Hotel in Pune, India Kick-Starts HOPE Foundation's 'Charity Week' to Mark Its 2nd Anniversary

PUNE, INDIA--(Marketwired - Aug 28, 2013) - Courtyard by Marriott, Pune City Centre celebrated its two year anniversary in the city this month by kick-starting the 'Charity Week' -- an initiative by the HOPE Foundation.

The idea behind the Charity Week is 'gratitude' -- showing appreciation for the blessings we receive in our life, and to return kindness to the less fortunate. The Charity Week included various activities such as feeding programs, providing new skill training, financing small scale business start-ups, distributing educational material, organizing entertainment & awareness programs for the children and conducting a medical camp that will support 800 kids and their families for the month of August.

In support of the Atmanirbharata Group -- the HOPE Foundation's initiative for empowering single mothers -- Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre with its team of expert chefs took up the initiative to impart culinary expertise to these single mothers that would help them launch their small-scale catering business. The Pune, India hotel invited around 20 women for a master class by Executive Chef Shubhendu Kadam and his team who showed them how to make six different types of pickles. In a city that appreciates good food and supports small and medium independent businesses, this initiative promises to add a new line of budding business women.

The timing of this initiative undertaken by the hotel, which is located near the Pune Rail Station, not only marked its two year anniversary, but also coincided with India's 66^th Independence Day. The Hotel is helping HOPE Foundation in their effort to help such single mothers to earn their own livelihood and be 'independent' in the truest sense.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Caroline Audoir de Valter, Managing Trustee & Founder of Hope for the Children Foundation said, "The Charity Week has become an integral part of HOPE for the Children Foundation calendar. During the week, we will collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals who want to 'give back to society'. This is a continuation of the commitment we have pledged for the past 7 years and to fortify the work we have done so far. We want to embark into newer projects for the benefit of the children and mothers of the community."

Executive Chef Shubhendu Kadam stated, "Our team is glad to contribute towards enabling these women to run their own catering business that would get them that extra income to support their families. We hope that the pickle-making demo has been helpful and we wish them success."

Since the inception of Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre in July 2011, the Hotel has been very well-received in the city and has become the preferred option for travellers, both national and international. The property has some of the most spacious hotel rooms in the city and its nine banquet halls have been venues for many high profile events including weddings, exhibitions, meetings and conferences. In April 2013, the Hotel also won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vineet Mishra, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre said, "Our two year journey has been a memorable one and we extend our gratitude to all our guests and Pune city for embracing us! As a thank you, we continue to engage with the community through supporting such initiatives with partners like the HOPE Foundation."

Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre boasts of 3 F&B outlets, MoMo Café (the 24x7 coffee shop), MoMo2Go (the in-house deli), and Evviva - Sky Lounge which quickly became the city's favourite nightspot within just six months of its launch. Apart from its successful and contemporary dining and nightlife options, this 173 room property is also equipped with a fitness centre and a contemporary outdoor pool, rendering the hotel as perfect for business travellers. 

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About the Courtyard Pune City Centre
With a location that's convenient to everywhere from the airport to downtown business districts, the Courtyard Pune City Centre is the hotel of choice for both business and leisure travelers heading to Pune. Accommodations bring together the needs of these two types of travelers, too, with amenities that support both productivity and relaxation. Working guests can connect with high-speed Internet access and settle in for a day of deadlines at a spacious desk with a cup of coffee or tea in hand. When it's time for a break, sink into plush bedding, see what's showing on the 32-inch LCD TV, order from 24-hour room service or play mood music on the iPod docking station. Of course there's more to life than work, and here guests can stay in shape at the state-of-the-art fitness centre and outdoor pool. For something that's enticing and edible, this Pune hotel offers a number of dining options that have earned top ratings with local restaurant guides. Venues include the rooftop cocktail lounge Evviva, all-day dining at MoMo Cafe and pastries, coffee, sandwiches and salads for the road at MoMo 2 Go. With a location near Sancheti and Jehangir hospitals and IT hubs including Magarpatta City and Eon IT Park, this Koregaon Park hotel is a top pick for events and offers more than 7,000 square feet of meeting space; the largest can host up to 240 guests. The event space also makes for an excellent Pune wedding venue.