This month Swissotel Hotels & Resorts launched a worldwide fund-raising program to help children around the globe through SOS Children’s Villages. SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental and social development organization that aids neglected and abandoned children and orphans, as well as disadvantaged families.

“As Swissotel operates hotels in destinations around the globe, it is a privilege for our management and staff to be able to contribute to the welfare of the children of the world by supporting SOS Children’s Villages,” states Meinhard Huck, Managing Director, Swissotel Hotels & Resorts.

As of December 2006 all Swissotel properties, from Ankara to Sydney, will prominently display collection boxes near check-in counters to collect guests’ spare change. All funds collected will specifically benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Lavrovo, Russia.

In addition, a portion of all proceeds (a total of CHF 5000; approximately $4200 U.S.) from Swissotel’s 2006 Christmas cards, Welcome cards, and Celebration cards will be donated to SOS Children’s Villages. Each Swissotel property around the world will also organize an event to fundraise money for SOS Children’s Villages. For example, Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony to benefit SOS Children’s Villages at the end of November that was attended by Thailand’s H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali. The money collected through this event will be donated to the SOS Children’s Villages foundation in Thailand.

The partnership between Swissotel and SOS Children’s Villages started in 1999 and as a result many projects have been realized to help children in need. For example, Swissotel sponsored a house at the SOS Children’s Village in Entebbe, in Uganda. The house was financed with money raised by Swissotel Hotels & Resorts.