Two Al Ain Institutions Join Forces To Benefit Animal Conservation

Hilton Al Ain's Three-Month Donation Drive Raises AED 5,448 for Al Ain Zoo 

Al Ain, UAE, 22 June, 2014 – Hilton Al Ain has donated AED 5,448 to Al Ain Zoo, following a three-month fundraising initiative designed to promote the conservation of endangered animals and other wild life species. 

For the past 12-weeks, Hilton Al Ain has donated AED 1 for every cup of coffee sold at its newly renovated Palm Court Café to Al Ain Zoo for the benefit of more than 4,000 animals, including the endangered Arabian Oryx and Arabian Sand Cat.

H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director General of the Zoo & Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain, joined Jacques Claudel, general manager of Hilton Al Ain as well as team members from the Emirate's premier landmarks in a ceremony that marked the organizations' mutual goals of conversation and sustainability.

As part of Hilton Al Ain's ongoing sustainability initiatives, staff at the newly renovated Palm Court Café at the hotel hit upon the idea of the special fundraising campaign for their Al Ain neighbor following a refurbishment of Palm Court Café – as Jacques Claudel, general manager of Hilton Al Ain explained: “Staff at Hilton Al Ain have a strong sense of commitment and involvement within the local community.”

“For everyone at the hotel, it has been a great pleasure to join forces with our high profile neighbors in Al Ain, and to raise more than AED 5,448 in our latest hotel café is fantastic.  The zoo is one of the UAE's premier attractions and so our hotel guests and team members have taken great interest in supporting this community initiative from start to finish,” concluded Claudel.

Muna al Dhaheri, Chief of Conservation and Education at Al Ain Zoo commented “We would like to thank Hilton Al Ain for this generous donation that demonstrates the ongoing support for Al Ain Zoo's conservation efforts.  Donations such as these enable us to maintain our exemplary level of care for our animals, as well as equip us to continue as leaders in conservation initiatives both here at the zoo and across the 
UAE.  This successful collaboration is a strong incentive to cooperate with concerted community efforts in the UAE, while educating the community on the zoo's leading role in species conservation.” 

“Al Ain Zoo has become a key player in wildlife conservation and one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, contributing to Abu Dhabi Vision 2030,” she added.

The Al Ain Zoo fundraising initiative is another step in Hilton Al Ain's efforts to engage the local community. The hotel actively drives initiatives to promote conversation, sustainability and youth education across Al Ain.