Dubai, UAE, April 6 2013 – The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC today unveils its global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, ‘Community Footprints’, in the region, exercising the guiding principles to engage, contribute and inspire. Reaffirming its commitment Global Citizenship, Community Footprints focuses the company’s CSR efforts across the Middle East and around the world on making a meaningful difference in the local communities where the company’s hotels and resorts are located.

Over the past year, Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Oman, has partnered with Rashid bin Al Nazar School Sidab, to provide a learning and mentoring program for their students. The ‘Succeed Through Service’ program, which is in place at all Ritz-Carlton hotels in the region, engages hotel employees in a series of workshops in Arabic, focusing on teaching young students business, hospitality and important life skills. Each of the nine Ritz-Carlton hotels in the Middle East has a comprehensive Community Footprints strategy in place, and the company is committed to further increasing its efforts in the region in 2013.

Sue Stephenson, Vice President, Community Footprints, who is in the UAE this week for ATM, comments; “Community Footprints focuses on making a sustainable difference in the communities within which The Ritz-Carlton operates and, as we extend our physical footprint in the Middle East, we are committed to replicating the success of our global social responsibility and community engagement commitment, in the region. We believe that global companies have a responsibility to implement and inspire positive action in a way that is geographically and culturally relevant.”

Just last week, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai hosted children from Al Noor Training Centre for a day filled with interactive activities and culinary treats. As part of this longstanding partnership the hotel provides on-site training focused on enhancing the lives, well-being and career prospects of the students. Since opening it’s doors in 2010, The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Center has been committed to the well-being of the children with special needs at Senses Residential and Day Care Center.

Guests staying at The Ritz-Carlton hotels in the region and around the world are also invited to participate in the hotels’ community impact efforts through the Give Back Getaways voluntourism program, including an opportunity to help plant and preserve the native Safallah flower and learn about Qatari ecology with and Sharq Village and Spa and their Community Footprints partner, Friends of the Environment.

Community Footprints was institutionalized by The Ritz-Carlton in 2002, to tackle three key global issues; child well-being, hunger and poverty relief and environmental responsibility. The company integrates Community Footprints within its business goals, placing it as a foundational piece in the company’s business management model, incorporating it as a key success factor, and has developed robust metrics to measure progress.

For access to photography supporting this release, contact newsroom@ritzcarlton.com.