[UPDATE] Hospitality ON was present on the "Cookies du Cœur" masterclass event organized by Grape Hospitality at TiTi Palacio, focusing on the ongoing support for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque through initiatives like "Good For Kids" and "Les Cookies du Cœur." The event brought together host families and children to raise awareness and contribute to a meaningful cause. During the masterclass, we had the opportunity to speak with Pauline Staub, Directrice Marketing & Commercial at Grape Hospitality, to discuss the company’s ongoing support for charitable causes.

How did the partnership with Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque come about?  What prompted Grape Hospitality to support this cause?

The partnership came about in 2017, a year after Grape Hospitality was founded in 2016, thanks to a meeting between Orso Chetochine, president of the association, and Frederic Josenhans, president of Grape Hospitality.  Initially, we organized one-off events, such as a rally departing from our country homes that we called the Rallye du Coeur. The number of kilometers covered was then converted into an amount donated to the association. These events were initially set up on an ad hoc basis to support the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque association and thus finance operations for children.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, barrier measures were introduced. The hotel sector was severely affected, with many establishments having to close. When they reopened, hotels no longer systematically offered a “recouche” service - i.e., a room reset for guests staying several nights - for sanitary reasons.

When these measures were lifted, the idea of the Good For Kids program was born within Grape Hospitality and with the arrival of Orso. This program now offers guests the chance to support the association by voluntarily waiving the right to bed rest for stays of more than one night. By agreeing not to have their towels and sheets changed every day, customers make a direct contribution to the association, as part of the savings made by reducing the number of recoveries is donated to Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. The program was born in 2021, and by the end of 2024, it will have saved the lives of over 29 children. Good For Kids has met with unanimous success across our network, and is now offered in all our hotels in eight European countries.

Our employees immediately embraced the program and put it into practice on a daily basis. When we acquired The People brand, where we are today, we also wanted to extend this program. The model was however different, as our hostels don't offer a bed-and-breakfast service, so we came up with a new formula: the Cookie du Cœur. Today, our eleven The People hostels in France sell these cookies, and all sales generated by them are donated to Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. Three and a half months after the launch of this operation at the beginning of June, we have already been able to finance the operation of a first child.

What plans do you have to build on these partnerships in the years ahead?

First and foremost, we want to celebrate our successes. Since 2017, we will have saved 31 children by the end of the year, and it's a source of great pride for us to be able to contribute to such a noble cause. Our aim is to continue mobilizing our employees throughout the network, as the current formula is working well. What's more, we'd like to multiply the number of events like this one. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children, the host families, and even our own children - my son is here today - reinforces our pride and motivation. Going forward, we want to make this partnership a reality in all our establishments, and continue to be proud of it.

Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, founded in 1996 by Professor Francine Leca, is an association dedicated to providing life-saving heart surgery for children from underprivileged countries. The organization arranges for the children to receive treatment in France or Switzerland, covers all medical costs, and coordinates accommodation with volunteer host families. Since its inception, Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque has helped over 4,500 children access critical care that would otherwise be unavailable to them.