Green Hotel presents Christmas gifts to Kudat village children
KOTA KINABALU: More than 90 children of Kampung Kimihang Kudat received Christmas gifts from The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu, recently.
The children of the Basel Christian Church Malaysia (BCCM) parishioners were picked as recipients of gifts under the Angel Tree Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project by the hotel, in conjunction with the Christmas celebrations last year.
The BCCM for Bahasa Malaysia chairman Ronnie Onginjan said they were honoured that their children were picked by the hotel as recipients of the gifts for 2017.
He said the hotel’s CSR project was the first in his village with its population of 200 people.
“We thank the hotel for choosing to share the joy of giving with us and we hope that we will have more of such visits as well as support and collaboration with the hotel in future, in term of education and economic based activities,” he said.
The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu general manager Phang Joo See said the visit was held under the hotel’s CSR where they integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders.
According to her, CSR allowed them to achieve a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives while addressing the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders.
“It is a strategic balance of business management concept, and charity and sponsorships,” she said.
“On this particular CSR, we have chosen your village to spread the Christmas cheer that we celebrated recently. I believe that even though we are now well into the New Year, the spirit of caring, sharing and giving is not over.
“To collect gifts for the children here, we set up a Christmas tree at our hotel lobby, with the names of the children hung on it. Our guests and staff had picked up the names and wrapped gifts for their intended recipients,” she shared.
She said that 2017 was its seventh year in holding this event, with many other recipients in the past including St Maria Goretti Hostel in Keningau, Don Bosco Bundu Tuhan and Bondulu Children’s Home Toboh Tambunan among others.
“This is an ongoing programme for us to spread and share the Christmas joy with children in homes and the rural area,” Phang stressed.
During the event, the Palace Hotel’s CSR team also helped to present donations of used clothes and foodstuff from ex-staff of Tanjung Aru Beach Hotel and Shangri La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa.
Phang shared that the Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu is a certified Green Hotel by the Malaysian government due to its adherence to environmental concerns and its management structure through its 4R policy, Respect for the environment, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The hotel is recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia as a Green Hotel and successfully achieved EarthCheck Benchmarked Bronze Status Australia certification recently.
The Ministry of Health Malaysia accorded the hotel The Blue Ribbon certification for implementing the smoking free zone and recognized by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall as Litter Free Hotel.
The hotel is also named Highly Commended in Asia Pacific Region in the Green Hotelier Awards 2016 for its environmental commitment and innovation in sustainable practices and community outreach programmes.
More information can be acquired from custcare@ thepalacehotelkk.com or https:// www.thepalacehotel-sabah.com/