Marriott International’s fundraising campaign for SOS Children’s Villages marks 25th anniversary of its first property in Germany the Hamburg Marriott Hotel

LONDON, 2013-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — On 17 October, 2013, Marriott International celebrates the 25th anniversary of its first property in Germany, the Hamburg Marriott Hotel.  To mark the occasion, Marriott is launching “Lend a Hand,” a fundraising campaign across 31 hotels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to support disadvantaged youth in Europe.  Over five weeks, from now until September 30, 2013, guests have the opportunity to invest in the future of young people in Germany by contributing 5 Euros (CHF 5.00) and leaving their colourful handprint on a framed piece of canvas displayed in the hotel lobbies.

Contributions collected throughout the campaign will be presented to Marriott’s long-term charity partner SOS Children’s Villages at an anniversary event in Hamburg on 17 October.  The donation will support the SOS Children’s Villages vocational centre in Berlin and help fund the centre’s training facilities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, providing them with better career opportunities through vocational training.

“Asking our guests to “lend a hand” is a unique and interactive way of supporting the development of young people in Germany,” said Gitta Brückmann, Area Vice President Central Europe.  “Marriott strongly believes that our business should be aligned with the communities in which we operate, and as we reach 25 years of business in Germany we hope that funds raised through this initiative will have a positive impact on the lives of young people in the country.”

The “Lend a Hand” campaign launched at the annual Marriott apprentice conference in Cologne on 26 August, 2013.  The apprentice conference, now in its tenth year, was attended by over 30 apprentices who learnt about working at Marriott and the global opportunities and numerous career paths available.  The evening also recognised and awarded the best apprentices and provided a valuable networking opportunity.  Marriott currently employs 480 apprentices in Germany across numerous different professions including culinary, events and human resources.

At the end of the campaign, 4 of the 31 canvases will be joined together as a unique piece of artwork and will be presented to clients, partners and media at the anniversary event in Hamburg.

Through its “World of Opportunity” European initiative, Marriott is committed to helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their full potential by providing employment skills training and vocational opportunities through a variety of charitable partners including The Prince’s Trust in the U.K. and SOS Children’s Villages in Continental Europe.  In 2012, Marriott’s support included €300,000 cash and €100,000 in-kind donations, and nearly 4,000 hours of volunteering.  As a result, more than 250 young people across Europe gained vocational training and employment courses.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Connect with helen.taylor@marriott.com

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