The Westin Galleria Dallas Gives Back to Orphanages, Clinics and Schools in Haiti

The Westin Galleria Dallas announces long-term commitment to donate shower products

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. November 09, 2010

DALLAS, TX - November 8, 2010 - The Westin Galleria Dallas has partnered with Clean the World to provide bars of soap and shampoo bottles for orphanages, clinics and schools in Haiti on a monthly basis. (www.cleantheworld.org)

Clean the World recently donated 100,000 bars of soap and bottled amenities (shampoos and conditioners) to children in need in Haiti. Many of these soaps originated at Westin and Sheraton properties in North America through Starwood Hotels & Resorts' recycling program. One of their distributions occurred at two tent cities in Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake, and nearly 2,000 people lined up to receive the soap and shampoo.

“We are incredibly grateful for our partners like The Westin Galleria Dallas that donate to this mission,” said Clean the World Executive Director Shawn Seipler. “They are essential in the process that will halt the spread of preventable diseases in Haiti and beyond.”

The World Health Organization confirmed a cholera outbreak in Haiti on Friday, October 22, and Clean the World was able to provide 5,000 soap bars to the hospital in Saint Marc, which was near the center of the outbreak. What started as a humanitarian mission by Clean the World and its partners is turning out to be an emergency operation for Haiti.

“It was great timing on our part, but we're just thankful for the opportunity to provide immediate help and hygiene supplies during crises,” said Seipler.

The organization hopes the cholera outbreak will bring global attention to the call for a “hygiene revolution” led by Clean the World and made possible by its hospitality industry partners. The mission is to bring simple solutions to the complex problem of fighting preventable disease through proper hand washing with bar soap.

Based on Clean the World's Amenities Recycling Calculator, The Westin Galleria Dallas' total amount of recyclable amenities will provide 332 children with enough soap and 165 children with enough bottled amenities for an entire year.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the fight for preventable disease in Haiti, and we are proud to form a long-term relationship with Clean the World on this mission,” said John Everett, General Manager of The Westin Galleria Dallas Hotel. “What their country went through is absolutely tragic, and we are more than happy to do what we can to improve the problem.”

Clean the World and its more than 550 hotel partners in North America have helped collect and distribute more than 6 million bars of soap - in excess of 375 tons - in less than two years.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 166 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 940 properties in approximately 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched AloftSM, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Clean the World
Clean the World is committed to reducing the waste created by discarded soap and shampoo products and collects these items from hotels to be recycled and distributed to domestic homeless shelters and impoverished people worldwide, helping to prevent deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses. Clean the World Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt charitable organization. For more information visit: http://www.cleantheworld.org.