31st December 2004

HOTELIERS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT SOUTH EAST ASIA RELIEF EFFORT

€5,000 Donated to Kick Start Fund

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today kick started a nationwide fundraising effort with a €5,000 donation to the Irish Red Cross South Asia Relief Fund. The IHF confirmed that its 1,000 hotel and guesthouse members throughout the country would be participating in the Garda Síochána’s co-ordinated effort to raise funds to assist provide food, sanitation and shelter for the victims of the tidal wave disaster. Each hotel will offer customers the opportunity to make donations which will go directly to the Irish Red Cross appeal. The IHF is taking part in this initiative in conjunction with the Vintners Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Association which will result in over 9,000 premises throughout the country being involved.  

According to Richard Bourke, President of the IHF the hotel industry welcomes the opportunity to play its part in supporting the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this major tragedy.

“We are urging all our members to actively participate by placing collection buckets at prominent and visible locations throughout their premises and to seek the general public’s support.  The rationale behind the initiative is to make it easy as possible for Irish people who wish to make a donation to do so and we hope that people will give what they can in an effort to ease the plight of the people of South Asia,” says Mr Bourke.

The IHF stated that particular focus will be over this New Year’s weekend but that its members will continue the efforts for as long as the need is there.  IHF members will deliver all money collected to their local Garda Stations where An Garda Síochána will arrange to have it lodged directly to the Irish Red Cross Bank Accounts.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Siobhan Molloy / Niamh Boylan                      Tel: 01 6760168

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