IMAGE ABOVE: Shangri-La Group – Two refugee children help each other with their masks at Cedar Learning Center, Bangkok
Here’s a couple of cheery, warm-the-heart stories from accommodation providers looking out for their local communities.
A new initiative from the Shangri-La Group is re-purposing clean, used linen to make Linens for Life Face Masks (L4LFM) for vulnerable members of the community in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.
In partnership with Diversey, the hotel group is upcycling 12,500kg of hotel linen into 500,000 reusable face masks for the most vulnerable members of those communities.
Across twelve cities, 21 the linen from Shangri-La hotels will be repurposed into reusable fabric face masks by local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Colombo, Hambantota, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Surabaya, Jakarta, Manila, Cebu, Singapore, Bangkok and Yangon. In some cities such as Yangon, Manila, Johor Bahru, Jakarta, Surabaya and Bangkok, the upcycling of masks will also generate employment opportunities for members in low socio-economic community groups.
The half-a-million face masks will subsequently be distributed to local communities in need, providing vulnerable members of society with a basic piece of protection that is now mandatory in many countries in the global fight against COVID-19.
The upcycling initiative also provides Shangri-La with a meaningful way to help reduce environmental wastage. If new linen was produced to manufacture this quantity of fabric masks, it would have incurred 60 million litres of water (the equivalent of 23 Olympic-size swimming pools) and a carbon footprint of 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 63,000 litres of petrol being combusted*.
Mr. Chan Kong Leong, Regional CEO for Shangri-La Group in Southeast Asia & Australasia, said: “… we are heartened to be able to continue helping and caring for the communities around us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Linens For Life Face Masks programme provides clear health, social and environmental benefits for communities during these challenging times. Not only does it give our used hotel linen a new lease of life, it also provides the most vulnerable with a basic piece of protection and helps sustain livelihoods.”
In Fiji, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort has opened its doors for locals via its“Love Our Locals” initiative, welcoming local domestic guests who have taken advantage of the great value “Outrigger Fiji Bure Getaway” campaign, exclusive to Fijian residents for travel during July this year.
The first guests to check in since the resort was forced to suspend its operations due to the worldwide health pandemic were mother and son, Ms Zubeda Bibi and Dean, who are staying to celebrate a special birthday.
The Outrigger Fiji has always been a highly regarded resort option for Fijians holidaying at home, and has a strong reputation within the community and locals, of being inclusive and welcoming, said general manager Darren Shaw.
“We were so pleased to welcome back our loyal locals who have continued to support us over the years. Although many of our team has been able to continue working in other areas and non-standard duties, it’s not the same ambiance around the property without guests and we are excited to welcome many more back over the coming weeks.
“We are utilising this time whilst the boarders remain closed to re-connect with our local market and join with Tourism Fiji to help stimulate local traffic.”
