#FirstRespondersFirst Partners with Marriott International to Provide Free Accommodations to Healthcare Workers on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have devastating impact, #FirstRespondersFirst announced today a partnership with Marriott International to support frontline healthcare workers with essential protective equipment, accommodations, child care, food, mental health support and other essential resources.

As people are being asked to serve the public health by stepping back, frontline healthcare workers are being tasked with stepping forward, putting their own health -- and that of their families -- at risk. Beginning this week, Marriott and #FirstRespondersFirst will provide healthcare workers in New York City with accommodations starting with The Renaissance New York Times Square and The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection which are both in close proximity to hospitals. Accommodations will be provided at no cost to the healthcare workers.

#FirstRespondersFirst will work initially with Mount Sinai Health System to provide accommodations for its healthcare workers, including those who have traveled to New York from other parts of the country to meet the urgent need for caregivers there. Mount Sinai Health System is New York City’s largest academic medical system and has been at the epicenter of the efforts working tirelessly to save lives and develop testing and treatments to stop this pandemic.

“Our #FirstRespondersFirst initiative takes a whole human approach to supporting frontline healthcare workers,” said Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global. “Healthcare workers are navigating the challenges of this moment with courage and compassion. They’re taking care of us, so we need to help take care of them. That’s why we are not only raising funds for critical equipment but also for essential resources for first responders and their families, including child care and food. And now we are thrilled to be partnering with Marriott to provide hundreds of hotel rooms in one of the hardest hit cities in the country. As these first responders care for others during this unprecedented crisis, Marriott and #FirstRespondersFirst are supporting them by providing peace of mind in the form of a comfortable place to sleep and recharge.”

“We are all in this together as we work to overcome COVID-19 and its devastating impact around the globe,” said Stephanie Linnartz, President, Consumer Operations, Marriott International. “#FirstRespondersFirst recognizes the needs of healthcare workers who are on the frontlines in this fight. We’re grateful for the opportunity to take care of these heroes by providing them a much-needed place to rest after their shifts.”

“Our physicians, nurses, trainees, students, scientists and other health care professionals on the frontline of this fight are heroes. We will win this fight thanks to the efforts of many,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System. "Thank you to Marriott and #FirstRespondersFirst for your support of our community during this challenging time.”

#FirstRespondersFirst is an initiative of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation to provide first responder healthcare workers with physical and psychological resources they so desperately need as they serve on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. #FirstRespondersFirst’s fundraising call to action helps provide critical supplies, equipment, and resources, including accommodations and meals, to healthcare workers, ranging from minimum-wage hourly workers in home-care settings to social workers, nurses, physicians, and beyond. Harvard Chan School, which has a distinguished century-old history of developing and communicating evidence-based environmental, occupational, and behavioral health information, provides evidence-based content specifically tailored to this demographically and socially diverse workforce powered by Thrive Global's behavior change platform, delivering access to online workshops, virtual training, coaching, and content to help improve the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers. #FirstRespondersFirst is a fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a Charity Navigator 4 Star Charity that meets all 20 BBB Charity Standards.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,300 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.