@RosenHotels Opens New School in Haiti in Partnership with Food for the Poor!

This past summer, the Harris Rosen Foundation, in partnership with the non-profit Food for the Poor organization, built a new elementary school in the city of Les Cayes, Haiti. The goal was to make a difference in the lives of the children and families in this region of Haiti. To date, it has both changed lives and, ironically, saved lives.

Just days after the Sept. 22 grand opening, the concrete-block Institution Mixte St Jean De Jonc Labeille-Harris Rosen school, which was designed to host 300 students, became a life-saving shelter for several hundred residents of Jon L’Abeille. The small town, like much of Haiti, lacked a sufficient number of buildings with an infrastructure strong enough to withstand the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. Harris Rosen, founder of the Harris Rosen Foundation, expressed deep gratitude that the school was able to serve this unexpected calling.

“The timing is incredible,” said Rosen. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Matthew. We will continue our long-time support to the relief and sustainability efforts in Haiti and are doubly grateful that the school was completed in time to provide shelter during this tragedy.”

Administrative Section of the New School

The 8,000 square foot school sustained minimal damage from Matthew and currently serves as a shelter at night for displaced residents.  As homes are rebuilt, the shelter will transition back to a school.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts has long supported its brothers and sisters in Haiti, the homeland of more than one-third of the company’s associates.  For years, Rosen Hotels has been collecting soap from its guestrooms which company representatives have made numerous trips delivering to Haiti, along with clothing, food and other much-needed supplies.  The company orchestrated a “Water for Haiti” gala that raised $350,000 to purchase more than 200 water filtration devices in an effort to assist with the country’s clean water initiatives.

Much like it did when the 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti, Rosen Hotels has initiated a relief effort to benefit Hurricane Matthew victims in the impoverished country.  On Friday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public is invited to bring items listed below to the Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819, which the company will deliver to Haiti. Financial contributions to the Harris Rosen Foundation can also be made that will assist with the rebuilding of damaged homes in the area of the school.

Visit rosenhotels.com/Haiti for details.

Canned goods – especially evaporated milk and canned meat (expiration date of 2017 or later)
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Soap
First aid supplies
Antibacterial supplies
Baby products and baby food
Tarps
Tents
Boxes and Packing Tape

Rosen Hotels & Resorts also furthered domestic support as Hurricane Matthew made its way along the southeastern seaboard of the U.S. The Orlando-based hotel chain offered deeply reduced distress rates and every property opened its doors to evacuating residents, putting all seven hotels at full operating capacity at the peak of the hurricane. The distress rates are put in place in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane warning in the state, and remain as long as the environment warrants. To date, the hotels help displaced victims of Hurricane Matthew by honoring the distress rates for as long as necessary, as people rebuild their homes and regroup from the devastation.

“We are honored to host our community during this time of need. Recovery is difficult and expensive, and we want to do everything we can to help Floridians feel comfortable in their ‘home away from home’,” said Rosen.

Florida residents who have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Matthew are welcome to stay at one of the Rosen Hotels & Resorts at the distress rates listed below (based on availability). All guestrooms have free WiFi and are pet-friendly. Rosen Hotels & Resorts has waived the pet fee for distress rates. Residents booking one of the chain’s four leisure hotels can also add on two adult breakfast buffets daily for $10/day, in conjunction with the Kids Eat Free program.

*Rosen Inn International, 7600 International Drive ($55/night)

*Rosen Inn closest to Universal, 6327 International Drive ($55/night)

*Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando, 9000 International Drive ($55/night)

*Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista, 8442 Palm Parkway ($55/night)

Rosen Plaza, 9700 International Drive ($79/night)

Rosen Centre, 9840 International Drive ($89/night)

Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd. ($105/night)

To book the distress rates and for more information, call 866-33-ROSEN.

Celebrating more than 42 years in business, Rosen Hotels & Resorts comprises nearly 6,500 guestrooms at seven Orlando hotels making up nearly six percent of all hotel rooms in the greater Orlando area. Owner Harris Rosen is Florida’s largest independent hotelier and an impassioned philanthropist.  Rosen was recently awarded the Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year for his 23-year Tangelo Park Program, which has provided hundreds of college scholarships for youth in the underserved Orlando community of Tangelo Park.  For more information, visit www.rosenhotels.com.