Frankfurt, May 21 2014 – Hands Up Incentives were awarded the IMEX-GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council) Commitment to the Community award for the second year running at the 12th annual IMEX Gala Dinner in Frankfurt last night.
The Award celebrates events, incentive programmes, conferences, associations or business projects that have demonstrated an innovative effort to benefit a charitable cause. It is judged against four primary criteria: suitability, creativity, sustainability and the “power of one”.
The award was made in recognition of a Hands Up Incentives incentive trip to Hawaii, which made a significant and lasting impact, not only on the communities served but also on the employees who took part in the trip. The 50 participants from a software-reseller company had previously enjoyed trips to Fiji and Cambodia.
Martin Hellawell, Chairman of Softcat, the client who commissioned Hands Up Incentives, commented: “The Softcat team had an unforgettable and hugely enriching experience in Hawaii. The community project was without doubt the highlight of our trip and it was incredibly rewarding to work with the local people, experience their culture and learn first-hand about the hardships faced by certain parts of the community. “
Every incentive or meeting organised by Hands Up Incentives includes a charitable, hands-on giving back component that enables clients to gain valuable insight into the communities that host them, to reduce their footprint and to make a difference where they can.
The organisation views its CSR responsibilities in the form of three pillars: charity, environment and looking after people. As part of the ‘charity’ and ‘looking after people’ pillars, they decided to spend two days out of their 10 day incentive trip in Hawaii focusing on the areas of education and preservation of culture.
The chosen charity was Keiki o ka ‘Āina (“KOKA”), an organisation that develops and implements “new” Native Hawaiian community site-based programmes for parents and preschool children aged 0 – 5 years. Hands Up Incentives’ client helped build a traditional Hawaiian ‘hale’; a thatched roof dwelling, which became a cultural centre assisting local families to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.
Christopher Hill, CEO at Hands Up Incentives, commented: “We are honoured to work with such amazing clients who want to make a difference, allowing us to win this award two years in a row. It is inspiring to know that companies not only want to reward their top performing staff but also support those less fortunate.”
The IMEX-GMIC Commitment to the Community Award is made annually in partnership with and under the guidance of the Green Meeting Industry Council.
