(TAN): Hilton was named the “Most Socially Responsible Hotel Management Group of China” at the 15th China Hotel Starlight Awards, the hotel group said.
Hilton won additional accolades at the property level, with Waldorf Astoria Beijingand Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund named among the “Best Luxurious Hotels of China” and Hilton Shenzhen Futian and Hilton Guangzhou Baiyun recognized as one of the “Top 10 MICE Hotels of China”.
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“Being named the ‘Most Socially Responsible Hotel Management Group of China’ amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic is an immense honor,” said Qian Jin, area president, Greater China and Mongolia, Hilton.
At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in January, 169 team members from Hilton’s three hotels in Hubei province hosted medical professionals from across China who had gone to Wuhan to support the frontline medical efforts. As these medical teams departed for their respective cities after completing their tours of duty in Wuhan, four other Hilton hotels across China welcomed them as they returned home.
As COVID-19 developed into a pandemic, Hilton became the first global hospitality company to launch responsive cancellation policies for guests and updating them repeatedly as the situation evolved, the hotel group claimed. For owners of Hilton properties, policies were also updated several times to reduce the burden on their operations.
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At the community level, a host of Hilton properties offered creative acts of care as well as food & beverage services for local volunteers, community agencies, and ordinary workers who performed their duties in supporting the fight against the epidemic. Hilton also activated a staff assistance fund that provided aid to employees impacted by the coronavirus. This was supplemented by personal contributions from the Hilton Greater China & Mongolia management.
The various measures deployed during the pandemic are built upon Hilton’s “Travel with Purpose” commitment to drive responsible travel and tourism globally.