Social Responsibility

We know that looking after our people is a critical success factor and that employee wellness is essential in creating a productive and supportive working environment. As such, in association with our wellness partners, Discovery Health and AON Healthcare, we will be hosting an Employee Health and Wellness Day in our Durban Office on 08 June 2012. All members of the Three Cities Group Medical Aid have been encouraged to attend. Professional healthcare workers will complete 4 critical health screening tests for each employee. These tests will be conducted at no cost to the employee as the screenings are covered by the risk benefit of his/her medical aid cover. The tests include cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI). The day will allow the healthcare workers to engage with staff about their well-being. Employees will be provided with health information and will be offered guidance and assistance on various health topics. Individual results will be kept confidential and the company will be provided with a report of aggregate data on all the participants in order for us to assess the “health” of our organisation. In addition to goodie bags, employees will be provided with pertinent health and well-being literature and there will be a lucky draw with lots of worthwhile prizes up for grabs.

To celebrate the spirit of Funsunzi, East Coast Radio surprised us by selecting our office to host a surprise office party on 30 March 2012. On a weekly basis, they had received in excess of 1 000 requests from various companies to host an office party and we were fortunate enough to be selected. On a laid back Friday afternoon, cool tunes were provided by ECR DJ, Ravi R, and the theme of the party was “All That Glitters”. The Board Room was decorated according to this theme and employees showed off the best of their bling! Everybody let their hair down and made sure that they made the most of the moment, the music and the great food provided. To much applause and cheering, Ravi R announced that on the day “”The King of Bling” was Murray Burger, Group Engineer, and that the “Best Dancer” was Gloria Msenti, Receptionist. Each won a prize for their efforts. The event was a resounding success and employees have requested that we participate in similar events in the future.

Before the start of the 2012 Easter weekend, the HR Team assisted in delivering over 600 marshmallow Easter eggs, donated by Three Cities, and juice, kindly donated by Avonmore Spar, to the children and babies at the Edith Benson Babies’ and Childrens’ Home in Sherwood, Durban. Children are accommodated in six different cottages with 12 to14 children in each cottage. The home tries to make suitable arrangements for the children when they turn 18 as they then have to leave the home and are no longer eligible for child support grants. Children from the Edith Benson Babies' Home who are not placed in foster care move to this home on turning seven. The Edith Benson Babies' Home is on the same premises. The Easter eggs were to be used for an egg hunt in the garden on Easter Sunday, but some of the little ones could not wait that long and were given Easter eggs on the day. The smiles on their little faces said it all!

On 02 March 2012, Three Cities hosted and funded a CANSA Shavathon in the Board Room of its Support Office. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) hosts a fund-raising event of this nature on an annual basis in shopping centres around the country and encourages companies and schools to hold their own Shavathons on their premises. CANSA’s purpose is to lead the fight against cancer in South Africa and is striving to become the non-profit leader that enables research, educates the public and provides support to all people that are affected by cancer. Losing one’s hair is a common side-effect of cancer therapy. As such, shaving one’s hair has become a symbolic gesture of support for cancer survivors. Members of the public and employees are encouraged to shave or spray their hair or pay a bail out fee in order to demonstrate their support of CANSA, for a donation of R50 or more in order to do so. After some initial hesitation and a bit of encouragement, employees were keen to participate in this worthwhile initiative and much fun was had by all, especially the volunteer employee “hairdressers” and “cheerleaders” on the day.

In September 2011 ECR launched its 11th Toy Story Campaign. The campaigns are aimed at bringing a smile to children’s faces, many of whom have never experienced the joy of receiving a new toy. The toys are handed out to children in government hospitals, crèches, orphanages and child-headed households in mid-December, at the start of the festive season. As a staff initiative in December 2011, employees from the Three Cities Support Office in Durban made a commitment to participate in the campaign, thereby making a difference in an underprivileged child’s life. Through the generosity and compassion that was displayed by our employees, we were able to brighten the lives of 75 children by ensuring that they were each able to receive a toy.

Kyle Skidmore, an 18 year old dedicated student from Glenwood Boys High, was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant in order to have a second chance at life. He was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening condition called aplastic anaemia at the age of 13. It is a condition in which the body does not produce enough new blood cells, leaving the patient feeling fatigued, at a higher risk of infection and uncontrolled bleeding. As a result of his condition, Kyle had to be admitted into hospital every 10 days for a blood transfusion and could no longer participate in any of the sporting activities that he loved. His grandparents, who look after him, were struggling to find enough money, not only for his treatment, but for the trip to Cape Town, where he was to receive treatment for a month, and accommodation whilst there. Glenwood High School's Chairman of the Governing Body, Mike Knipe, wrote in to the ECR Big Favour to see if they could help.  During October 2011, through our involvement in the Annual ECR Toy Story, ECR contacted us to ask if we would be able to assist. Without a moment’s hesitation, we gladly obliged. A travel management company was able to sponsor the family’s flights but they still required assistance with accommodation and transport. During a live broadcast on ECR’s Big Favour, hosted by Damon Beard, on 25 October 2011, Lauren Bonhomme, Group HR Manager, made a pledge on behalf of Three Cities that we would provide accommodation and transport for the family, at no cost, for as long as it was required. Fortunately, through various private and corporate fund-raising initiatives, sufficient funds were raised for Kyle’s treatment and a suitable donor was found in Germany. Miraculously, out of a pool of 250 potential donors, the first volunteer that was tested was a perfect match! Kyle’s bone marrow stem cell transplant took place on 11 January 2012 at the UCT Academic Hospital. Thereafter, he had to undergo chemotherapy. Prior to his transplant, in December he had to undergo a number of tests at the hospital. During this time, the family, being Kyle and his grandparents, were graciously hosted by The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel. General Manager Chris Godenir and his team ensured that they were all well looked after. During the period of his transplant and subsequent recovery, the family was hosted by Inn On The Square, which soon became a home away from home for them as a result of the care and consideration provided by the team on the ground. Unfortunately, Kyle’s road to recovery has not been smooth sailing, but this amazingly brave, determined and resilient young man is now on the mend. It is anticipated that he will be well enough to be able return to Durban on 18 June 2012, almost five months after his transplant. We all wish him well with his recovery and the new chapter in his life!

From what was an over-grown field, the children at SOS Children’s Village in Thornton, Cape Town will soon have a proper play park in July thanks to staff of Three Cities Hotels in the Western Cape. The Three Cities Starfish Mentees for 2008/2009 undertook the community upliftment project dubbed “Project Smile” to improve the fundamental living conditions for the children at the S.O.S Children’s Village. In the process, the Three Cities staff members (from The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel, Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel & Spa, Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa and Lagoon Beach Hotel) raised R35 000 to build the playground and  will start clearing the ground with helpers and Starfish members on June 10th, hoping to have the playground completed by end July. The Peninsula Hotel was also finalist in The Imvelo Responsible Tourism awards 2008 in the category Best Single resource/waste management programme and also became the first major hotel in South Africa to be awarded the prestigious Investors In People Standard that sets a level of good practice for organisational performance through its employees. The Peninsula also scored a AAA on the BEE Scale. “In the tourism industry and South Africa as a whole, service attitude and productivity is critical to growth and success,” says Peninsula Hotel GM Chris Godenir. “People are at the heart of any organisation and ultimately it is our role to play an uplifting role both inside the hotel and in the broader community.”

Just North of Newcastle lives SA’s very own version of Mother Teresa, Sarah Holland. Sarah gives of herself selflessly everyday by running Ngogo House in the small town of Newcastle, were she does what she can to make a difference. Currently Sarah is looking after 6 children who are not her own but rather orphans. These children who receive daily love and compassion as if they were with their own parents, ages range from 2 years to 10 years old.Sadly not all the children are fit and healthy, as we all wish for our own children. The oldest little boy is Siyabonga, and at such a young age is dying of Aids. Doctors treating Siyabonga have said that he will not be around for much longer. When this sweet little boy was asked what he would like more than anything in the world Siyabonga said “I would love to see and swim in the sea.” For some people this would be a daily routine and not a lifelong dream. After hearing this East Coast Radio searched for corporate companies to make a dream come true. Once Three Cities got word of this there was no hesitation in helping make this dream become a reality. As the little boy isn’t well a short beach trip is in order. The Royal Hotel has decided not only to treat Siyobonga to his wish but for two adults and his orphaned friends from Ngogo House to also join him in a dream come true. The very excitable groups have been given two nights’ accommodation at the Royal Hotel where they are close for daily beach visits and to uShaka Marine World where they will enjoy their complimentary combo family pass and a free meal at Wahooz restaurant as given to Siyabonga’s group by uShakua Marine World. All food whilst staying at the Royal will be provided by the hotel, eating like kings for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Avis will also do their bit by providing transfers between the Royal Hotel and uShaka. A team effort made by all involved, providing a most memorable experience for Siyabonga, his friends and most of all the Three Cities Group who were over the moon to help in making this child’s dream come true.

The 2009 Take a Girl Child to Work Day which took place on Thursday, 28 May, was a great success and an initiative that the Three Cities Group jumped at. The Cell C Initiative is a great opportunity for young girls to experience firsthand modern day career options which are available to them. The Three Cities Group along with other willing companies provided an endless list of career options to consider by opening their doors to the relevant girls who joined the rest of the country at work. Three Cities felt that it was their duty to educate the up and coming youth in hospitality excellence and therefore joined the Campaign in hope of empowering all girls involved by helping them to make the right career choice one day. Three Cities is proud to have been a part of this career opportunity initiative and wish all the girls involved a brighter, better future.

Being out of the office, playing golf and giving back to a good cause, sounds too good to be true. A day of golf is one thing but doing it for charity rather than pure enjoyment is a completely different story. The overwhelming feeling of giving back to an admirable cause can’t be put into words; this is something the Three Cities Group can completely relate to after their most recent golf day with all proceeds going to two local charities. The Three Cities Golf day which took place at Umhlali couldn't have been made up of a more enthusiastic group of golfers, from clients to suppliers everyone played with two goals in mind, to take pleasure in the day and make some much needed money for charity. Once T off started all the hard work preparing for the day was forgotten , from that minute forward it was all about the charities. The two selected charities for the day were, The Cape Leopard Trust and Child Welfare, even though in completely different categories both as important as each other. The Cape Leopard Trust aims to optimally facilitate conservation of the Cape's predator diversity through simultaneously implementing conservation strategies, research projects and tourism initiatives. It also educates and encourage the youth of disadvantaged communities to have a vested interest in the environment, combining both education and conservation. In a totally different category is the Child Welfare Durban and District Charity selected by Three Cities as another deserving charity to which the funds raised went to. Child Welfare Durban and District is an organization committed to protecting the rights and enhancing and promoting the quality of life of children, families and communities in Durban, working for social justice for all individuals. Figures made from the golf day reached R130 000, a substantial amount to be divided between both charities. Recently the two charities received R65 000 each from The Three Cities group. Marius Earle, National Operations Director said “One of the most memorable days for our team, seeing genuine gratitude from such outstanding charities, warmed all our hearts. ” Three Cities would like to thank all staff, clients and suppliers who made this day possible, a true group effort helping these two charities to grow and develop, reaching their goals and changing lives.