Marriott to celebrate 10th annual Road to Awareness

Marriott International is set to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the annual Road to Awareness campaign with a three-day, 600km cycle challenge across Jordan between October 12-14, 2017.

The campaign this year will see 24 Marriott International employees from across the MEA region taking part.

For the past decade, Marriott International COO Middle East Guido De Wilde, and the founder of Road to Awareness, said about the initiative: "We wanted to give back to the community – it’s part of our nature as hoteliers, being the kind of people who like to look after and support others."

In the nine years since its launch, the campaign has raised close to US $7 million with the goal of making a positive difference to underprivileged children living in the communities that the group’s hotels operate in. The three-day bike ride continues to be a major highlight of the programme.

This year, the campaign - which is now under the Marriott International umbrella - will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 600km cycle challenge through Jordan between October 12 to 14. The team will begin their ride on from the Dead Sea, which, at 383m below sea level is the lowest point on Earth, and head in a fairly straight line to the seaside town of Aqaba.

The second day will see the group ride from Aqaba to the city of Petra, and the third day will lead them back down to the Dead Sea. The cycle challenge will receive a high level of local support, with Cycling Jordan providing a mechanic and support car for the duration. 

The team will be joined by two guest riders: Ammar Al Satari, a former Jordanian national cycling champion, and Sari Husseini from Cycling Jordan.

The objective of the 24 associates who signed up for the challenge – from night managers to C-level associates –  is to raise a minimum total of $500,00 for a number of regional charities, each selected by the individual associates for a cause close to their heart. 

Click through to the next page to meet some of the people taking part...

Marriott International director of development Ramine Behnam said: "It’s a great initiative, and I’m always happy to participate and raise awareness where possible. We have a fantastic opportunity with the network we’ve developed, our contacts, number of associates, and marketing reach, to really make an impact and help those in need, so why not participate?"

Behnam used to be a heavy smoker with a fast food-focused diet but became a dedicated triathlete four years ago, losing about 25kgs in the process. He’s now completed one half and one full Ironman races and is preparing for his third, saying the cycle challenge fits perfectly into his regime, with him dedicating 10-12 hours a week towards training. 

Another associate who has seen his life transform since committing to the challenge is Talal Khalife, Marriott International’s director of global aales for the Gulf, Levant & Africa: "My participation has inspired me to continue leading a healthy lifestyle. Cycling is now a hobby of mine that I enjoy practicing weekly. It has allowed me to not only stay active and fit, but also to meet like-minded people and friends for life."

Noran Masri, an assistant training manager for Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, works out twice a day with a 50km ride each morning. During weekends, he pushes himself to cycling a 100km. "I’m excited about the experience, meeting new people, and helping out charities. Not a lot of people can say they rode the R2A 600km in Jordan," he said.

Jakub Adamowicz, EAM of facility management for The Luxury Collection in Aqaba, noted that it has been a great way to bolster his mental wellbeing. "I believe I live a fortunate life – I have a roof over my head, I’m happy [with my] family and friends, and never went to sleep hungry. This is an opportunity to give something back to the world and to people in need," Adamowicz said. 

"The 10th anniversary of Road to Awareness is very inspiring as I have watched many R2A in Europe and loved the team spirit, the huge commitment to fundraising, and the general physical challenge,” added Lucy Wilson, change and communication manager for Marriott International, continuing: "I feel I owe it to the company to give it 100%. Since the merger, we are pioneering this into the MEA continent so I feel very proud to be part of something so significant."

The cycle challenge will be documented through video and photography by a dedicated film crew.