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Kimpton Warms Hearts in Cold Winter; Boutique Hotel Group Raises Money and Awareness During National 'Kimpton Cares'
Kimpton Warms Hearts in Cold Winter; Boutique Hotel Group Raises Money and Awareness During National 'Kimpton Cares'
Published 04-03-06
Submitted by Kimpton
Kimpton today released the stellar results of this year's "Kimpton Cares" month, during which approximately 65 percent of hotel and restaurant employees nationwide volunteered their time and expertise to make a positive social and environmental difference on a local level. Kimpton also announced the renewal of its partnership with national charity organizations, including Trust for Public Land, Dress for Success and the Red Ribbon AIDS Awareness Campaign, as part of its larger Kimpton Cares program, which runs throughout the year.
Kimpton employees coordinated and participated in a variety of community service events, including blood drives, working with local meal-delivery services, running etiquette classes for inner-city youth and donating considerable money to the local chapters of Dress for Success, Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Key highlights from "Kimpton Cares" Month include:
over 25 pints of blood in one day from hotel employees and
guests
a food drive collecting more than 75 lbs. of food over five
days
Seattle properties taught kids of the Ronald McDonald House
how to make Valentine's Day Cards, in addition to sponsoring a
festive pizza and cookie party
D.C.-based Helix raised more than $1,000 by selling raffle
tickets and specialty "Pet Peeve" cocktails at a fund-raising
event to benefit the Washington Humane Society. The money
collected during that evening alone helped the charity to
rescue over 100 animals
Francisco-based Blue Mermaid Chowder House and Restaurant
teamed up with the Friends of the Urban Forest to plant trees
in the city. Volunteers planted trees in the Bay View
neighborhood and then fed all local community volunteers from
the Friends of the Urban Forest.
"Kimpton has a long standing history of community involvement at all levels of the organization. 'Kimpton Cares' evolved out of our philosophy as business leaders we have a responsibility to serve the community," says Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels. "Ultimately, we believe that as our communities prosper, so do we all," Leondakis added. "Kimpton's strong commitment to social contribution hinges on a culture of employee participation. Many of our employees volunteer their time and energy to a variety of charities and causes including our national partners, Dress for Success and Trust for Public Land."
Additionally, employees were encouraged to participate in the Kimpton Cares Heart Contest, to create a heart that answered the question, "If you were a heart, what would you look like?" The response was overwhelming, and more than 20 properties participated and submitted a heart.
On a national level, Kimpton is a strong supporter of charitable programs including:
Through Kimpton's EarthCare program, individual hotels and Kimpton's Home Office commit to reducing their ecological footprint while conducting day-to-day business. Kimpton has strategically aligned itself with organizations that are respected and recognized in environmental circles and share similar goals and objectives such as the Trust for Public Land, the only national nonprofit entity dedicated exclusively to the preservation of land for public use.
Kimpton Hotels has an ongoing commitment to the Trust for Public Land to increase awareness and donations.
Kimpton is the exclusive hospitality sponsor of Dress for Success.
Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization committed to helping disadvantaged women thrive in the workplace. Dress for Success provides business attire, career development and skills for employment retention. During the months of March and April, Kimpton celebrates Women's History Month with a campaign to raise funds and awareness for Dress for Success. Kimpton also sponsors the organization's annual Success Summit.
Kimpton supports the Red Ribbon Campaign by assisting HIV service organizations across North America through employee volunteerism, educational campaigns, corporate donations, and fund-raising events.
Kimpton also annually hosts fund-raising parties on World AIDS Day (December 1), coast-to-coast, to benefit its affiliated non-profits.
ABOUT KIMPTON
Founded by Bill Kimpton in 1981, San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is a unique collection of boutique hotels coupled with chef-driven, destination restaurants. While all Kimpton Hotels are thoughtfully appointed and managed to help guests maintain and enrich their lifestyles on the road, each is individually designed to reflect the energy, personality, and pulse of its distinct location, history, and architectural style. Featuring highly personalized guest services, comforting in-room amenities, and one-of-a-kind specialty rooms and suites, Kimpton Hotels provide travelers with welcoming atmospheres that embrace its signature elements of care, comfort, style, flavor, and fun. Kimpton takes pride in its social responsibility, supporting select, like-minded partners and is a leader in ecological practices. Kimpton currently operates 40 boutique hotels with restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. This includes the recently opened 70 park avenue hotel in New York City and the Hotel Solamar in San Diego. Kimpton re-launched the Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove, Miami and will debut a Hotel Palomar in Washington D.C. in early 2006. Additional projects are currently underway in South Beach, Dallas and Virginia. For more information, please visit www.kimptonhotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.
Copyright Business Wire 2006
