @VisitCalifornia.