FREEPORT, MAINE—Travelers took advantage of greatly reduced room rates to support Habitat for Humanity in record numbers this spring according to Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Assn. (MEIA) The Sixth Annual Hospitality for Habitat, a program designed by MEIA to raise funds for Maine chapters of Habitat for Humanity, logged its most successful year ever despite a challenging economy.
This year 37 MEIA member properties, with support from their guests, raised $16, 275 to help fund housing for Maine families. The annual Hospitality for Habitat program offers visitors to Maine a 50 percent discount on room rates in May in exchange for a donation check for $35 made out to Habitat for Humanity.
“We are grateful that visitors to Maine appreciate the opportunity to support and give back to the region where they enjoy spending their vacations,” Dugal said. “The program has grown each year since its inception in 2004, and this year raised more than $3,000 over last year’s record. Guests get a great deal on a wonderful vacation in Maine while innkeepers fill beds during a slow period, and together, they support a very good cause.”
This year the top five fund-raisers participating in Hospitality for Habitat were the Village by the Sea Hotel & Conference Center in Wells, The Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, The Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, The Nonantum in Kennebunkport, and Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit.
“We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause and help Maine families in need of assistance, especially in these tough economic times,” said Gail Phillips, general manager/CFO at Village by the Sea Hotel & Conference Center, the top fund-raiser with $3,355 collected in donation checks from guests.
“Our guests, owners and staff rallied around the program this year which allowed us to surpass our contribution goal,” stated Phillips. “Some of our guests voluntarily donated more than the required $35. We look forward to continuing to support Hospitality for Habitat in May 2010.”
Go to MEIA and Habitat for Humanity.
