If mastering a new skill takes 10,000 hours, then 17,096 hours can make an even bigger difference – literally. That’s the amount of volunteer time the Marriott Business Council in the Philippines has logged last year to support local nonprofits such as Save the Children.

While 2020 may have battered the travel industry, the hospitality spirit was never broken. The Marriott Business Council in the Philippines is a case in point. Before the island country of Southeast Asia, and the rest of the world, was disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, the archipelago was hit with the Taal Volcano eruption. The Business Council immediately organized a donation drive, which collected 200 hygiene kits and 200 back-to-school bags for affected families.

Then, the pandemic hit. While healthcare workers were tirelessly tending to others, volunteers from properties within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio across the Philippines ensured these frontline medical professionals also received care and attention. They prepared boxed meals and provided toiletries, bedding, and other essential supplies to six hospitals.

Over the course of 2020, the Business Council continued to contribute to local communities in the Philippines. Its annual charity event, Run to Give, raised nearly $10,000 (₱400,000) for underprivileged children. Another fundraiser went toward helping 110 families with food packages, plus the Council's generous efforts also extended to the Philippine School for the Deaf, where desktop computers were donated to the students. In addition, groups came together for a reef and coastal cleanup.

This is an example of Marriott International’s commitment to Nurture Our World, an integral part of Serve 360, the company’s sustainability and social impact platform. Beyond that, it’s the perfect reminder that we all rise by lifting others.