Bangkok, Thailand (PressExposure) April 28, 2011 -- Accor recently received two awards - the PATA Grand Award 2011 and the AustCham Thailand Business Award 2010 - recognising its dedication and efforts in improving the lives of underprivileged children in Thailand and its initiatives in building awareness against HIV/Aids.

Accor's Yim Kids Foundation and Accor's ACT-HIV programme in Thailand won the PATA Grand Award 2011 under the 'Education and Training' category from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for their commitment towards improving the accessibility of education and livelihoods of underprivileged children in Thailand and for the success achieved in HIV/Aids awareness and prevention for employees and guests. The Yim Kids Foundation also won the AustCham Thailand Business Award 2010 in the category of 'Environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility' from the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce.

"Apart from achieving excellence in operating hotels, Accor and all of our employees believe that it is important to improve and support the communities in need around our hotels," said Oswald Pichler, Vice President of Operations for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. "The endorsements from two respectable organisations are recognitions of our employees' efforts and have motivated those involved in these programmes to work harder to enhance these communities. We are encouraged that we are on the right track of becoming an example of a good corporate citizen."

Giving Hope to Thailand's Underprivileged Kids
Accor's Yim Kids Foundation (Yim means 'smile' in Thai) is our community fundraising initiative in Thailand, aimed at improving the lives and futures of poor children - to keep them in school and to make sure they are nourished, healthy, happy and hopeful for a brighter future.

The first major fundraising activity of Yim Kids was 'Accor Race to Survive Phuket' which almost 100 employees from around the region came to compete in a four-day swimming, running, biking, and kayaking to raise funds for the foundation. Through such fundraising activities and donations from employees, guests, business partners, sponsors and friends, Yim Kids raised more than USD $206,000, to support the following programs:
1. Raising of funds for Bangkok's Mercy School
2. Providing financial support for the HIV-impacted children at Mercy Centre, a non-profit organization and orphanage shelter in Bangkok
3. Providing education funds to help the children of sea gypsies and rubber tree tappers
4. Assist Koh Lon's fishermen who had suffered from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami so that their children will have a chance to go to school.

For more information of Yim Kids Foundation and to donate to this charitable cause, please visit http://www.yimkids.com.

Accor act against HIV/Aids
With the Accor's ACT-HIV programme - a results-oriented awareness and prevention initiative for employees and guests - we hope to make a meaningful difference to the Thai community-at-large. The programme implemented a fair and coherent workplace Aids prevention policy that protects employees while catering to local sensitivities, and empowered employees with information through educational training sessions so that they may mitigate personal risks. With the many prevention and education programmes available locally, we aim to compliment national efforts by keeping our employees, and subsequently, customers, informed, and thereby, safe.

Following the successful rollout of the ACT-HIV programme, Accor Thailand was invited by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) and the Thailand Business Coalition on Aids (TBCA) to present lessons and best practices at the country's National Aids Seminar. Besides, the PATA Grand Award 2011, ACT-HIV programme also picked up an ASO Award (Aids and TB-response Standard Organization) from Thailand's Department of Labor Protection and Welfare at the Ministry of Public Health, and TBCA In early October 2010. The award recognises excellence in workplace standards and quality.

For more information about Accor ACT-HIV programme, please visit http://www.accor.com/uploads/static/acthivonline/index.html

About Accor

Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with 4,200 hotels and close to 500,000 rooms.
Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6, and its related activities, Thalassa sea & spa and Lenôtre - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.

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