Affinia Hotels, a boutique hotel collection of Denihan Hospitality Group, is on a mission to spread smiles throughout the world.
Beginning May 2, Affinia Hotels is launching a 12-month partnership with Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that believes children deserve to live their lives with dignity, and dignity begins with a smile. The collaboration will raise funds and build awareness for Operation Smile’s mission to save lives and heal smiles by providing life-saving surgeries for children and young adults worldwide who were born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
Affinia’s goal is to raise $120,000, equating to 500 surgeries, to support Operation Smile’s team of medical volunteers in providing reconstructive surgery for thousands of patients each year in 60 countries around the world. 2013 also marks the 30th anniversary for the organization.
The choice of Operation Smile as the brand’s charitable partner reflects Affinia’s mission to provide comfort and give people a reason to smile through the brand’s Tender Loving Comfort® (TLC) movement. TLC is led by its Chief Comfort Officer, Chrissy Denihan O’Donovan, who recently completed a medical mission to Bolivia with Operation Smile. The TLC movement is carried out by the staff at Affinia’s six hotels in New York City and Washington, D.C.
“Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft each day, and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child smile,” said O’Donovan. “Teaming up with Operation Smile will bring more awareness and funds to a cause that literally changes lives.”
Affinia’s Operation Smile campaign includes a cause-related-marketing initiative, a social media fund-raising program and more.
Stay Awhile Give a Smile: Affinia Hotels will donate $10 for each Stay Awhile, Give a Smile package booked, which includes a Smile Kit equipped with a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, mints and floss; gratis Wi-Fi, and a list of smile-worthy destinations in NYC and D.C. Available for travel through August 31, 2013 with nightly rates starting at $149 in D.C. and $199 in NYC, this offer must be booked by June 29 by visiting www.affinia.com/smile or calling 866-246-2203 and using promo code SMILE.
“Share a Smile” Social Media Campaign: Now through May 29, Affinia will donate $2 to Operation Smile every time an Affinia fan shares the answer to “What makes you smile?,” in addition to donating $2 each time someone retweets Affinia’s Operation Smile message with the hashtag #RTaSmile, now through May 7, up to $14,000. Learn more on Facebook and Twitter.
Operation Smile onsite and online: Guests of Affinia Hotels have numerous ways to participate and learn about Operation Smile. Every Affinia guestroom key cardholder will include a donation insert that guests may fill out, and the amount will be added to their bill at checkout. Each hotel hosts complimentary Wine Hours five nights a week, and will feature Operation Smile-themed nights periodically throughout the year for guests to
learn how the global organization has changed the lives of over 200,000 children and how to get involved. Travelers can learn more by visiting www.operationsmile.org/affinia.
The Operation Smile partnership has the entire staff, from bellmen to executives, inspired to make a difference. All 600 Affinia associates have been briefed so they can speak to the mission of Operation Smile and welcome guests to get involved. When the goal of raising $120,000 is met, one hotel associate will represent Affinia Hotels and its parent company, Denihan Hospitality Group, on an Operation Smile medical mission.