ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic early in 2020, we've relied on doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, nonprofit workers and other essential workers more than ever. They've kept our communities healthy, fed, sheltered and safe while having to take additional precautions to look after their own wellbeing. As a company committed to True Hospitality, IHG® Hotels & Resorts has spent the last few months recognizing and celebrating these people to say "Thank You" for their work.
Catherine Dolton, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: "We issued a call for nominations of workers who went above and beyond to support their communities, vulnerable populations and colleagues, and the response we received was overwhelming. We're honored to recognize these workers and thank them by providing complimentary stays at our hotels and exclusive experiences, as well as IHG® Rewards Club points to use toward future stays for the rest, relaxation and recovery they so richly deserve."
To bring one of the experiences to life, IHG partnered with Mastercard to provide a "Priceless Experience at Home" with Chef JJ Johnson, Mastercard ambassador and James Beard-winning founder of the acclaimed FIELDTRIP restaurant in Harlem. Chef JJ led an exclusive virtual cooking class for healthcare professionals and workers from nonprofits, such as St. Mungo's, Barnardo's and Good360, in which participants created one of his signature dishes. Throughout the pandemic, Chef JJ Johnson donated rice bowls to New York City hospital workers and forged relationships with nonprofit organizations to develop programs like FIELDTRIP's Buy-a-bowl initiative, which served over 100,000 meals.
Chef JJ Johnson, founder, FIELDTRIP, commented: "It was a treat to be able to lead the class on behalf of Mastercard for these people who have sacrificed so much of their personal lives over the past few months. To me, cooking is all about community, and the essential workers I met during the class have inspired me with their stories of coming together to help their communities get through these tough times."
Over recent months, we've also uncovered incredible stories across the globe of people who have given back to their communities, and we've sought to recognize them with relaxing stays at our hotels.
These stories represent only a small number of the essential workers IHG has had the opportunity to recognize and an even smaller fraction of the countless people who have stepped up to support their communities through this crisis. Through our True Hospitality for Good program, IHG has also worked with governments, organizations and hotel owners to help provide accommodation to those who need it, including healthcare workers, delivery drivers and the homeless, as well as supported food bank and food provision charities, among other community support initiatives during the pandemic.
IHG Rewards Club members who are looking to make a difference in their communities can donate their points to several charity partners, including CARE International UK, American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries International and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. For more information, visit ihgrewardsclub.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About IHG®
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN® Hotels, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, voco™, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts , Holiday Inn Express®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations®, avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites®, Atwell Suites™, and Candlewood Suites®.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,900 hotels and approximately 883,000 guest rooms in more than 100 countries, with over 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.
Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media and follow us on social media at: https://twitter.com/ihgcorporate, www.facebook.com/ihgcorporate and www.linkedin.com/company/intercontinental-hotels-group.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ihg-hotels--resorts-thanks-essential-workers-with-surprise-trips-and-exclusive-experiences-301168774.html
SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts