The Road to Awareness is an annual associate fundraising campaign that has been making a valuable difference to the lives of children across our continent since 2008. Every year, employees throughout Africa and the Middle East organize fundraising events to help raise funds to support the vital work charities and organizations do improve the lives of children.

The campaign was initiated in 2008, when several senior associates at Former Starwood decided to take on a 3-day cycling challenge in the French Alps and Pyrenees to support UNICEF. In the following years, associates have raised close to USD 7 million and the cycle challenge has continued to be an anchor of the campaign every year. Last year, under the Marriott International expanded portfolio, the campaign raised over USD 630,000 to benefit several organizations across the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait and South Africa.

Road to Awareness continues to be very close to our hearts, and this year we are thrilled to launch this to our entire Marriott International portfolio across the Middle East and Africa.

This year, we are continuing our strategy of fundraising in-market for local organisations who support children, be it medical, rehabilitative, educational or therapeutic. Our 2018 confirmed charity partners so far are Al Jalila Foundation (UAE), Disabled Children’s Association (KSA), King Hussein Cancer Foundation (Jordan), Education Above All (Qatar), Laureus Sport for Good (South Africa) and we are in negotiation and due diligence with potential partners in all markets where we are operational.

We will be holding our 11th annual Road to Awareness bike-ride from Thursday 2nd until Saturday 4th August in South Africa, 34 cyclists confirmed their participation from all over the Middle East and Africa continent.