ASSOCIATE FUNDRAISING FOR UNICEF

In support of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ 5^th annual associate fundraising campaign Road to Awareness, Le Méridien St Julians is organising a fun Car Wash and Car Boot Sale on Saturday 2^nd June, in the outdoor parking in front of the hotel’s reception.

This year’s ‘Road to Awareness’ campaign raises money for UNICEF’s Early Childhood Care and Education programme in Ethiopia. The aim of the project is to provide the most disadvantaged children in rural communities with pre-primary education so they are better prepared to start going to school. Indeed, in Ethiopia, over 80% of the population live in rural communities and many children have to survive on less than US$1 a day. A lack of education and no access to pre-school is seen as one of the key barriers to a child not being able to reach their full potential and escape a life of poverty.

The money raised through Starwood’s ‘Road to Awareness’ campaign - which includes local fundraising initiatives across hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East as well as an annual fundraising bike ride - will help tackle this by giving thousands of the most vulnerable children in Ethiopia access to pre-school and the chance of a brighter future. Starwood’s support will contribute to the construction of 10 pre-schools, provide pre-school education to up to 50,000 children aged six and enable UNICEF to train 10,000 young instructors to aide their learning.

Le Méridien Kids Can Cook

Remy, the cute cartoon keen on French Gastronomy in the famous children’s movie "Ratatouille", better watches out for Le Méridien Kids! Indeed, whilst the animated character was displaying his fictitious culinary talents on a giant screen placed in the kitchen of Le Méridien St Julians this Saturday morning, an enthusiastic (and very lively) junior kitchen brigade was actively working with real ingredients, under the amused yet professional supervision of Executive Head Chef Reuben Grixti.

Children's Art for the Planet

This year, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa went "Beyond the Hour*" on the occasion of Earth Hour 2011, a global awareness movement for the environment that started off in 2007.

Indeed, on Saturday 26th March, instead of simply switching off the lights from 8.30pm till 9.30pm as indicated by this energy-saving project, the Hotel’s management went one step further. Guests and patrons were formally invited to join the Team in the hotel lobby at 8.15pm to share a welcome drink. Shortly before the lights went off, the official video of Earth Hour 2011 was projected on a giant screen to raise awareness of the initiative amongst all present. This introduction video was followed by a choreographed Le Méridien moment called “evening ritual”, whereas members of the staff – dressed in the appropriate branded costumes - solemnly entered the lobby and lit up the candles placed on the center piece of the room. The scene was rolled out on a powerful music by the artist Enya playing in the background. The evening then transformed into a candle-lit moment whilst a talented guitarist pleasantly entertained the guests for a couple of hours.