Choice Hotels Asia Pacific announces its Community Sports Grant recipients

Leading hotel group, Choice Hotels Asia Pacific continues its support of local sporting clubs with the hotel group announcing the Australian and New Zealand recipients of a $2,000 Choice Hotels Community Sports Grant.The grants will provide vital funds to support a club project or travel costs ahead of sporting events across the two countries.

Choice Hotels Asia Pacific has supported local community groups and sporting clubs since its launch in Australia 20 years ago through its Choice Sports Program. Through the program, club members receive 15% off the best available rate, and a 7% rebate goes back to the club every time members book accommodation with Choice Hotels.

Choice Hotels Asia Pac Senior Director, Strategy, Sales & Marketing Kari Hunter says community sport is at the heart of the towns and regions where the group’s hotels operate with many properties active participants and sponsors of local sporting clubs and events.

Hunter advised “many of our hotels are deeply involved in participating and sponsoring local sporting clubs and events. Hosting travelling sporting teams and being part of those events are a highlight for our hoteliers. These grants will assist clubs and athletes to participate in competitions and help fund projects that will encourage even more participation in community sport.”

Grant recipients are:

Melbourne-based athlete, Chris McMahon, who has been selected to compete in tenpin bowling at the Special Olympics in Launceston this October. McMahon’s NDIS funding did not cover his attendance this year, so the $2000 Grant from Choice Hotels Asia Pacific will help him cover the costs to attend the games.

Eltham Rugby Union Football Club will receive a $2000 Grant to assist in hosting a special Women’s Tournament in November 2022 comprising Women’s Rugby Sevens teams and Women’s AFL Nines teams from various clubs. The tournament will provide an inclusive environment for boys and girls to play rugby in Melbourne, Victoria.

Traralgon Football Netball Club (pictured above) based in Gippsland, Victoria will use the $2000 Grant to replace items to get their canteen up and running. The club’s facilities were severely damaged by flooding, and the club continues to operate from portables and a makeshift caravan while they await repairs.

Geelong Sharks Swimming Club will use its $2000 Grant to subsidise travel costs for the National Performance Squad, when they travel to Darwin in early October 2022 to attend the Inaugural National Country Championships.

Dragons Abreast Australia is a national organisation comprised of breast cancer survivors, based in Queensland. They will use the $2000 Grant to cover the fees for one attendee from each of their 27 clubs to attend the national regatta in Melbourne in December 2022.

The sixth recipient is based in Wellington, New Zealand. Western Suburbs Football Club (pictured top) will use the $2000 Grant to cover costs for coaches to run school holiday programs for 300 futsal players, as well as running a mini world cup for primary school students to increase participation in football ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

As an extension to its Community Sports Grant Program, Choice Hotels Asia Pacific worked with its partner United Petroleum to award a further five registered sporting clubs and individual athletes with a $1000 United Fuel Voucher to assist in travel costs for sporting events across Australia. Recipients were:

• Lily and Pearl Dessart, members of Quorn Stockyard Arena Association – South Australia

• Anna Twining, member of Eden Field Archery Club - South Australia

• Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Lifesaving Club Inc – New South Wales

• Riding for the Disabled, HorsePower Denmark Centre Inc – Western Australia

• Oberon Junior Hockey Association – New South Wales

Image top: Western Suburbs Football Club in Wellington, NZ; image above: Traralgon Football Netball Club (TFNC) based in Gippsland, Victoria