The associates of the Marriott hotels in the UAE joined together to help their fellow colleagues and their families cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Nepal by raising Dh217,555 ($59,222).

Shortly after the first earthquake on April 25, the UAE Marriott Business Council HR team organised for associates across all company levels to be able to donate one day of their monthly salary or any other amount for the cause.

The donations were distributed among 77 affected Marriott employees to assist them in rebuilding their homes and providing food and shelter to their families back in Nepal.

Ramhari Karki, demi chef de partie at the Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, Dubai, said: “I used the money to build a temporary shelter for my family. We lost almost all of our belongings and it has been very important to buy basic cooking items and food for my family to survive. Our plan is to rebuild a simple basic home after the monsoon season. The donations have greatly helped me to plan and prepare for the future. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues at Marriott. Without your help it would have been so difficult to manage everything.”

Through “Spirit to Serve our Community” initiatives such as this, the UAE Marriott Business Council shows its commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.

In addition to the monetary donation for the associates, several hotels have also been busy collecting items like food, blankets, sheets and hygiene articles to be sent to Nepal via the Emirates Red Crescent. – TradeArabia News Service