Hilton hospitality enriches community

October is that time of year when all hotels under the Hilton Worldwide group take their hospitality skills into the community to make a positive impact on the people in the area where they live and work.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru team with guests from
Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO)

The Hilton Global Month of Service is a signature annual volunteer program that celebrates the hotel group’s community engagement efforts with a month-long series of activities with the community every October since 2011.

In the 2015 Global Month of Service, team members around the world completed more than 4000 volunteer projects in 92 countries in a total of 213,000 volunteer hours.  This year the Hilton Worldwide group plans to make a larger impact on the community.

Serving JARO guests at the table

“Since DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru opened just over two years ago, we have strived to uphold Hilton’s global commitment to corporate responsibility,” said hotel General Manager, Simon McGrath.

“Travel with Purpose” is Hilton’s global corporate responsibility programme which is aimed at providing shared values with team members, guests, business partners and communities in which they live, work and travel. 

“This programme focuses on creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential, strengthening local communities and preserving the environment through the measurement, analysis and improvement of our use of natural resources,” he added.

JARO guests enjoying the hospitality at Makan Kitchen

DoubleTree by Hilton JB celebrates the Global Month of Service through strengthening their existing relationship with Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) and the Rohingya community here. 

“In addition, the hotel will also support the Kechara Soup Kitchen by providing food for them to feed the city’s homeless,” said McGrath about the hotel’s commitment in this year’s community activities.

“Our continued commitment to our “City Clean Up” activities will see our team members, set a positive example once again, as we pick up litter in the city center,” he added.

The team had their share of fun on Oct 6 when they escorted a group of Rohingya children to an exciting outing at the Angry Birds Theme Park in KOMTAR JBCC.  It was an unforgettable outing for 50 refugee children who enjoyed games and other interactive activities at the park.

More than 200 students of Foon Yew High School attended a career talk held in their school premises on Oct 8 and benefited from Careers @ Hilton Live which introduced them to job opportunities and careers in the hotel industry.

As a global leader in the industry, the Hilton Worldwide group strives to create a nurturing, collaborative and inclusive culture, and develop world-class learning and development programmes to enable youths to reach their career goals. 

JARO staff enjoying their lunch hosted at Makan Kitchen

Another Careers @ Hilton Live event is scheduled on Oct 25, where youths would be invited into the hotel for a similar career talk.  

As the hotel actively works to empower young people to achieve more through careers in hospitality, these student participants will have the privilege of a glimpse of the back-of-the-house operations for a better idea of what the various jobs with the hotel entail. 

Since its opening in 2014, DoubleTree by Hilton JB has provided a platform for JARO to sell their handcrafted quality products at The Food Store, the hotel’s café in the lobby.  The hotel’s focus encompasses volunteering, creating awareness and advocacy for this local charitable organization. 

JARO volunteer and staff with the hotel staff at the event

On Oct 12, the hotel hosted a sumptuous lunch buffet at the Makan Kitchen which was thoroughly enjoyed by some 50 staff and volunteers of JARO.

Every Saturday in October, the team at DoubleTree by Hilton JB will pack 150 boxes of vegetarian food that will be distributed to the homeless through Kechara Soup Kitchen in their food donation effort.

To top off the month’s series of community activities, the team at DoubleTree by Hilton JB will set a positive example in the community as the take part in a City Clean-Up event in the city center on Oct 28.

This series of activities planned by DoubleTree by Hilton JB to enrich the community in October, will not only help the needy but certainly elevate those involved with a sense of purpose and CARE.

DoubleTree by Hilton JB is situation at 12 Jalan Ngee Heng, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor. Tel: 607 – 268 6868, Fax: 607 – 268 6888.  Visit website: JohorBahru.DoubleTree.com