W Doha organizes fund-raising Charity Walk to collect funds for Japan

Press release

Published April 5th, 2011 - 06:52 GMT

Al Bawaba

W Talents have been so moved by W Doha’s donation to Japan earthquake victims earlier this week of QR 80,000, which was handed over to the Japanese Ambassador at W by Safak Guvenc, General Manager W Doha, that they organized their own fund-raising initiative. To support Starwood Talents in Japan affected by the disaster, plans were made to stage a Charity Walk along the Corniche on Sunday, 3 April, leaving the hotel at 17.30. The Assembly point was on the Corniche next to the Knowledge Enrichment Centre.160 Talents took part and raised QR11,654 between them.

Savak Guvenc, General Manager W Doha, commented: “W Talents in Doha are fired up and wanted to walk or run for Japan last Sunday and it is great to see their spirit and energy devoting their time in support of their fellow Starwood colleagues in Japan. They all donated to the cause and the money collected will go to the Starwood Associate Relief Fund.”

At W Doha ‘Team’ means Together Everyone Achieves More and so W Doha is gathering the funds as departmental teams. The department that donates the most money to the relief fund will get 2 extra paid leave days this year for all the talents who joined in the run or the walk.

Edgar Vaudeville, PR and Events Manager, W Doha, said movingly: "Having spoken to HE the Ambassador of Japan and his wife, he confirmed that major help is needed in order to recover his country. This week has seen W Doha supporting the Japanese victims on three occasions with a total of QR 291,654 being collected and we hope to encourage other corporations locally or in the region to do the same. A very small donation can change the life of an entire family."

With 15 hotels and several thousand associates in Japan, this tragedy hits close to home for Starwood, and the well-being of W’s colleagues in Japan is of utmost concern. None of the hotels in Japan suffered structural damage, and guests and associates are all accounted for following the earthquake and tsunami. A special Starwood task force and Emergency Response Team has been set up and has been operating since the earthquake occurred.

Background Information

Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels represents one of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies. It conducts its hotel and leisure business both directly and through its subsidiaries. Its brand names include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points, Aloft, and Element

Starwood Hotels' business emphasizes the global operation of hotels and resorts primarily in the luxury and upscale segment of the lodging industry. It seeks to acquire interests in, or management or franchise rights with respect to properties in this segment. At December 31, 2009, its hotel portfolio included owned, leased, managed and franchised hotels totaling 979 hotels with approximately 292,000 rooms in approximately 100 countries, and is comprised of 63 hotels that it owns or leases or in which it has a majority equity interest, 440 hotels managed by the company on behalf of third-party owners and 476 hotels for which it receives franchise fees.