Beijing, China (August 18, 2008) /China Newswire/ — American Airlines, the world's largest airline, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest breast cancer organization, today announced an expanded partnership with the unveiling of two specially co-branded aircraft, an American Airlines Boeing 757 and an American Eagle Embraer 145, each incorporating the renowned vivid pink-ribbon motif.

The distinctive pink streamers, which extend the full length of the fuselage of the two airplanes, signal a new level of mutual commitment, as American Airlines becomes Komen for the Cure's official airline and first-ever Lifetime Promise Partner. The partnership represents a newly created funding category for Komen - called Promise Grants - which are collaborative, inter-disciplinary research projects with the strong potential to discover and deliver the cures for breast cancer more quickly.

Building on its 20-year history of supporting Komen nationally, American Airlines has pledged to raise $1 million annually for eight years, to fund Susan G. Komen for the Cure's first Promise Grant – a $7.5 million, five-year study of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The remainder will be used to fund health and community programs. The net proceeds from the annual American Airlines Celebrity Golf and Tennis Weekend are the primary source of funding. Additional contributions will be raised via American's Miles for the Cure® program, in which AAdvantage® members earn five miles for each dollar contributed to Komen with a $25 minimum donation. Since mid-April, more than 6,500 AAdvantage members have contributed over $600,000 to the campaign. Donations can be made online at www.AA.com/Komen.

"This is a great day for American Airlines, American Eagle and Susan G. Komen for the Cure," said Dan Garton, American's Executive Vice President - Marketing. "But most of all, it's a great day for all of us who are deeply determined to end breast cancer forever. We sincerely thank the American Airlines employees at our Tulsa and Abilene maintenance bases who donated their time to carefully wrap these aircraft in the ribbons. Seeing these special airplanes take flight today is an inspiration to us all."

American and American Eagle will add similar ribbons to an additional six jets in the coming months.

"This partnership speaks volumes about the quality and longevity of American's commitment to Komen, and the way the company and its employees share our sense of urgency in discovering and delivering the cures, and finding ways to prevent breast cancer," said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "We are also thrilled that American Airlines will be the first corporation to have a direct hand in writing a significant chapter in breast cancer research history with its Promise Grant."

The first American Airlines Promise Grant is funding research at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to aid in earlier detection of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), the most aggressive form of the disease. The program will be conducted through the center's Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, named in memory of a 24-year-old IBC victim and the only such facility in the world. The American Airlines Susan G. Komen for the Cure Promise Grant will be the largest gift ever for IBC research, according to Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, M.D., F.A.C.P., with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, who was among special guests at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) event.

"While tremendous strides have been made in the overall treatment of breast cancer, until now, there's been very little research into this rare disease that behaves so differently than other breast cancers," said Hortobagyi, M.D. "The global cancer community will stand to benefit from our comprehensive research program and what we learn about this disease. The only way to achieve better outcomes for women with the disease is to have dedicated resources, such as the funds allocated by Komen and American Airlines for continued IBC research."

The pink-ribbon planes made their inaugural flights to DFW this orning from Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), where crowds of employees, volunteers, breast cancer survivors, and local officials turned out at dawn for sendoff festivities. The flight attendants on both inaugural flights are breast cancer survivors, as well.

The two airplanes carrying the pink-ribbon motif are the first of eight that will display this highly visible tribute to American and American Eagle's expanded partnership with Komen. Referred to in the industry as livery, the vivid pink "ribbons" are actually a type of decal. Mindful of fuel efficiency, the decal on the 757 weighs just 50 lbs. and adds only an estimated $700 in annual fuel cost. The Embraer's weighs only about 5 lbs., which has minimal fuel impact. Plans are to add the distinctive pink ribbons to one American Airlines 777 and five additional American Eagle Embraer jets. The eight planes are notable in that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
About American Airlines

American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in over 140 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested more than $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

About University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. M. D. Anderson is one of only 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For six of the past nine years, M. D. Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News and World Report.
Get M. D. Anderson News Via RSS

Technorati Tags:
American Airlines | Susan G. Komen For The Cure

Hong Kong, China (July 10, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Beacon is pleased to announce the Ethical Supply Chain Summit Asia, the first of this type in Asia. The event will be held in Hong Kong on 29 – 31 October 2008 and will showcase the latest best practices of global corporations in establishing ethical supply chain practices in Asia.

Representatives from across industry will highlight how they are working with environmental and labour regulations to ensure ethical supply chain management. Confirmed speakers so far include:

•Burberry
•Gap
•Hewlett-Packard
•Levis Strauss
•PUMA
•Siemens
•Starbucks Coffee
•Asia Monitor Resource Centre
•Business for Social Responsibility
•Climate Care
•CSR Asia
•Global Reporting Initiative
•Baker & Mckenzie
•Infact Global Partners
•Supply Chain Consulting
•Systain Consulting

There are also two pre-conference workshops giving practical guidance on key ethical supply chain challenges:
•Drafting contracts that meet legal obligations with the new Labor Contract Law
•Crisis Management - Dealing with an Ethical Breach in your supply chain

More details can be found on the website at www.EthicalSupply.com.

About Beacon Events
Beacon is an international business services company focused on conferences,
exhibitions and management training. Spun off from the Institute for International
Research's (IIR) Asia team, Beacon has an expanding portfolio of large-scale annual
events. Beacon's approach to business is to cooperate and evolve with our customers to produce the leading annual events in the many business areas we cover. We are known for our highly focused must-attend events and we work with our partners - whether they be industry associations, government organisations, advisory boards or our customers - to become a part of whatever industry we work in. For more info, see www.BeaconEvents.com

For press inquiries, please contact Ben Shek, Marketing Manager of Beacon Events on bshek@BeaconEvents.com.

Technorati Tags:
Ethical Supply Chain Summit Asia | Beacon Events

Beijing, China (June 20, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Qatar Airways will fund two schools to educate children affected by the recent earthquake in Sichuan province, which caused massive devastation and loss of life. At a signing ceremony held at the offices of China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) in the Chinese capital of Beijing today, Qatar Airways formally committed funds towards the project.

The undisclosed donation to CYDF's Project Hope will facilitate the building of new education facilities that will accommodate up to 500 children, whose schools were destroyed in last month's earthquake. The donation will also support the erection of prefabricated buildings to be used as temporary classrooms (will accommodate up to 1000 children) while the permanent school is constructed, said by Ms. Gu Xiaojin, the Executive Chairman of CYDF.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, deeply touched by the level of destruction caused by the quake, approached CYDF with an offer to provide financial support for the affected children.

"The devastation in Sichuan province has occurred on a massive scale," he said. "It was a terrible tragedy and many thousands of people lost their lives. But the survivors are also affected, as whole towns and villages were completely destroyed and people now have to re-build their lives from nothing.

"Over 7,000 classrooms were destroyed as a result of the earthquake, leaving those children who survived with nowhere to learn. We decided the best way the airline could help with the rebuilding efforts was to fund the construction of a school for children who have been left stranded," added Al Baker.

"We can offer hope to those children who are in desperate need. Education is their key to the future and it is our responsibility as compassionate humanitarians to do what we can to help."

Qatar Airways Senior Manager Commercial Operations East Asia & South West Pacific Marwan Koleilat and Qatar Airways Regional Manager Greater China Paul Johannes attended the ceremony held to recognise the airline's efforts. Koleilat spoke of Qatar Airways' pledge to help the needy as part the airline's social responsibility role.

"We are committed to the rebuilding process taking place in Sichuan Province. I hope that this gesture will change the lives for the better, as many children have been affected by the devastation, "said Koleilat.

The State of Qatar and People's Republic of China are celebrating 20 years of diplomatic relations in 2008. Warm bilateral ties between the two nations have seen increases in trade and industry in recent years.

Qatar Airways currently operates 21 scheduled flights a week from its hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, to China. The capital Beijing is served four times a week; Shanghai five weekly; Hong Kong daily; and Guangzhou with five flights a week.

In March the airline launched services to the southern industrial port city of Guangzhou. CEO Akbar Al Baker led a delegation on a tour of China, where he officially opened Qatar Airways' new sales and reservations offices in Beijing, Shanghai as well as Guangzhou, rounding off launch activities in Guangzhou, where he briefed a packed press conference on the airline's development in China.

Qatar Airways is one of an elite group of carriers with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry research company. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways' cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007 following a survey of more than 15 million passengers. During the 2007/08 financial year, Qatar Airways expects to have carried around 10 million passengers worldwide. For more information, log onto www.qatarairways.com

Qatar Airways will operate a fleet of 110 aircraft by 2013 – almost double the existing size. During 2007, Qatar Airways ordered 80 Airbus A350s, together with 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s. The airline has ordered five of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbos' for delivery from 2010. Qatar Airways moves to the New Doha International Airport in 2010, when the first phase of the new facility opens. For more information, visit www.ndiaproject.com

The China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, was founded in Beijing in March 1989. The CYDF has devoted itself to the well-being and development of Chinese youth, primarily with regards to education, science and technology, culture, physical education, health, and environmental protection.

The CDYF's main programme, Project Hope, seeks to help China's poverty-stricken rural children continue their schooling. Project Hope has been involved in the building of over 3,000 schools since it was established.

Technorati Tags:
Qatar Airways | Fund Rebuilding Efforts In Earthquake

Bangkok, Thailand (June 19, 2008) /China Newswire/ — June 16th, 2008, nearly 250 participants traveled across Thailand for the foster-care training held by Care for Children at the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok. These people included national social development officials, directors, and social workers. Child welfare protection officials, policy and planning analysts, and psychologists from Social Development and The Bureau of Anti-Trafficking in Women and Children joined the workshop as well.

This conference is not only a pilot training for social-work professionals as international communications, but also a high profile dialogue on policy influence. From the UK, HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO gave a key-note speech at the very beginning, followed by an opening address by Minister of Social Development and a report given by Permanent Secretary of Social Development.

On June 17th, accompanied by Robert Glover, Executive director of Care for Children, Prince Michael's team visited Phythai Babies' Home and foster care programme in Nonthaburi Province and Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. This training conference aims to create a relationship and start potential training by Care for Children in Thailand, enabling the organization to enhance its success in China as a positive influence and further support to the Thai foster-care programme.

After the Pilot training, a team of four senior officials from Thailand will visit Care for Children in Beijing. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security in Thailand will provide guidance on policies and regulations to Care for Children and supervise the process to ensure the success of the cooperation. In addition, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will select and invite the most needy and suitable delegates from institutions or departments across Thailand for further training.

About Care for Children Care for Children facilitates orphaned children leaving institutions and becoming part of loving long-term foster families; a remarkable project that changes and saves lives. Care for Children is registered in China, Hong Kong, UK and the USA and has been working in partnership with the Chinese authorities since 1998.

Care for Children is shaped by the conviction that the long-term benefit to children of loving in a family of their own is of primary concern. This is achieved through the training of social workers and orphanage staff, based on robust professional standards, in a programme that can be replicated across the country. Today, Care for Children is active in over 180 orphanages in 30 provinces, and has placed thousands of children, who have spent their lives in China's state and private orphanages, into foster homes.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Kay Zhang PR & Communications Manager
  Care for Children Beijing Riviera No 1 Xiangjiang North Rd Jing Shun Rd, Chaoyang District Beijing China 100103 kay@careforchildren.com.cn Tel: 86 10 84702735-617; Fax 86 10 8470 2235

Technorati Tags:
Care for Children | foster-care training

Hong Kong, China (May 29, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Beacon brings the Anti-Corruption South Asia Summit to Singapore, following the highly successful Anti-Corruption Asia Summit which was held in Hong Kong at the end of January this year and attended by over 130 in-house counsels from major multinationals and regional companies.

The Singapore event will be held from 9-11 September 2008 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Singapore. It focuses more heavily on the south Asia region, including India. Beacon is delighted to welcome speakers from key organisations in the region.

Confirmed speakers include the senior counsels and compliance specialists from the following companies:

•Baker Hughes
•Covidien (Tyco Healthcare)
•Eaton Corporation
•General Electric
•Hitachi Data Systems
•Pfizer Corporation
•Sun Microsystems

In addition, attendees will hear updates from TRACE International and Transparency International, as well as the anti-corruption authorities of the various jurisdictions.

Anti-Corruption South Asia Summit is proudly sponsored by White & Case, The Red Flag Group and The Integrity Portal.

It is supported by local and international associations, including TRACE International, Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics, Centre for Sustainability and Excellence, Community Business and CSR Asia. It is also supported by online & print media including AsiaInt.com, Asia Monitor, ChinaCSR.com, ChinaNewswire.com, China Sourcing News, Ethics World and Ethisphere.

For latest programme updates and speaker details, please visit www.AntiCorruptionAsia.com.

About Beacon Events
Beacon is an international business services company focused on conferences,
exhibitions and management training. Spun off from the Institute for International
Research's (IIR) Asia team, Beacon has an expanding portfolio of large-scale annual
events. Beacon's approach to business is to cooperate and evolve with our customers to produce the leading annual events in the many business areas we cover. We are known for our highly focused must-attend events and we work with our partners - whether they be industry associations, government organisations, advisory boards or our customers - to become a part of whatever industry we work in. For more info, see www.BeaconEvents.com

For press inquiries, please contact Ben Shek, Marketing Manager of Beacon Events on bshek@BeaconEvents.com.

Technorati Tags:
Anti-Corruption South Asia Summit | Beacon Events

Beijing, China (May 7, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Following the previous tailored training workshop on March 10th - 14th for thirteen project sites, China Social Work Association and Care for Children are going to run a pilot training on attachment and child development. This training will aim to advance delegates understanding on the relationship and influences of attachment towards the fostered child's physiological and physical development. The workshops will be held in the Care for Children Centre, from the 19th - 22nd of May, 2008.

For the foster-care programmes, attachment is a foundational theory for placing institutionalised children into families. The workshop 'Attachment and Child Development' aims to study and utilize the attachment theory, applying it to the foster-care programmes. This will further help us to understand the behaviour of children, so that we can make foster care increasingly successful.

Delegates for the pilot training have been carefully selected and invited from projects all across China. These delegates consist of institute directors from several project sites, and also experienced managers and frontline staff of the foster-care programmes. The workshop will be run with a series of case studies, and there will be chances for discussion between the professional experts.

Following this pilot training, the workshops will be assessed and adjusted, before then being provided for the foster care projects across China.

More info: kay@careforchildren.com.cn

Technorati Tags:
Attachment and Child Development | China Social Work Association | Care for Children

Hong Kong, China (May 7, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Asia's first ever Corporate Ethics & Compliance Asia conference will be held from 27 – 29 May 2008 at Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong. This important and timely conference delivers real-life experiences of in-house counsel and compliance officers on how they have met the challenge of implementing Corporate Ethics & Compliance programmes across Asia Pacific.

Although organisations may pay lip-service to ethics, implementing a raft of Corporate Social Responsibility measures, driving good intentions and policies down to grass-roots level takes planning, commitment and masterful marketing.

•What elements make a Code of Conduct work?
•Why should you audit your compliance programme?
•Where should you focus your energy when conducting risk assessments?
•How to train thousands of employees globally in multiple jurisdictions?
•How to extend your programmes to business partners and throughout your supply chain?

Global leaders and advisors such as White & Case, Deloitte, Swenson Advisors, Corpedia and the Red Flag Group will give you the benefit of their expertise, plus Heads of Compliance and Legal Services from pioneering companies such as:

•AIG
•Hitachi Data Systems
•Shell International
•Sun Microsystems
•Target Corporation
•Zurich Bank

will give you invaluable advice on how to move away from a box-ticking role to that of true business partner.

Apart from the 2 day conference, There will be 2 pre-conference workshops on 27 of May. White & Case will be running the Compliance in China: Emerging Issues, Challenges and the complexity of doing business in the Middle Kingdom; and Forum Asia will focus on Change Management and Influencing Skills.

Corporate Ethics & Compliance Asia is proudly sponsored by Corpedia, Hewlett Packard, Red Flag Group, Swenson Associates, The Integrity Portal and White & Case.

It is supported by local and international associations, including Asia Competition and Compliance Practitioners Forum, Australasian Compliance Institute, Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics, Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies, Centre for Sustainability and Excellence, Community Business, CSR Asia, Ethics & Compliance Officer Association, Future 500, Hong Kong Corporate Counsel Association, Institute of Crisis and Risk Management, Institute of Compliance Officers and World Council for Corporate Governance.

It is also supported by online & print media including AsiaInt.com, Asia Monitor, ChinaCSR.com, China Knowledge, ChinaNewswire.com, China Sourcing News, ethics World and Ethisphere.

For the latest programme update and speaker details, please visit www.EthicsAsia.com.

About Beacon Events
Beacon is an international business services company focused on conferences,
exhibitions and management training. Spun off from the Institute for International
Research's (IIR) Asia team, Beacon has an expanding portfolio of large-scale annual
events. Beacon's approach to business is to cooperate and evolve with our customers to produce the leading annual events in the many business areas we cover. We are known for our highly focused must-attend events and we work with our partners - whether they be industry associations, government organisations, advisory boards or our customers - to become a part of whatever industry we work in. For more info, see www.BeaconEvents.com
For press inquiries, please contact Ben Shek, Marketing Manager of Beacon Events on bshek@BeaconEvents.com.

Technorati Tags:
Corporate Ethics & Compliance Asia conference | Beacon Events

Singapore (May 6, 2008) /China Newswire/ — The Asia Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility 2008 Conference is the capital event for any organization involved in corporate social responsible. The Conference, which will be held on the 9th–11th of July 2008 in Singapore, will be a perfect platform for all CSR involved professionals to meet, discuss and learn from other world leading companies who has blazed the trail for CSR practices.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming a bigger priority to organizations in Asia Pacific. While CSR is not a new concept or practice, it's initiatives in the region is still comparatively young. However, it's now recognized as one of the best ways to enhance a company's position and value and many companies are now increasing their CSR initiatives.

Today's CSR priorities are determined through ethical reasoning rather than governmental or legal requirements. CSR can also be used as a strong risk management tool against shareholder and consumer dissatisfaction. It's now clearly entwined in many multinational organizations' strategic planning process. In fact, 54% of today's business school requires a course in CSR which is a significant jump against 2001's 34%.

Salvo's Asia Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility is specifically designed to meet CSR professional demands to better their initiatives, strengthen their commitments and balance their investments. This event will address project selection, resource allocations, and impact measurements. We have gathered the best CSR practitioners and experts to help you adopt world class CSR initiatives.

Our key speakers will come from the following world class organizations:
University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Boeing International, UAE
Coca-Cola, India
Malaysian Airlines, Malaysia
New Britain Plantation Services, Singapore
PepsiCo International, Thailand
ST Microelectronics, Singapore
Timberland, Singapore
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Information on Asia Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility Conference program can be found at www.apac-csr.com. Do check out this site regularly for the latest updates.

Salvo is a CSR supportive company. The management strongly believes in building a responsible and compassionate company who gives back to the society. As the company grows and prospers, we're happy to contribute a portion of our profits to the community. While our initiatives are much in its infancy level, Salvo has been making monthly immediate impact monetary contributions to causes of choice as of Q3 2007. Salvo hopes to be able to sustain and increase their CSR efforts for larger impact projects in the near future.

Salvo provides cutting edge business knowledge and strategic networking through events like training and Conferences. We organize mainly public corporate event, the attendees are generally senior decision-maker (C-Level, Directors, GMs, Senior Managers, etc) from the larger companies (MNCs or local companies) in the Asia Pacific. Salvo covers Production, Promotion and Delivery of events. Our competences are our acumens in identifying the right topics, our network of Asia-Pacific companies and their decision makers, and our high quality customer service before, during and after events. Visit www.salvoglobal.com for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Ms. Vivian Ho
  Salvo Global
  Tel: 65 6297 8545
  Fax: 65 6336 1716
  Email: vivian@salvoglobal.com

Technorati Tags:
The Asia Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility 2008 Conference | Salvo

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS

Shanghai, China (April 11, 2008) /China Newswire/ — The St. Regis Shanghai presented a RMB16,108 donation to Pudong Special Education School. The donation was raised through the "Delight Your Everyday" Charity Art Exhibition in December last year. Seen in picture: Mr. Chris Tsoi (3rd from right), Hotel Manager of The St. Regis Shanghai presented the check to Ms Huang Hui-juan (2nd from left), representative of Pudong Special Education School.

It is the third year of The St. Regis Shanghai partnering with Pudong Special Education School for annual charity project. "Delight Your Day" was the theme of last year. 20 students who have hearing and speaking disabilities together with 20 St. Regis volunteers worked together through several workshops and created a wonderful selection of "tie-dye"art pieces. All those items of the "Delight Your Everyday" Charity Art Exhibition were displayed for sale at the hotel during the Christmas and New Year season. A total of RMB16,108 was raised during the whole event.

ABOUT ST. REGIS HOTELS & RESORTS
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts includes the most celebrated properties in the world. Founded by John Jacob Astor with the landmark St. Regis Hotel, New York over a century ago, the company will unveil highly anticipated St. Regis properties in Mallorca (2007), Punta Mita, Mexico (2008), Anguilla (2008), Bali (2008), Costa Rica (2008), Mexico City (2008), Atlanta (2009), Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico (2009), Bangkok (2009), Deer Crest (2009), Macao (2009), Bal Harbour, FL (2010), Lhasa (2010), Osaka (2010), Buenos Aires (2010), Baha Mar, The Bahamas (2011), Jakarta (2011), and Tianjin, China (2011) that will further enhance the brand's legacy. Personalized service and amenities, enviable locations and luxuriously localized design are recognized worldwide as hallmarks of the St. Regis experience. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com

ABOUT STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points®, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Joan Pan
  Tel: (86 21) 5050 4567
  Fax: (86 21) 5820 7603
  Email: joan.pan@stregis.com

Technorati Tags:
The St. Regis Shanghai | Pudong Special Education School | Donation

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS

Beijing, China (April 8, 2008) /China Newswire/ — ClubFootball, Beijing's biggest football network, is teaming up with CHINA NOW, the UK's largest ever festival of Chinese culture, to promote grassroots football and give 16 football-loving Beijing youngsters the tour of a lifetime to Britain in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games.

The China Now ClubFootball Exchange is a unique opportunity for children in Beijing to participate in the same after-school and weekend football activities enjoyed by millions of kids in Britain. The Exchange will also allow a select number of children to engage with UK children face-to-face in a series of matches on a UK football tour across England and Scotland.

Commencing in April 2008, at selected areas around Beijing, over 1,000 children aged between 11-16 years will train for three months under the guidance of FA-qualified coaches from the UK. A tournament will take place at the end of May where 16 children will be selected to become Beijing's first grassroots sports ambassadors to Britain with an exciting tour of the country in July 2008 as the special guests of CHINA NOW.

All Beijing boys aged 12-13 who are enrolled in ClubFootball courses in Beijing this Spring will have the chance to win a place on the CHINA NOW tour. The tour will take place in late July and will include training sessions at Charlton FC (captained by Zheng Zhi), visits to Old Trafford (the home of Manchester United), Hampden Park (the home of the Scottish Football Association), lunch at the FA Headquarters, and a series of friendly games against British youngsters. The project is also being supported by the Middle School Times, and, students on the tour will contribute stories and photos about their trip and what they learn about British football culture.

Welcoming the launch of ClubFootball Spring Courses, ClubFootball Chairman Rowan Simons said, "The CHINA NOW ClubFootball Exchange provides a rare chance for ordinary kids to take the centre stage in this Olympic year. By providing young British coaches with the chance to share their love of the game with Chinese kids, the project perfectly suits the growing sporting links between Britain and China at the community level and the true spirit of the Olympic Games".

Speaking about the selection criteria for the CHINA NOW tour, ClubFootball COO David Niven stressed that the aim is to encourage and reward those kids who have most enthusiastically embraced football as part of their regular lives. "In addition to their football skills, the judges will also be considering English language ability, how they work in a team and their sense of fair play. Successful teams at the grassroots level require many different characters with different strengths and all these factors will be considered when we make our final selection in May".

ClubFootball runs courses for kids between 4 and 18 years old at several locations in Beijing and more information can be found at www.wanguoqunxing.com (Chinese) and www.clubfootball.com.cn (English)

CHINA NOW has been welcomed by both the British and Chinese government's, with both Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister and Wen Jiabao, Premier of the People's Republic of China endorsing the initiative.
About ClubFootball:
ClubFootball is Beijing's first joint venture football club and has broken new ground in developing the game of football in China through a variety of high - profile and grass roots projects and initiatives that have earned the company recognition throughout the business, sporting and wider community. http://www.clubfootball.com.cn

About CHINA NOW:
CHINA NOW is an independently funded, non-profit organization which aims to build awareness and forge relationships between artists, cultural leaders, schools, businesses and communities across UK and China by building a vibrant, dynamic festival that showcases the very best aspects of modern Chinese society and culture.

CHINA NOW was conceived by the UK business community and is chaired by Stephen Green, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc. With over 800 events nationwide, CHINA NOW will showcase the very best of modern Chinese society and culture advancing the public’s education and understanding of China and capturing the attention of the UK.

The CHINA NOW website can be viewed at www.chinanow.org.uk

About Middle School Times:
Middles School Times is part of the Beijing Youth Daily group. The newspaper was founded by the Education Committees of Beijing and Tianjin. It is circulated in all of the capital's Middle schools and has the largest circulation for a newspaper of its type. For more information go to: http://zxss.ynet.com

Technorati Tags:
China Now | Clubfootball