MCLEAN, VA.—Hampton Hotels recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its award-winning employee-volunteer program, Save-A-Landmark. Since the program launched in 2000, more than 1,500 hotel employees have spent more than 8,000 hours aiding in restoration projects for historic and cultural landmarks throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Hampton started the Save-A-Landmark program as a way for hotels to give back to local communities. At each event, the volunteers from nearby Hampton hotels from hotel owners and general managers to housekeepers and front desk agents, take time out of their busy schedules of serving guests to serve their communities and assist with whatever preservation work is needed.
“When Hampton decided to create this unique program, we took a more hands-on approach to giving back to the community than just making a donation,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president, global brand marketing, Hampton hotels. “Our hotel employees volunteer their time to help restore landmarks within their communities, creating a personal connection with some of the very sites our guests are traveling to see.”
Part of Brand’s Culture
The Save-A-Landmark program is now a significant part of Hampton’s brand culture. Hotel employees are encouraged to participate and their efforts are highlighted through various brand efforts. On property, guests witness the hotel’s efforts through fun and heartwarming messaging inside the hotel’s elevators, as well as a documentary-style video on the in-room brand channel highlighting past landmarks.
Hampton recently paid tribute to this milestone in September when more than 50 volunteers from 14 local hotels and the brand’s corporate offices joined together to help refurbish President Lincoln’s Cottage, a National Monument and National Trust Historic Site located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in northwest Washington, D.C. Including Lincoln’s Cottage, Hampton has helped refurbish 55 historic and cultural landmarks throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico and donated more than $2.5 million to the research and preservation of Save-A-Landmark sites.
Hampton conducted a survey at the onset of Save-A-Landmark in 2000 to gauge the attitudes of Americans toward the restoration of landmarks. The same survey was conducted again this year, and Hampton found that Americans are even more passionate about landmark preservation. More than 90 percent of Americans agree that it is important to preserve the nation’s roadside attractions. In addition, four out of five Americans believe that they also have a responsibility to personally contribute to the preservation of America’s landmarks, an increase of almost 5 percent over the last 10 years.
Nomination, Research Process
Save-A-Landmark focuses on preservation work that will help sustain each site for future generations. Landmarks are chosen through a combination of nominations and extensive research based on the type of work needed and proximity to individual properties. For the past two years, Hampton has asked the public to help choose landmarks they want to see restored by voting for their favorites on hamptonlandmarks.com.
Hampton is once again inviting the public to help decide where the Save-A-Landmark program goes next by voting for their favorite landmarks in five new states. These sites were chosen to help Hampton meet their goal of refurbishing a landmark in all U.S. states. The landmarks receiving the most votes in each state will be visited by the Save-A-Landmark program in 2011, including volunteers from local Hampton hotels who are ready to lend a hand.
To find out more about Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program, nominate a landmark for refurbishment or vote for the 2011 landmarks, visit hamptonlandmarks.com.
