ACCOR lends helping hand to bushfire ravaged communities raising over $400,000

It has been one disaster after another for bushfire affected communities, who never really recovered from the summer blazes that tore their regions apart. Following the bushfires, COVID-19 hit and any relief that was soon coming was blown out.

However, there has been some relief for these communities and they are not forgotten.

The Accor Bushfire Disaster Relief Appeal has now raised $404,000.

Accor set up this appeal to help ravaged communities across Australia. 

Before Coronavirus hit our shores in early March, many Australian communities were in the midst of a natural disaster as they were hit by numerous, ferocious bushfires on a scale unseen before. 

The bushfires that started in September 2019 and continued well into March 2020  decimated numerous towns around Australia, leaving many people homeless and farms ruined. The rebuild is still underway with many struggling with what had occurred.

This is what led hotel operator Accor to set up the Bushfire Disaster Relief Appeal. This was a global initiative conducted through the Gofundraise donation platform and created to raise funds for those bushfire affected communities. Accor also ran guest initiatives throughout their Australian apartments, hotels, resorts and corporate offices.

Between January and March they successfully raised $404,000, which was last week donated to the following charities:

• Humanitarian Relief (Australian Red Cross): $100,000
• Firefighters (NSW RFS, VIC CFA and SA CFS): $154,000
• Animal Welfare (Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife): $75,000
• Environment (Greening Australia): $75,000

Accor not only assisted by facilitating this fund, but also provided emergency accommodation and catering for members of the community, firefighters and their families.

Simon McGrath, COO of Accor Pacific said it was hoped each charity would be able to distribute support and supplies, when and where they were needed most.

“The impact of the bushfires was catastrophic in many states across Australia earlier this year,"  he said.

"Since then, COVID-19 has become a national priority, however it’s important we continue to care for those many people and communities impacted by the bushfires across Australia.

“We could not have raised these crucial funds without the incredible people we have in our business and the generosity of our guests.”  

Accor has recognised the courage and bravery of all fire fighters and service providers that helped across Australia, and has extended special hotel rates as a thank you to them.