How DoubleTree by Hilton Promotes Sustainability

Teaching Kids to CARE, a philanthropic initiative from DoubleTree by Hilton hotels, has reached 5 million grade school students to engender values and behaviors of sustainable change for more than a decade. This week it launched a new website in a bid to create a global online community.

The program pairs team members from DoubleTree properties with local schools in more than 200 communities and now, a refreshed Teaching Kids to CARE program is available online for teachers, parents and students. DoubleTree’s partners include The Arbor Day Foundation and The Woodland Trust. 

At its core are five thematic lesson plans developed in line with U.S. National Education Standards about small actions that make a difference for the planet, the positive impact of trees on the environment, and the importance of the “three Rs” – reducing, reusing and recycling. Lesson plans are available in two versions, targeted for students in grades K – 2, and grades 3 – 5.

“The Teaching Kids to CARE program is our opportunity to work with local groups of children to share our ideals, encouraging their independent decision-making skills, and giving them a chance to gain valuable knowledge about becoming sustainability stewards,” says Anne Thompson, global director of culture and communications.

“When we arm our youth with the tools and the education to create change, we can effectively show that by thinking globally and acting locally, we can all make a difference in the world we live in.” 

In 2011, Hilton Worldwide launched Travel with Purpose, the brand’s commitment to: creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities of operation; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of use of natural resources. 

Their ‘LightStay’ strategy makes them the first multi-brand hospitality company to make sustainability measurement a brand standard and recently earned them ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications for quality and environmental management - one of the largest volume certifications awarded for commercial buildings. 

“Through the program, DoubleTree by Hilton will continue to show how just one small action can create a collective and meaningful difference to help change the world we live in for the better,” adds Thompson.