The Grand Hyatt São Paulo - an active participant in the Youth Career Initiative - has been named as a 2011 World Saver by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.
The hotel was recognised in the World Savers Awards for its dedication to initiatives in education and poverty relief by offering training opportunities for young people from neighbouring communities, programmes for minimising the hotel’s environmental impact, engagement in philanthropic activities and support of local businesses as preferred vendors.
The World Savers Awards honour travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas, which include education programmes, environment and/or cultural preservation, health initiatives, poverty relief and wildlife conservation. The Grand Hyatt São Paulo was recognised with the “Doing it All” World Savers Award 2011 in the city hotels category.
The Youth Career Initiative (YCI) is a 6-month education and employability programme for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme provides participants with the work/vocational and life skills necessary to improve their career opportunities and life choices.
In response to the announcement, Mr. Thierry Guillot, General Manager of the Grand Hyatt São Paulo, said:
"Our partnership with the Youth Career Initiative was critical to this outcome, and it is with pride that we share this great achievement with the wider YCI global network. This award is a recognition to our strong commitment to the development of our youth, since they represent the hope of our future."
From its beginnings in Thailand in 1995, YCI has grown to become a unique education development programme operating around the world. Its global network of hotels, non-profit organisations and public agencies, provides focus for the development of business social responsibility and a partnership model within the hospitality sector.
Current YCI programmes include Mexico, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Jordan, Brazil, Australia, Romania, Poland, Vietnam, Egypt, and new programmes are being planned for Kenya and India.
For more information, please contact: Alberto Canovas, Programme Manager, Youth Career Initiative at alberto.canovas@iblf.org or +44 207 467 3643.
Image below: Grand Hyatt São Paulo participants and staff with GM Thierry Guillot and HR Director Miguel Bermejo
