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[UPDATED] Art of giving back: Indonesian hotels launch charity programs amid pandemic
Hotels in Indonesia wish to help during the COVID-19 pandemic through various programs.
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Hyatt Regency Bali in Sanur, Bali, produces face masks from upcycled batik fabric that are donated to communities in need. (Hyatt Regency Bali/File)
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mid the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of hotels in Indonesia have launched charity programs to help those in need, ranging from distributing face masks to ready-to-eat meals.
Below is the list.
Hyatt Regency Bali
Hyatt Regency in Sanur, Bali, has started two projects under its Gift that Gives Back program.
In the first project, the hotel produced face masks from upcycled batik fabric. The masks were donated to communities in need in Bali and were also sold to the public. All proceeds were used to purchase materials to make more fabric masks.
On April 15, the project’s first batch of donations was sent to Telabah village in Gianyar regency. “The donation came just in time,” said I Wayan Sarjata, the village head, in a statement. “A lot of people in our village can’t afford or have access to masks.”
The hotel’s chefs also created homemade sauces, pastes and sambal (chili) for those who wished to recreate dishes of the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant Omang Omang and Italian restaurant Pizzaria at home. Sambal bawang (chili mixed with onion, garlic and oil) and Bolognese sauce were among the 11 flavors on offer.
TAUZIA Hotels
Hotel chain operator Tauzia Hotels aims to support medical personnel by distributing ready-to-eat meals to selected referral hospitals for COVID-19 in Indonesia.
So far, the cooked meals have been delivered to 12 hospitals in 10 cities, including Soetomo General Hospital in East Java’s Surabaya, Ken Saras Hospital in Central Java’s Semarang, Ulin General Hospital in South Kalimantan’s Banjarmasin, Soedarso Hospital in West Kalimantan’s Pontianak, Arifin Achmad General Hospital in Riau’s Pekanbaru and Sanglah Hospital in Bali.
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“We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our healthcare workers who have selflessly made personal sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19,” said Patrick Vaysse, chief operating officer of Tauzia Hotels. “This meal distribution initiative is a way to express our gratitude and well-deserved appreciation for the healthcare professionals and we hope these meals can provide a bit of comfort during these trying times.”
The meals were cooked by the hotels’ chefs and were conveniently packaged for the busy medical personnel while packed with good nutrition. Safety measures were taken during the meal preparation and delivery. The delivery staff, for instance, were equipped with gloves, masks and hand sanitizer.
The 101 OJ Malang Hotel
Cleaning personnel in hospitals are among those who are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection.
Working as cleaning staff at Dr. Saiful Anwar General Regional Hospital in Malang, East Java, Edwin Pramana is assigned at the hospital’s lobby.
“I have to be prepared to be assigned to other areas, including areas designated for COVID-19 patients,” Edwin told The Jakarta Post, adding that the hospital has equipped him with protective gear and vitamin C. “I’m not worried as long as I keep maintaining my condition and pray that everything will be fine.”
To help the cleaning personnel, The 101 OJ Malang Hotel prepared and distributed lunch packages to hospitals in East Java, including Dr. Saiful Anwar General Regional Hospital and Lavalette Hospital. The hotel also plans to deliver meals for sahur (predawn meal) and to break-the-fast.
Ade Sudrajat, general manager of The 101 OJ Malang Hotel, hoped other hotels and institutions would follow the initiative. “Aside from medical workers, cleaning personnel are also at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19,” Ade said.
Wyndham Garden Kuta Beach Bali
The hotel's general manager Bagus Ngurah has collaborated with industry colleagues to distribute 52 public washbasins -- complete with water tank, soap and tissues -- for "high-traffic areas like walkways and locations near temples and mosques".
“As a result of COVID-19, there is unfortunately a very high demand for hygiene products, meaning that they are short in supply in certain areas and not affordable for many people. I was inspired to build these basins so everyone can clean their hands and protect themselves,” Bagus said in a statement.
“Through corporate donors, hospitals and our personal friends, we have been able to raise approximately Rp 88 million for more than 50 basins so far, and we have plans for more," he added.
Additionally, the employees at Wyndham Garden Kuta Beach also teamed up with other hoteliers and academics to donate 10,000 vitamin tablets to Songan villagers in Mount Batur, a region that has a low ratio of healthcare professionals. (wir/wng)
