“One Night for Mumbai”: Chartres Lodging Leads Three-City Hospitality Industry Fundraising Effort for Victims of Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, a San Francisco-based national hotel investment and advisory firm, is spearheading an industry-wide effort at its signature hotels in New York, San Francisco and Chicago as part of its No Reservations Giving Program to raise funds and awareness for the victims of the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Created as a response to the terrorists’ targeting of India’s hotel and tourism industry, “One Night for Mumbai” will consist of Jan. 29 happy hour fundraisers featuring authentic Indian food, a raffle of prizes donated by local merchants and industry partners, and a presentation by dignitaries and members of the local Indian community in each city. Each event will be held between 6 and 9 p.m. local time and represents a partnership with local Indian and non-Indian businesses in each city.

Proceeds and donations collected from the events in each city will go to the nonprofit American India Foundation (AIF), which will direct funds to the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust, the Oberoi Care Fund, the Bombay Community Public Trust and other Indian charities and organizations providing direct and immediate relief to the victims. Chartres Lodging’s No Reservations Giving Program, which provides direct relief to employees’ families, friends and communities in need or facing a crisis, is directing the effort.

“The attacks were a tragedy not only for India but also for the country’s giant tourism industry, which provides the livelihood for millions of residents.” explained Rob Kline, president of Chartres Lodging. “Since the terrorists intentionally targeted Mumbai tourist locations, those of us in the U.S. hospitality industry wanted to reach out to our counterparts in India that are the most in need of relief, including hotel, police, fire and security employees and their families.”

The participating Chartres Lodging hotels and restaurants include the Radisson Lexington Hotel (Lex Lounge) in New York, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (Harry Denton’s Starlight Room) in San Francisco, and the Allerton Hotel Chicago (M Avenue Restaurant and Lounge) on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants will be hosting a related program entitled “Dollar a Night,” in which it will donate $1 for every occupied room on Jan. 29 at all 42 Kimpton-managed hotels in the U.S. and Canada, while Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels, Taj Hotels and Highgate Hotels will be contributing to the cause in various ways. The Allerton Hotel’s sister hotels in Chicago, the Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile and the Inn of Chicago Magnificent Mile, will be donating proceeds from their Jan. 29 happy hours.

Also supporting the event through donations to the happy hours and raffles in each city are Cornell University alumni, Tamarind, Diwan, Darbar, Quebb, Trinity Investments, Café Spice, Kuwait Airways, Continental Airlines, Air India, Jet Airways, Qatar Air and Kingfisher Airlines, among many others. Among the donations is a seven-night stay at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai, which was provided by Taj Hotels and will be auctioned off at the New York event.

“Certainly, Chartres Lodging is but one player in this increasingly, industry-wide effort,” Kline added. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from our friends in the industry, as well as local businesses, dignitaries, entertainers and India-based businesses in each city.”

Those unable to attend the Jan. 29 events personally are encouraged to make an online donation to the American Indian Foundation at www.aifoundation.org/donate/default.htm. Checks made payable to the “American India Foundation” can also be sent to Chartres Lodging, 50 California St., Suite 3300, San Francisco, CA, 94111. Donors are asked to write “NRG Mumbai Relief Fund” on the memo line, and include their mailing address and email for delivery of a donation receipt. All donations are tax deductible as permitted by law.

In support of this effort, AIF has reduced its administrative fee to just 2 percent of donated funds, significantly lower than industry standards. AIF’s tax ID number is 13-4159765.

For more information on “One Night for Mumbai,” go to www.chartreslodging.com/ADD.

About American India Foundation

American India Foundation (www.aifoundation.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit American development organization committed to accelerating social and economic change in India. One of the largest secular, nonpartisan U.S. organizations supporting India, AIF has invested in more than 100 Indian non-governmental organizations since its inception in 2001.

About the Chartres Lodging No Reservations Giving Program

The mission of the Chartres Lodging No Reservations Giving Program is to provide direct relief to employees’ families, friends and communities in need. No Reservations Giving is founded on the "ripple-effect" belief that taking small steps can lead to big improvements in the lives of those impacted by crisis, tragedy or natural disaster. Similar to Chartres Lodging’s basic philosophy of allowing employees to partner in its turnaround investments, No Reservations Giving participants directly contribute their time, talent and passion toward enhancing the lives and futures of those less fortunate.

About The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC

The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC (formerly Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC) is an investment and advisory firm focused on the investment, asset management and renovation of high-quality lodging assets. Chartres Lodging Group’s principals have been responsible for more than $8 billion of lodging investments and have asset-managed more than 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. The firm is currently responsible for a $6-billion, 20,000-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts located throughout the United States and Japan. Chartres’ principals and employees are direct investors in 65% of this portfolio. Chartres Lodging is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Tokyo. For more information on The Chartres Lodging Group, please visit www.chartreslodging.com.