ATLANTA, Ga.—May 1, 2008—Meeting planners challenged with organizing a community service program for their attendees in addition to all other aspects of meeting preparation may find appealing options ready-to-go at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta (Downtown) and The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead.

“Increasingly, planners ask us about community service opportunities for their group as part of the planning process for their meeting,” said Amanda Joiner, area director of marketing. “Since our hotels participate in community service programs in Atlanta, we were easily able to create programs for groups that are practically turn-key for the planner and offer genuine philanthropic experiences for their attendees.”

The programs were developed with the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB)—one of the leading food banks in the country—which distributes 15 million pounds of food annually in 38 counties across North Georgia and Metro Atlanta. The ACFB provides product to food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, night shelters and senior centers; and conducts education and advocacy programs.

Ritz-Carlton sales managers may assist meeting planners in arranging programs with the ACFB such as:

Community Gardening
This powerful initiative seeks to reclaim inner city land and transform it into community vegetable gardens, empowering local residents to supplement their food supply by growing it themselves. Community gardening beautifies neighborhoods and produces nutritious foods, while reducing family food budgets. The ACFB provides gardening expertise, volunteer help, tools and seeds. Participants work a half-day in a garden with the award-winning gardener from the ACFB, preparing land for planting, weeding or performing related seasonal tasks. Participants will learn about the gardening initiatives, and how the produce from the gardens contributes many benefits from healthier diets to reducing the global carbon footprint.

Product Rescue
Trucks from the ACFB pick up goods from food drives, grocery stores and manufacturers, and drop them off at the Product Rescue Center at the ACFB every day. Volunteers are trained to inspect, sort and pack these goods ensuring that salvage and food drive donations will be safe and wholesome for distribution to people in need. This three-hour program provides great hands-on experience in a social atmosphere, and is an ideal setting for group team-building.

Downtown’s only AAA Five Diamond hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta is a luxurious oasis in the heart of the city. The hotel is surrounded by the state’s centers of law, finance and government, and minutes from America’s Mart, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Aquarium and sports events at Philips Arena, Turner Stadium and the Georgia Dome. The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead is located in fashionable uptown Atlanta, the city’s most prestigious residential neighborhood.

To plan a meeting at either hotel, please call (404) 348-5600 or visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com/.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., (U.S.A.) currently operates 71 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. More than 30 projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Shenzhen, China and Lake Tahoe, California. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige, National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information or reservations contact a travel professional, The Ritz-Carlton U.S. toll free reservations line at 1 (800) 241-3333, or visit the company web site at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/. 

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