Following a successful four-year partnership, Hilton has again partnered with national children’s education charity, The Smith Family in the hospitality company’s centennial year.
As Hilton now looks ahead to the next 100 years, the global hospitality company recently announced the creation of The Hilton Effect Foundation, which will help create a better world of travel by investing in both organisations and people, having a positive impact on our global communities.
To celebrate the launch of The Foundation on Hilton’s 100th Anniversary, Hilton awarded 15 grants to support various programmes around the globe; including creating opportunities for youth, and supporting water stewardship and sustainability.
Australia’s Hilton Effect grant will be awarded to The Smith Family, supporting 65 disadvantaged Australian students through their Learning for Life program. With the Foundation’s support, these students will be provided with the extra tools and resources they need to be able to participate fully in their education.
Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing young people today. Globally, more than 1 in 5 young persons are not in employment[1]. In Australia, more than 268,000 young people aged 15 – 24 are unemployed, accounting for more than 38% of all unemployed people across the country.[2] Research also suggests that certain regions have much higher and concerning unemployment rates, including the Central Coast of NSW, northern Adelaide, West Melbourne and Townsville.[3]
In May, Hilton and The Smith Family collaborated for the fifth consecutive year on the Work Inspiration program that saw over 170 young people – many from disadvantaged backgrounds – gain work experience at 12 participating hotels across Australia.
Under the program, students will be able to explore their interests and strengths in the workplace through a behind-the-scenes look into a variety of career opportunities at a Hilton hotel. They will also acquire skills and confidence that can contribute to building their future careers via a series of career talks.
Hilton’s partnership with The Smith Family has seen a number of successes over the past four years, including that of Lyan Ding who participated in the Work Inspiration program at Hilton Brisbane in 2018. Lyan is now completing a School Based Traineeship to receive a Certificate three in Hospitality at Hilton Brisbane.
Lyan said, “Whilst completing the Work Inspiration program, it was Hilton Brisbane’s management team that presented to us who inspired me to not only pursue a career in hospitality, though to do so with Hilton.”
Lyan added, “There are so many career opportunities available within the hospitality industry and one day I aspire to be a departmental manager. My traineeship at Hilton Brisbane and my studies will give me a good foundation and I can see that there are many opportunities to grow my career with Hilton. I enjoy meeting guests and working with Team Members from many different countries – I really do think hospitality is a great fit for me and I thank Hilton and The Smith Family for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”
In addition to supporting The Smith Family’s Work Inspiration program, Hilton also provided a unique opportunity for ten families whose children are supported by the charity, to enjoy a staycation at Hilton Sydney, as part of the hospitality company’s 100th anniversary “Acts of Hospitality” celebration. Each family enjoyed one night’s accommodation, in-room movies, room service, buffet breakfast in glass brasserie and tickets to the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wild Life Zoo. The staycation gave the families an opportunity to relax and spend some quality time together.
Lydia Berlage, regional director, human resources, Australasia, Hilton, said, “Working with The Smith Family is a wonderful opportunity for our Team Members to inspire and inform young people about the many great opportunities available in the hospitality industry, and to support them by providing guidance on the skills that are vital for them to succeed in the workplace and beyond,“
Lydia added, “Our partnership with The Smith Family on the Work Inspiration and Learning for Life programs underscore Hilton’s global commitment to connect, prepare and employ one million young people by 2019, and enable them to reach their full potential.”
Dr Lisa O’Brien, CEO, The Smith Family, said, “We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Hilton to reach even more young Australians in need, helping them to thrive in their education and successfully transition into employment.,”
Dr O’Brien added, “The impact of programs like Work Inspiration can be life-changing for young people who may not otherwise have direct exposure to employers and the world of work. We also know that four in five students on our Learning for Life program are engaged in further study, training or employment a year after leaving the program, which is a fantastic outcome.”
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