Incentive - September 2011

Starwood employees try out the company’s new CSR event in which they work in teams to build miniature race cars

By Donna M. Airoldi Hotel company offers planners four new on-site, socially responsible teambuilding event options Starwood’s Turnkey CSR Building bookshelves and miniature solar-powered race cars for children, painting a mural for a community center, turning a traditional casino event into green learning—these activities are part of four new philanthropic teambuilding events introduced by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for meeting and incentive groups.

Starwood’s four new CSR options are:

■ Literacy Builders: Groups of 25 to 200 attendees work in teams to build and stock bookcases and participate in a book drive that benefits a local children’s charity.

■ Community HeART: Groups of up to 250 people work together to paint a large mural that is given to a local nonprofit organization.

■ Eco-sino: The event is for groups with at least 50 people. Teams play casino table games and eco-themed contests to win kits filled with energy-efficient lightbulbs, hand-crank flashlights, rechargeable batteries, and other eco-friendly items that are donated.

■ Go Green Racing: Groups of 25 to 200

“We consulted with planners, who said to make the
programs easy and streamlined.”
—Dave Marr, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

tions,” says Dave Marr, senior vice president
of brand management of North America for
Starwood. “Instead of a planner having to
research 15 venues and order buses, which
expands the carbon footprint, we can hand
them a vetted on-site specialty event where
everyone can give back to the community
where they’re meeting and have great inter-
active social activities.”
work in teams to build miniature race cars,
either solar-powered vehicles or ones made
from recycled materials.

Most of the events can take place in less than two hours and include beverages from Coca-Cola, which just signed a new seven-year partnership contract with Starwood.

“We’ve seen very positive feedback from planners,” says Megan Cargile, associate director of meetings and events for Starwood. “It’s very easy for them to pick from the list and have the hotel expedite it. And [Star-wood corporate has] done the events internally to become familiar with them. So we can push the program to the hotels and speak intelligently about it.” ■