Industry raises more than £10,000 for Hospitality Action Week 2013

Hospitality workers across the UK raised £10,000 plus for industry charity Hospitality Action earlier this month, when they  joined forces to show their support for the charity’s annual fundraising event, HA Week.

Companies got up to a whole host of innovative and engaging activities to raise funds to support their fellow industry workers in crisis.

Red Carnation hotels lived up to their reputation for creative fundraising once again, generating a staggering £5,000 by organising an array of fundraising activities including a poker night, a cook-off between different nationalities at the hotels, a bake-off and a 5k run.  Other companies and colleges also participated included:

·         BunzlCatering Supplies led the way with a co-ordinated week-long series of fundraising events, raising £649.

·         The London Linen Supplywho once again donated £200.

·         Even HA’s agencies got involved, with Jellybean Creative Solutions raising £250 with its ‘Count the Jellybean competition and Mercieca raising £65 through its office cake sale.

·         University College Birminghamhosted a chocolate-themed night, with a four-course meal devised by four renowned Barry Callebaut chocolate ambassadors, including Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison. This raised an impressive £1,280.

·         Stoke on Trent Collegeprepared a three-course lunch live in front of diners and held a guess-the-weight-of-the-cake competition.

·         City of Bristol College with The Chefs’ Forumkicked off the weekof fundraising activities with 30 students rowing the equivalent distance of a round trip from London to Paris.

·         Private hire taxi operator Manchester Cars donated 20p to Hospitality Action for every journey booked during HA Week, raising £402.

·         Holiday Inn Express Winchester and Manchester took part in the ultimate bike race and raised £1,519 for the charity. The two hotels teamed up to cycle 246 miles, the distance between their two properties, in the shortest amount of time. Winchester won.                          

·         The Cavendishmade the most of British Sandwich Week coinciding with Hospitality Action Week by donating £2 from each sandwich sold, as well as holding an Australian-themed lunch, having an ice cream van, chiropodist, bake sale, pub quiz, and a raffle to win an extra week’s holiday, raising £515.

One of the highlights of the week was the ‘At your discretion’ appeal, which encouraged restaurants to add a discretionary £1 to diners’ bills in support of Hospitality Action during HA Week. Hotel restaurants were especially supportive including Heston Blumenthal’s two pubs the Hinds Head and the Crown.  ABode Hotels and Brown’s  also all took part and raised impressive sums for Hospitality Action.

The appeal is also set to continue beyond HA Week for those keen to support the charity including theLondon to Paris Cycle Ride from Friday 4to Monday 7 October.