MCLEAN, Va. - Wednesday, November 23rd 2011 [ME NewsWire]
More Than 22,000 Organizations Can Benefit Globally Leveraging LightStay
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Worldwidetoday announced a partnership with Good360to connect hotels donating high-quality used goods to charitable organizations that can repurpose and serve needs within their communities.
By utilizing LightStay, Hilton Worldwide’s proprietary sustainability performance management platform, all of the more than 3,750 Hilton Worldwide hotels globally will be able to enter goods available for donation into a tracking system that will link to Good360’s online product donation marketplace and its more than 22,000 charities that can claim items as needed. Additionally, Hilton Worldwide’s group meeting clients can track donations entered by Hilton Worldwide-branded properties in the event a donation opportunity is available through LightStay’s Meeting Calculator.
“Our partnership with Good360 is the critical link we’ve been looking for,” said Jennifer Silberman, vice president, corporate responsibility for Hilton Worldwide. “Many of our hotels have been donating for some time, and we are excited to watch how this partnership will enable more donations by connecting hotels with a greater number of organizations to support communities in need and providing resources to facilitate their donations.”
Routinely, properties have items such as towels, blankets or office supplies that are recovered through renovation and events, or, simply reached the end of their commercial service life, but are still reusable. Before now, it has been difficult for hotels to execute relationships with existing charitable partners on a consistent basis due to time, resource or legal constraints.
In 2010, over 1,300 Hilton Worldwide properties donated physical goods to charitable and community organizations. This figure will continue to increase in coming years as hotels utilize the Good360 partnership and manage donations more efficiently using LightStay.
Good360, previously known as Gifts In Kind International, is a pioneer in the product giving space with recognition by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s most efficient charities. In three decades of service, Good360 has distributed nearly $7 billion in product donations to thousands of organizations serving a wide spectrum of people in need. Good360 is developing the world’s largest online product donation marketplace, where product donations from America’s top brands and retailers become goods for the greater good.
“Thanks to donors like Hilton Worldwide, Good360 is able to get essential products into the hands of those who need them most,” said Cindy Hallberlin, CEO and president of Good360. “When nonprofits receive product donations, they are able to stretch their budget further and focus more time on their mission.”
This is the latest in Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to repurpose used goods for community needs. Earlier this month, Hilton Worldwide announced a partnership with the Global Soap Projectto recycle soap across its more than 3,750 hotels globally and leverage its global supply chain and expertise to assist with the influx of soap the nonprofit will receive. The company also will invest $1.3 million over three years to expand its infrastructure.
Hilton Worldwide is the first major multi-brand hospitality company to make sustainability measurement a brand standard and recently earned ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications for quality and environmental management – one of the largest volume certifications awarded for commercial buildings. As part of that standard, Hilton Worldwide-branded properties commit to continuous improvements to their overall sustainability results each year. In 2010 alone, the company saved more than $74 million in utility costs through a 6.6 percent reduction of energy use; 7.8 percent reduction of carbon output; 19 percent reduction of waste output; and 3.8 percent reduction of water use. Hilton Worldwide’s global giving is currently focused on creating vibrant and sustainable communities wherever we operate.
Hilton Worldwide was awarded the Global Vision Award by Travel & Leisure and the Extra Mile Award by Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel magazines. Most recently, the company was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership as one of the top 10 purchasers of green power.
About Good360
Good360 (about.good360.org) is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to fulfilling the needs of nonprofits by distributing corporate product donations around the world. The organization works with the nation’s top retailers and brands to provide needed products to more than 22,000 qualified nonprofit organizations. This year, Good360 will launch the latest version of its new, innovative online donation marketplace that helps to aggregate the product needs of nonprofits and provides timely information about how product donations are used for the greater good. Good360, formerly Gifts In Kind International, is ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the nation’s best-managed charities in America.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,750 hotels and timeshare properties, with 615,000 rooms in 85 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.HiltonWorldwide.com or connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.HiltonWorldwide.com/Media.
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Contacts
Hilton Worldwide
Dasha Ross, + 1 703-883-5805
dasha.ross@hilton.com
www.hiltonworldwide.com/media
Good360
Kara Kozimor, 703-299-7575
kara@good360.org
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