IHG’s COO for Australasia, Karin Sheppard, talks to HM about the latest in Vanuatu in the wake of TC Pam.
“It’s been a tough week for the team and our guests at Holiday Inn Vanuatu and our thoughts go out to all who have suffered the devastation of Cyclone Pam,” Sheppard said.
“We have now closed the resort and will reopen it again once we are fully operational and guests can be welcomed back safely.
“Our focus now is on supporting the local community and our team members there. As part of that we have immediately activated our IHG Shelter Fund, donating an initial amount of USD$60,000 to support both the local communities with aid, as well as to provide relief of food, water, shelter and other essentials to colleagues who have lost their homes in the disaster.
“Our IHG Shelter in a Storm programme was set up to allow us to provide vital assistance to communities and our employees around the world after a natural disaster. And we work with our strategic partner, CARE, who have activated their support on the ground already.
“As we work with CARE to understand the needs of our team members and those in the local community we will activate further funds over the coming weeks and months,” she said.
A representative from CARE USA said: “IHG’s gift was one of the first corporate commitments we received for our Vanuatu relief efforts, enabling CARE to reach out to other partners to encourage similar support. We couldn’t do this without our partnership with the IHG Shelter in a Storm programme.”
For more information on the IHG Shelter Fund or how to make a monetary donation to support relief efforts in Vanuatu, please visit the IHG Shelter in a Storm website.
IHG Rewards Club members can also donate loyalty points to the IHG Shelter in a Storm program.
You can also donate directly at http://www.ihgshelterinastorm.com/donate.aspx