In late 2022 and early 2023, Peru was experiencing tremendous political unrest, creating a challenging environment for Peruvian citizens and temporarily shutting down the tourism industry. During this uncertain time, the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco aspired to bring messages of optimism and resilience to their community.

The hotel was selected as the winner of this year’s Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service for their tremendous efforts to put their community first despite difficult times. In the last year, the hotel has built a reputation in the city of Cusco as a business who deeply cares not only about their associates, but the communities in which they live and work.

The hotel created key initiatives and activities that kept the needs of their community first. In support of the four coordinates of Marriott’s Serve 360 platform, a few highlights of their program:

• Nurture Our World: Cusco has one of the highest rates of new cases of pediatric cancer in all of Peru. The hotel brought awareness to the issue by hosting two blood donation campaigns last year. They also invited children from the community for year-round opportunities for fun, games and food.  
• Sustain Responsible Operations: The hotel’s Serve 360 program joined forces with the Environmental Committee to hold a recycling drive and movie night at a community school for underprivileged children. Associates also donated needed school materials, clothes and hygiene items for the children.
• Empower Through Opportunity: The team regularly invites Chinchero weaving women to the hotel’s courtyard to teach guests about the Andean weaving technique. The women demonstrate each stage of weaving and then sell their products to guests and visitors. The hotel also partners with a nearby shelter for young victims of human trafficking to teach girls how to make crafts and then hosts a fair to allow the girls to sell their products.
• Welcome All and Advance Human Rights: The LGBTQ+ community is one of the most discriminated populations in Peru. The hotel participated in the Pride parade last year and invited transgender representatives from the community to speak in a hosted session about how they encounter discrimination.
   

Ninety-eight percent of managers helped or participated in Serve 360 activities in 2023 and associates from every department embraced all the initiatives. The human resources department created a “JW Pasaporte Bonus” card to encourage participation — associates can participate in an activity to score points and be recognized. In total, associates dedicated 617 volunteer hours and the hotel and associates donated more than $20,000 USD.