To: All IHG colleagues
Hi everyone,
Last week, I shared some of the ways in which IHG has responded to the war in Ukraine by extending our care and support to those impacted by these tragic and horrific events. We have continued to assess things carefully, and I wanted to share an update on some additional steps IHG will now be taking.
In light of the attacks in Ukraine, we are suspending future hotel investments, development activity and new hotel openings in Russia. The decision has not been easy, but we are also closing our corporate office in Moscow. We will work closely with those colleagues impacted, and continue to support them as they work remotely.
We remain in close communication with our existing hotels in the country, which operate under complex long-term management or franchise agreements with third-party owners.
As I shared last week, we are also supporting our teams on the ground in Ukraine and have donated $500,000 to CARE International and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help those in desperate need. This week we made it possible for loyalty members to donate to these two humanitarian organisations, and we have also made available to colleagues helpful coping resources in multiple languages.
In times of adversity our hotels around the world frequently provide safe places of refuge for the world’s media, NGOs, first responders and refugees, and we are working with our owners in countries neighbouring Ukraine to offer shelter to those forced to leave their homes and, in many cases, loved ones behind. A support hub and guidance has been setup for owners, and we are also collaborating with a similarly focused industry-wide NGO campaign, #HospitalityHelps.
As you will all know this remains a very fast-moving situation and we will continue to closely monitor developments. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.
Take care
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