IHG donates to food banks, provides rooms for pandemic first responders

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP has initiated two programs to support efforts to face the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. The company is donating to food banks around the world and providing rooms to first responders fighting the outbreak.

As part of its True Hospitality for Good program, IHG contributes to food banks and services in more than 70 countries. The charities it supports include “No Kid Hungry” in the U.S.

“We can all see the impact that coronavirus continues to have around the world on communities, businesses and our lives,” said Keith Barr, IHG’s CEO. “Taking care of others is the very essence of who we all are in hospitality and working with our colleagues, owners and charity partners to offer food, supplies and safe accommodation is a natural way for us to be there for our local communities in these difficult times.”

As part of the True Hospitality initiative, the Holiday Inn Scranton-East in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, prepared hundreds of spaghetti and meatball drive-thru dinners for locals in need. Also, the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter, the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport and InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta have supported the Atlanta Community Food Bank in partnership with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association.

IHG also is partnering with #FirstRespondersFirst to provide lodging for frontline workers, such as physicians and nurses, home-care workers, social workers and others. Using a special reservation service, IHG will match local medical facilities with nearby hotels.

“#FirstRespondersFirst is unique because it addresses the broad needs of this critical group of people and being part of a bigger solution is how we think about the support we provide communities,” Barr said. “We look forward to welcoming these critical frontline teams and delivering the True Hospitality they deserve when they need it most.”

Several other hotel chains, including Best Western Hotels & Resorts and My Place Hotels of America, have donated rooms to first responders.