Benchmark Hospitality International has launched a nationwide “Hometown Hospitality Caring for Our Communities” partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) for 2011, designed to benefit the nation’s troops and their families. The USO has more than 160 locations worldwide, including three Mobile USOs, designed to be centers on wheels that provide signature USO services to troops and families on the road.

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to lift the spirits of the troops and their families. A goal of the USO is to extend a touch of home to the military and their families, often through the active support of the American people and companies like Benchmark Hospitality International.

Benchmark’s “Hometown Hospitality” program is a nationwide outreach initiative on behalf of the leading US-based independent hospitality management company and its 6000+ employees. The Hometown Hospitality partnership with USO will benefit and support troops and their families within the 35+ communities in which Benchmark operates hotels and resorts.  Last year, Benchmark Hospitality engaged in a nationwide Hometown Hospitality program with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, providing 30 vacations at Benchmark hotels and resorts throughout the country to deserving children and their families.

Benchmark's internal champion for Hometown Hospitality Caring for Our Communities, vice president and general manager Laura Neumann of Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, stated upon launching the program, "We are thrilled to be actively engaged with the USO, supporting the important work this vital organization does on behalf of our nation’s troops and military families globally” Ms. Neumann continued with, “We see every day here in Colorado Springs what military personnel and their families endure on behalf of all of us within the United States. They are truly remarkable and if we can do our part to help them with a touch of home during and following deployment, we want to do so and are grateful to have the opportunity to help.”

"The USO applauds Benchmark Hospitality International for taking the initiative to support troops and families in meaningful ways and rolling out the welcome mat for the USO nationwide. The Hometown Hospitality initiative supports, comforts and delivers the goodness to really make a positive difference in our programs and services that impact the lives of the military and their families," said, Kelli Seely, senior vice president and chief development officer. 

Benchmark Hospitality’s and its employees' support of the USO over the coming year will occur in several important ways. Through Benchmark's network of 35+ hotels and resorts nationwide, the company will provide in-kind hospitality contributions to the USO in support of troops and their families.  These contributions will take the form of complimentary guestroom stays for troops about to deploy or just returning from deployment; providing support to the Mobile USO staff that travels throughout the US to military installations and events; providing Event Support (e.g. Homecomings, Galas, Dinner Events); providing vacation giveaways to USO centers holding silent auctions at local events; holding book drives and participating in various other USO programs that support troops and military families like USO | Wounded Warriors initiatives; and providing supplies to support Operation USO Care Package (OUCP) and Holiday Boxes to the troops.

For 70 years, the USO has been lifting the spirits of the nation's troops and their families.  The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO provides programs, entertainment and services at more than 160 locations worldwide.

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners: American Airlines, AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.