Social Responsibility at Three Cities

Hospitality with a Cause - SOS Children Get A New Playground

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 (rom 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.”

Cell C take a girl child to work

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.

Three Cities helps East Coast Radios's- reach for a dream

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 two selected charities for the Three Cities Golf Day which took place at Umhlali were, The Cape Leopard Trust and Child Welfare Durban.

Golfing for Good

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.