After decades of supporting communities across  South East Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts has published its inaugural South East Asia  Communities Report, to celebrate the partnerships it has forged to help improve thousands of  lives across the region. 

It’s not just about the numbers. The report shines a light on some of the transformational  activities delivered in local communities, and the inspiring stories of the partners involved. By  sharing those stories, IHG hopes to affect even greater change this year and beyond. 

In Malaysia, a fantastic example is a partnership forged with SURI – a Malaysian social  enterprise dedicated to empowering single and underprivileged mothers by providing the skill of sewing, to provide them a source of income. Founded by a mother-son duo in 2016, SURI’s  goal is to help each underprivileged mother reduce dependance on government support through  fulltime work and provide opportunities for skills training. 

Since 2022, SURI and IHG have worked together to develop a sustainable gifting programme  that produces high quality gifts from discarded and recycled hotel linen, including in-room  amenities, corporate gifts, and festive hampers. Last year alone, over 400 kilograms of hotel  bed linen from InterContinental Kuala Lumpur were upcycled into gifts.  

The success of the partnership has enabled SURI to scale up its operations and expand to  Langkawi, supporting an additional 100 mothers there.

Sophie Mougel, Director of Operations, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts,  said: “We are dedicated to contributing to the wellbeing of local communities in Malaysia and its  fantastic that we have impacted more than 1,500 lives last year. I’m very proud of our  colleagues who have demonstrated their unwavering commitment by dedicating more than  3,200 volunteering hours to various causes in Malaysia.” 

“Collaborating with organisations like SURI is a privilege, and we’re delighted that this  partnership helps our team to do good in the community and boost Malaysia’s circular economy.  Partnerships like these are integral to our Journey to Tomorrow 2030 responsible business plan,  where we aim to improve the lives of 30 million people. We remain steadfast in supporting  initiatives that help build a better future, aligning with our purpose of True Hospitality for Good.” 

Amer Asyraf, Co-Founder and Director of SURI Lifestyle, commented: “In Malaysia, single  mothers represent 1.7% of the entire population, or about 240,000 people, and there is a need  to narrow the gender gap in the labour market. SURI’s mission is empowering women in the  country, and we are thrilled to have IHG as a key partner in this collective journey. 

“We strongly believe that collaborations like these have a significant impact to these families,  with the added value of a strong community of support, to make a difference for the lives of the  mothers and their children for years to come.”