Hotels for Hope began with a simple belief: we can turn room nights into social change.
Our goal was to take our industry experience and create a socially responsible business model that made a difference in the lives of children.
The concept for Hotels for Hope began in 2008, when we first became involved with Special Olympics Texas (SOTX). We quickly grew to love their athletes, staff and mission. Their staff, like many other non-profits, worked hard and wore many hats—but hotel management was not one of them. We instituted technology for delegations to secure rooms and asked hotels to make a small monetary donation. Our management saved SOTX time, raised money, and established a volunteer network at every State Games. We knew we had a great idea, but it wasn’t until a chance meeting with TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie that it clicked. TOMS Shoes embodied social responsibility at its finest—buy a pair of shoes and they donate a pair to a child in need. Inspired by the simplicity of its mission, we decided to ask hotels to contribute $1 per consumed room night, which Hotels for Hope then matches, dollar for dollar.
Beyond SOTX, we reached out to other charities aligned with our philanthropic vision: organizations whose efforts positively impacted the lives of children. The concept was simple…when meeting planners, event organizers, or individual travelers book rooms, they can choose which of these many worthwhile causes they would like to support.
Hotels for Hope launched on April 13, 2010, and in our first year, with the help of 203 hotels and 399 groups, we raised $26,179 for our partner charities! A heartfelt thanks to the hotels, groups and clients that made this possible. We are proud of what we’ve achieved, but know there is much more we can do, with your help. Join the Hotels for Hope movement, and make a difference in the life of a child.
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Hotels for Hope is a for-profit company. The Hotels for Hope Fund is administered at the Austin Community Foundation and provides us 501(c)(3) distinction.
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