We formed a national partnership with House of Travel in 2005 and since then our relationship has been going strong.
Each of the House of Travel outlets are partnered with their local hospice service and support them in a variety of ways - raising money, raising awareness and volunteering their time.
One of the highlights of our partnership is the Embrace Award. This annual award is presented to an outlet who has integrated hospice into every aspect of its business, our way of saying thank you for all the hard work and dedication put in by the House of Travel team.
The most recent award winner;
As previous winners of the Embrace Award (2006), HOT Orewa keep on showing their commitment to hospice in a variety of ways. The reasons they are this year’s winners is best summed up by the team at Hibiscus Hospice who describe their relationship as “enduring” and “generous”:
“At the heart of this enduring and generous relationship is a concern for others, philanthropy and community spirit. Dennis and Yvonne roll up their sleeves and pitch in wherever they can. They give generously of themselves and inspire their staff to do the same.And they make sure that every month, for the last 8 years, whenever a patient or caregiver at a Hibiscus Hospice Daybreak session asks “where are we going today” they are answered with a smile, taken out of themselves and whisked away to an exotic destination...if only for those precious 30 minutes.” (Daybreak is a weekly patients and carers social group at Hibiscus Hospice).”
The team volunteer their time and energies on a regular basis to help the Hospice cause – as well as providing monthly “Armchair traveller” sessions to the Daybreak group, they donate prizes and raffle items and are actively involved in fundraising via the Hibiscus Hospice Women’s Committee.
Congratulations to the team at HOT Orewa!
Previous recipients since the award began in 2006;
Right from the word go they have gone out of their way to make the relationship a success.
Close communication between the two parties and a creative approach to making the most of whatever opportunities arise have enabled a win-win for all concerned.
Both parties are very proud to promote each other’s interests and cause in the wider community.
Just as we are delighted to be so closely associated with an iconic New Zealand travel brand, House of Travel Orewa is equally as delighted to be supporting the Coast’s biggest and most highly regarded charity.
This is a ‘marriage’ made in heaven and can only get better.
No Hospice in New Zealand could operate without the dedication of their extraordinary volunteers. They provide essential services, added extras and the warmth of their generosity and support.
So, when Stephen Gillingham House of Travel staff suggested that the best way to support North Haven Hospice was to become the “Volunteer Cheerleaders” we embraced that possibility with open arms.
And what did the Cheerleaders do for our volunteers? They cosseted them, waited on them at special functions, gave them treats and days out, trips to a stage show, acted as hosts at our 21st Birthday celebration and worked alongside them at events and fundraising activities.
Not content with supporting and cherishing the volunteers, they also threw themselves into fundraising activities – out at the crack of dawn at our street appeal, out as a team for breakfast, our partying at our gala event (so hard!) and out pounding the pavements in a half-marathon event with Hospice folk.
These people wear their Hospice t-shirts regularly and with pride. They work incredibly hard at their “day jobs” – then they work for Hospice. That’s dedication. That’s support. That’s Stephen Gillingham House of Travel.
In public relations activities one can never fully appreciate the ripple effect of what is said or done, something that Tony Laker and his team definitely understand. Through the many speaking engagements undertaken by Tony, and the everyday promotion of Hospice by the Team at Laker House of Travel the message of Hospice, can and does resonate with the people in our wider community and indeed nationally.
Sometimes the true benefit of such activities cannot be simply measured in monetary terms, but in the value of ensuring that the profile of Hospice remains high in our community, and that when it is needed, it is uppermost in the minds of all people.
Energy, passion and innovation are the corner stone’s of Tony Laker and his team in being involved with our organisation and the services we provide. This has perhaps been most evident in the use of “Alf’s” trolley which makes its ‘happy hour rounds’ of an evening through our inpatient unit. This somewhat whimsical trolley was donated by Laker House of Travel in 2005 and the staffs see it as their responsibility to ensure that it remains well stocked of every variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Recently this has been extended to the House of Travel staff assisting staff with ‘Happy Hour’ and the evening meals on a roster basis every month.
What we have discovered also is that families often return the favour by donating beverages for the trolley in response to the sense of normality in a vulnerable time, which this trolley represents
And so our partnership with Laker House of Travel continues to grow and develop, never resting on our laurels. Already since we began working on this nomination there has been the proposal from Tony and his team to stage a significant fundraising event in the local calendar later on in this year. This is what we appreciate
House of Travel is a powerful brand and locally, as a consequence of their commitment to Hospice, we have seen a demonstrable increase in the awareness of the Rotorua Community Hospice services through their constant promotion – walking the talk, creating a stir at every opportunity!
There is no doubt that this partnership has made a difference to the health and well-being of our community. We hope House of Travel Rotorua have reaped the rewards of increased corporate image, and experienced the advantages of enhanced business relationships through their passionate, positive and active investment in this worthy charitable community cause – Hospice.
We are extremely grateful to House of Travel for their commitment and involvement at all levels of our organisation which extends beyond our local boundaries.
They have unstintingly provided fantastic support for the Otago Community Hospice ever since the partnership was formed nationally with Hospice NZ.
House of Travel Dunedin office is a fantastic place to visit, warm, friendly and great when needing any travel advice.
Thanks from everyone at the Otago Community Hospice to the Dunedin outlet who donate not only money but their very precious time.
HOT Tauranga continues to help raise the level of awareness in our community of Hospice services. We are grateful for their long standing support, approachability, and access to their expertise, particularly with the cruise ship fundraisers. These allow us to take advantage of the cruise market that is right on our doorstep and hopefully bring business to the industry whilst raising awareness and much needed funds for Waipuna.
While HOT Tauranga is an extremely busy office, Shane and his team are committed to the partnership with Hospice and are always looking for opportunities to extend their support of Waipuna.
Totara Hospice South Auckland relish the reciprocal partnership and friendships made with these truly dedicated House of Travel Partners. Nothing is ever too much trouble, always a smiling face and a keen willingness to be the best help they can muster.
In the past year, this help has included:
Hosting a Trivia Night in Howick raising nearly $9,000 on the night which was packed with wonderful prizes, great humour and a real buzz for all who attended.
HOT staff volunteered their time at our Hospice Remembrance Trees at Christmas and both teams organised street appeals for last year’s Hospice Awareness Week in May.
The HOT team continue to keep the Totara Hospice patient drinks trolley well stocked. This gives great pleasure to those who are well enough to partake in a little pleasure before dinner.
