Travelers' Philanthropy Handbook - Center for Responsible Travel

Committee brings key staff from Hotel Punta Islita, localcommunity leaders, and business owners together formonthly meetings to outline future goals and workingstrategies.Development of some initiatives, including the villagebasedday care center and the Islita Art Museum, hasbeen led by the hotel’s management and staff. Otherprojects have been community driven. The initialprojects identified and addressed pressing infrastructureand social service needs. Through the years, thesponsored projects have been increasingly focused onart, complementary education, and raising environmentalawareness. Examples of these include the creation of aregional recycling center, the Islita Open AirContemporary Art Museum, and Casa Museo studio andgallery.Children’s art class, Punta Islita, Costa Rica.Credit: Hotel Punta Islita• How are Your Company and Employees Involved?The company makes financial contributions to support local projects and is also activelyinvolved in leveraging other resources. The hotel is in a unique position to help mobilizegovernment resources, other company contributions, NGO assistance, and private citizencontributions. Hotel staff and management have been actively participating in communitymeetings. Some also participate in volunteer work projects, including beach clean-up and seaturtleprotection.• What Have Been Staff Reactions?Very positive. The experience helps to deepen a sense of belonging and purpose.• Have You Provided Staff Training to Support the Philanthropic Work?Yes, the General Manager and Human Resources Manager are actively involved. HotelPunta Islita also has brought a leading Costa Rican artist to be the Islita Art MuseumCurator and community artist leader.• How are Funds Actually Raised?Traditionally, hotel resources have helped to leverage government programs and in-kindcontributions from like-minded companies. Foundations like AVINA and Fundecooperacionhave also provided significant funding. A group of foreign vacation home owners have alsostarted a U.S.-based foundation to help raise additional funding.• How Do You Solicit Donations?Through the years, we have attempted several strategies, ranging from adding $3 to the final billto requesting voluntary donations during check-out. Roughly 50% of guests visit the Islita ArtMuseum and about 30% report purchasing local art (a direct community benefit).53