
Bangkok, Thailand, 26 October 2022: For their first joint community outreach initiative – the Youth Programme – The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara and Avani Victoria Falls Resort have partnered with SOS Children’s Village Livingstone and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), a charity dedicated to youth employment, environmental action and human rights protection.
Designed to be a career launchpad for local youths, the six-month programme will offer a blended learning curriculum where lessons covering life skills combine with a theoretical hospitality foundation and English language classes, followed by work placements at Anantara and Avani in such departments as housekeeping, laundry, call centre, restaurant service, kitchen and stewarding.
Focusing on youths from underprivileged backgrounds, the programme was designed in consultation with SHA and SOS Children’s Village in Livingstone, a non-profit family centre providing essential health, nutrition and educational services to children, while also offering income-generating skills and parenting advice to adults, with counselling and psychological support offered to both groups as needed.
“Our sustainability projects focus on environmentally-friendly practices, protecting cultural and natural heritage, providing social and economic benefits for local communities, and inspiring our guests to become conservation savvy,” said Laurie Burr, Complex General Manager for Avani Victoria Falls Resort and The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara. “Working with SOS Children’s Village Livingstone and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is an endeavour by us to positively impact the lives of local young people, so that they, in turn, can impact the lives of their families and communities.”
All 15 members of SOS Children’s Village selected to be part of the first Youth Programme intake have shown an interest in developing their life and professional skills and gaining a hands-on hospitality experience to boost their chances of finding sustainable employment across various industries. Best practices identified during the next six months will be incorporated in the theoretical and practical lessons for the next cohort of students.
For more information about The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara, please visit www.anantara.com/en/royal-livingstone; for Avani Victoria Falls Resort, please visit www.avanihotels.com/en/victoria-falls.
Launched in 2011, Avani Hotels is part of the global hospitality group Minor Hotels (BKK: MINT) and was designed for the millennial-minded traveller whose priorities are style, value, and comfort. Avani is an upbeat and contemporary hotel concept that delivers the perfect balance, with a focus on good sleep, designed social spaces, locally inspired sustenance, and friendly service.
Avani welcomes guests to over 30 properties in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Seychelles, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal, with a rapidly growing pipeline across Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East.
Avani is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands.
To learn more about Avani Hotels, visit www.avanihotels.com. Follow Avani on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube and engage with #AvaniHotels.
- Camilla Coburn Davis
- Assistant Director of Public Relations
- cdavis@minor.com
- Mabel Modipa
- Assistant Marketing Communications Manager – Sales & Marketing
- mmodipa@minor.com
About Minor Hotels
Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 560 hotels, resorts and branded residences across 58 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its eight hotel brands – Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli – and a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners.
Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
Discover our world at minorhotels.com and connect with Minor Hotels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Contact details
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- Mark Thomson
- Group Director of PR and Communications
- mthomson@minor.com
- +66 (0)2 365 7678
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- Natasha Rhymes
-
VP PR & Communications
Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, Anantara & Avani - nrhymes@minor.com
