Costa Rica News & Events – In celebration of Hilton Worldwide’s third annual Global Week of Service, October 19 – 25, more than 100 volunteers from Hilton Worldwide Hotels in Costa Ricaare offering their time and efforts this week in a number of events designed to promote sustainable practices, healthy lifestyles and education as a priority for young students, as well as a celebration for senior citizens.
Community service is an integral part of Hilton Worldwide’s culture, and acts of volunteerism occur year-round across our portfolio of twelve
distinct brands and more than 4,200 properties. Hilton Worldwide team members throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are participating in more than 100 projects during this year’s Global Week of Service. Hilton Worldwide Hotels in Costa Rica are a part of Hilton Worldwide’s week-long annual celebration of the company’s commitment to serving and enriching the communities where we live, work and travel.
Some of the activities in Costa Rica include:
– Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa continues its “Hospitality School Program”, supporting the communities of Liberia, Carrillo and Cañas. The initiative is designed to reduce unemployment rates in the region by offering training in several areas of the hotel operation; each trainee is mentored by a Hilton Papagayo Team Member. Currently there are 41 young men and women participating in the program and successful “graduates” are considered to join the hotel team permanently. Additionally, Hilton Papagayo collaborates with the Sardinal Technical High School in their efforts to be recognized by the Blue Flag Ecological Program by providing training and coordinating activities such as planting trees on the school grounds.
– DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari San Jose is supporting the Escobal Health Association in San Antonio de Belén. Each week and with the help of the community this organization offers a space for 60 senior citizens from the area where they are informed on several topics including their rights, health advice and it’s also an opportunity for recreational activities designed for them. DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari San Jose will support these meetings by organizing a bingo, with Team Members as volunteers and donations of prizes; they will also be sharing a lunch as part of the celebration of Senior Citizens Month in Costa Rica.
– DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Central Pacific is offering several activities for the students of Chacarita High School, in partnership with Fundación Acción Joven, to promote a healthy lifestyle with sports events and education on the risks of smoking, as well as environmental awareness and the importance of getting involved in activities to support their community. The hotel hopes these initiatives will have a strong impact on the dropout rates at this school which currently has 1,100 students, and help them concentrate on productive habits that will prepare them for a better personal and professional future. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Central Pacific also continues with their “Server School”, created by the Food & Beverage Department to offer training to unemployed members of the community to increase their possibilities to hire local staff.
– Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport is dedicating its efforts to the Los Lagos Elementary School and its 70 students. With the help of an expert and all the materials provided by the hotel Team Members, they will build a hydroponic vegetable garden on site, where the students will be able to experience and maintain this growing technique, the products of which will be also used to prepare the students’ lunch. The parents and teachers will receive the necessary training to keep the project moving forward.
Global Week of Service is Hilton Worldwide’s largest annual volunteer service initiative and brings together Team Members from across Hilton Worldwide’s offices and hotel properties, helping to strengthen the company’s connections with its local communities and bringing Team Members closer together.
Follow this link to watch a short video on Global Week of Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dshpd1qDNSY
During Global Week of Service, Team Members are encouraged to share their personal stories of service and hospitality. Throughout the week, photos and stories will be posted at www.hiltonworldwide.com/serve, on the Hilton Worldwide Facebook page and on the @HiltonWorldwide Twitter account.
In 2013, Team Members at more than 900 properties and offices completed more than 2,400 volunteer projects in 700 cities across the company’s global footprint. The projects focused on engaging Team Members and delivering on Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to Travel with Purpose by creating opportunities, strengthening communities, celebrating cultures and living sustainably. This year, the company aims to build upon this community engagement and is striving to complete more than 3,000 service projects.
