With the COVID-19 pandemic drastically slowing travel and prompting widespread layoffs, hotel companies across the country have taken steps to help those affected.
Casino Companies Donate Food, Supplies
Wynn Resorts is donating more than $2.5 million worth of goods to local medical facilities and nonprofits. The company said it was able to procure and was donating 240,000 N95-equivalent respirator masks, 600,000 surgical masks, 500,000 pairs of medical gloves and thousands of medical gowns to Las Vegas hospitals. The company said it also has given thousands of protective gloves and surgical masks to local nursing homes and law enforcement facilities that are facing supply shortages.
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Additionally, Wynn said it had donated 175 pallets of food valued at $750,000 to 15 food banks in Las Vegas and three in Boston. The Wynn Employee Foundation, a charitable giving foundation funded and managed by Wynn employees, also donated $100,000 in funds to the Three Square food bank in Las Vegas and $25,000 in funds to the Bread of Life food bank in Boston.
Caesars Entertainment supplied more than 250,000 pounds of food—the equivalent of approximately 208,000 meals—to food banks and charities. Additionally, the company said it had provided thousands if items, including gloves, masks and hand sanitizer, to local hospitals, first responders and local charities.
Due to its decision to temporarily close its U.S. properties, MGM Resorts International donated more than 480,000 pounds of food—or 400,000 meals—to the communities it operates in.
Hotel Companies Support Employees
In addition to donating food, MGM Resorts donated $1 million to an employee emergency grant fund. The pledge, it said, will provide expanded coverage for the MGM Resorts Emergency Relief Fund to assist full-time employees, on-call employees and those facing layoff, separation or furlough.
Related Story: California resort supports employees during COVID-19
With all seven of its hotels temporarily closed, Standard International launched The Standard Stands Together Relief Fund. Seeded by the company’s leadership, the fund aims to raise $200,000 to support employees who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. The fundraiser is currently more than half way to its goal.
Two Carter Hospitality Group properties—South Coast Winery Resort & Spa and Carter Estate Winery and Resort in Temecula, Calif.—have started using online wine sales to support furloughed employees. Having seen a spike in online business in recent weeks, the hotels have started using 50 percent of proceeds to provide food and other provisions to furloughed employees.