SINGAPORE | IHG has strengthened its strategic partnership with APSN across its portfolio in Singapore over the next three years.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and APSN have strengthened their long-term strategic partnership with a three-year MOU renewal agreement to support APSN’s students and trainees across all IHG hotels and its office in Singapore.
The multi-year agreement, the second consecutive MOU signed between the two parties, includes philanthropy, advocacy, volunteering, and employment opportunities. IHG hotels in Singapore will provide full-time employment opportunities, on-the-job training and internships, and regular social activities for students in the hotels, where APSN students and trainees take on front office roles such as concierge and bellman, or operational roles like kitchen stewards, housekeepers and service staff.
This announcement comes on the back of a 34-kilometre Giving For Good relay that IHG has held for the past three consecutive years, which spans all 13 IHG hotels in Singapore and its Support Centre, to raise funds for APSN. The activity held during IHG’s Giving for Good month of September, is part of a global initiative where colleagues volunteer in activities that support their local communities. This is part of IHG’s Journey To Tomorrow, a 10-year action plan to shape the future of responsible travel and to improve the lives of 30 million people around the world by 2030
“I am proud at IHG to be a pioneer in building and supporting an inclusive culture and society, a mission that is closely aligned with Singapore’s Enabling Masterplan 2030 goals. Last year in Singapore, colleagues dedicated over 2,500 hours to community partnerships and impacting over 6,500 lives. Diversity, equity and inclusion is an integral part of IHG’s culture and we are committed to serving the communities in which we operate," Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, East Asia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts said.
“Over the last 30 years, IHG has supported the hiring of people with disabilities by providing full-time employment opportunities, on-the-job training and internships. Our strong partnership with organisations like APSN has strengthened our workplace culture, and we have seen a shift in our colleagues’ perceptions and the embrace of diversity in the workplace."
Established in 1976, APSN is a social service agency dedicated to empowering individuals with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50-70). With a focus on education, training, and support, APSN has helped over 6,000 beneficiaries achieve their full potential. The programmes, offered through four schools and three centres, cater to individuals at all stages of life.
“IHG has been a wonderful partner and a great supporter of APSN over the years. Our strong collaborative partnership has made a significant impact on the lives of many of our beneficiaries, opening new doors of opportunity on various fronts for students and trainees with special needs. It is with partners like IHG where we can further our mission of empowering and guiding them into an inclusive society,” said Royce Seah, Chairman of APSN Ltd.
More than three decades have passed since 1989 when Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre became a pioneer in Singapore in hiring people with disabilities. Today, five percent of IHG’s full-time workforce in Singapore are people with disabilities.
More news here.
