TOURISM COMPANIES COME TO AID HAITI

Companies from across the travel and tourism industry have pledged support and aid to the Caribbean nation of Haiti, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that rocked its capital, Port-au-Prince last week.

Royal Caribbean Cruises has announced its plans to provide at least US$1 million in humanitarian relief to Haiti, delivering much needed goods and supplies to Haiti via their cruise ships. Another cruise line, Crystal Cruises, is donating at least US$5 million toward relief efforts.
The funds will be forwarded to several different international organisations coordinating relief efforts within the country.

From the hotel sector, Best Western International has announced that Best Western Rewards members can now contribute rewards points to the massive relief effort. Programme members can visit the company’s website to make a donation to World Vision. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is also encouraging members of its Priority Club Rewards member programme to donate their points to the American Red Cross for Haitian Earthquake Relief.

The American Red Cross is also being assisted by Continental Airlines, which is offering a scheme whereby its OnePass FFP members can donate to the charitable organisation. Continental is also waiving change fees and additional fare collections for certain tickets to the Dominican Republic, adjacent to Haiti, in order to help the evacuation effort.
China’s HNA Group, which owns Hainan Airlines, has donated CNY500,000 (US$73,000) each to two humanitarian organisations for relief and reconstruction efforts.

Across the industry, companies are contributing to the huge relief effort in an unprecedented response.