Meritage Explore Issue 1 | Page 24

A MERITAGE COLLECTION PARTNERSHIP HELPS SAVE LIVES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Save Lives S oap can save lives. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that millions of young lives could be saved simply with access to bar soap and hygiene education. At the same time, more than 2 million bars of partially used hotel soaps are thrown out each day in the United States. These facts prompted the Meritage Collection to part- ner with Clean the World, a foundation with a mission to collect and recycle soap and hygiene products and distribute them to impoverished people. “The partnership between Meritage Collection and Clean the World means countless lives can be saved with recycled soap and bottled hygiene amenities,” says Terri Reid, corporate director of marketing for Pacific Hospitality Group. “Not only do we want to offer great experiences for our customers at our hotels and resorts, but at the same time we wanted to be able to give back where we can and work towards creating a sustainable future and preserving the environment. “Every bar of soap promotes a healthier lifestyle and wards off preventable diseases that often result in death for children and families that lack the necessary resources to stay clean and well,” Reid says. The partnership was announced in the fall of 2015. In the first quarter of 2016 alone, Pacific Hospitality Group has already distributed 3,051 bars of soap and recycled 288 pounds of plastic to help create 768 hygiene kits. The recycled products are distributed by Clean the World to domestic homeless shelters and in developing countries. Since its inception in 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 22 million bars of soaps in 96 countries. “Sustainability is a major focus for hotels,” says Shawn Seipler, CEO and co-founder of Clean the World. “We estimate the North American lodging industry throws away more than a million bars of soap each day. By recycling soap and bottled amenities, the Meritage Collection is having a positive effect from both an environmental and humanitarian perspective.” To learn more, visit cleantheworld.com. 24 M E R I TA G E C O L L E C T I O N . C O M S TAY G O L D E N