ALPHARETTA, GA.—As the United States is in the midst of a severe blood supply shortage, Atrium Hospitality is proud to continue to collaborate with the American Red Cross through an extended national partnership to host blood drives across the United States at Atrium-managed hotels. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality is one of the nation’s largest hotel operators and ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among third-party hotel management companies in the J.D. Power 2021 Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark. The company manages a portfolio of 82 hotels in 28 states, representing well-known brands such as: Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham and operates more than 20,000 guestrooms/suites and approximately 3 million square feet of event space.
Expectations Exceeded to Help Save Lives
According to the American Red Cross website, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, and blood donors can help save more than one life with each donation. U.S. blood supplies are dangerously low. Through Atrium Hospitality’s national partnership with the American Red Cross, the company is providing large and accessible venues for hosting numerous blood drives.
The two organizations completed a brief pilot phase before formally announcing their partnership in early 2021. In a little over a year, Atrium Hospitality hotels hosted 107 blood drives in approximately 20 states with the American Red Cross, collecting 2,779 units of blood that could potentially save thousands of lives. The national partnership far exceeded the hosting period goal of 51 blood drives.
In addition, first time donors are needed to help ensure a robust donor population, as current donors may become ineligible due to health issues and medical history. For American Red Cross’ FY 2021 (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), the national partnership with Atrium Hospitality included 18 percent participation from first time donors, surpassing the Red Cross national average of 11 percent for the same period.
Fundamental to Wellness CSR Pillar
As a part of Atrium Hospitality’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars that span Education, Embracing Those With Disabilities, Sustainability and Wellness, the company’s Associates partner with a broad range of organizations to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods and cities, including the Red Cross. Atrium will continue to apply best practices as an award-winning hotel operator to the successful implementation of the blood drive program throughout 2022.
“Our successful national partnership with the American Red Cross is a natural fit, as Atrium Hospitality provides much-needed host solutions for blood drives with our large, high-quality meeting spaces that are welcoming to all,” said Craig Mason, CEO of Atrium Hospitality. “By leveraging Atrium Hospitality’s outstanding service and accommodations to support the company’s Wellness CSR pillar through our national partnership with Red Cross, our teams can continue making a local impact while also helping to fuel the hospitality industry’s recovery.”
The Red Cross expressed appreciation for Atrium Hospitality’s partnership, highlighting the importance of the blood drive program during this pandemic. Diane Naczi, Vice President, Biomedical Sponsor Recruitment, American Red Cross, said, “Atrium Hospitality hosted blood drives and opened their doors to blood donors across the country at a time when many were shutting them. Our life-saving mission must continue daily in order to meet the needs of the patients we serve, and Atrium’s generous support of the Red Cross blood donation program during the past year and in 2022 enables us to fuel that mission.”
Hotels Aim to Host Even More Blood Drives in 2022
When reflecting on blood drive events at the Atrium-managed Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center in Greenville, S.C., General Manager Bill Groves emphasized convenience, comfort and collaboration. “I think Atrium Hospitality has created a simple and effective model for hosting blood drives that helps people feel very comfortable with coming in to donate blood, even during this pandemic. Our award-winning environment and service extends to our blood drive experiences,” Groves said. “Our Greenville blood drive event in January 2022 outperformed even our highly successful blood drives in 2021 at the same location. We’ve achieved significant repeat donors, as we make giving blood simple and convenient, and Red Cross does a great job working with us to get the word out to the community. We’re already planning to host more blood drives in 2022 to build on last year’s momentum.”
Larry Cooper, Regional Director, Operations, Atrium Hospitality, oversees eight hotels in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas, including the Embassy Suites by Hilton Northwest Arkansas—Hotel, Spa & Convention Center in Rogers, Ark. He shared that the Rogers location, which includes the Rogers Convention Center, had the opportunity to assume the primary blood drive hosting opportunity in the city during this pandemic. An especially large venue was needed to accommodate physical distancing at blood drives. “Our Atrium-managed property in Rogers includes the largest event center in Northwest Arkansas and is a well-known and convenient location,” Cooper said. “As we enthusiastically continue to participate in this lifesaving opportunity, we plan to raise our commitment to about two blood drives a month this year at the Rogers hosting site.”
You Can Get Involved
The Red Cross adheres to the highest standards of safety and infection control at all blood drives. During this pandemic, the Red Cross has also implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of those at the blood drive, including requiring masks for staff and donors, maintaining social distance, and wiping down all donor touchpoints. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-733-2767 or sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org.
Atrium Hospitality operates approximately 3 million square feet of flexible event space across the United States and adheres to state and local guidelines. Go to https://atriumhospitality.com/our-hotels/blooddrives/ to locate an upcoming blood drive at an Atrium-operated hotel or to track the progress of the partnership between Atrium Hospitality and the American Red Cross. The public can sign up to donate blood at Atrium-managed hotels and arrive assured that the company’s trained hospitality teams are following enhanced safety standards and protocols and using EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants.
