Pulse October 2016 | Page 39

make for an ideal home for them. Working with Wildcare Australia Inc., along with a specialized consultant, allowed TRACY WILLIS • Marketing and Public Relations Director • Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat • Queensland, Australia us to translocate rescued koalas and an echidna into our property. To support Wildcare Australia Inc., we created a guest donation program wherein guests may contribute a small amount from their stay to the nonprofit wildlife organization. How do you determine which cause very few ecotourism-certified spas and recognized as “Best Eco Spa” by the 2015 Asia Spa Awards. or charity to support? Over the years, Gwinganna has given thousands of dollars in donations to various health-related charities, including several major packages to the ISPA Foundation Live & Silent Auctions. The opportunity to support something so relevant to the land we occupy, made our support to Wildcare Australia an easy decision. Gwinganna is one of the Which marketing drives helped encourage guests to take part of your giving back programs? As part of our newest initiative, part of the proceeds from every sold recipe book goes directly to Wildcare Australia. We included a charity logo and information about the initiative in the new recipe book. In addition, during our past two staff Christmas events, all donations received for raffles were matched dollarfor-dollar by Gwinganna which was also donated to Wildcare Australia. It is important that our guests understand our environmental commitment and where the money we collect goes, so we have various efforts in place. This includes a feature section in the welcome presentation to all guests, ongoing website content and a newsletter that includes photos of the rescued animals and a video of their release. Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa Social Cause: Children’s Mental Health and Meditation Education Nonprofit Organization: NGO Mente Viva (Mind Alive) Learn More: menteviva.org DR. MARIELA SILVEIRA • Medical Director • Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa • Gramado, Brazil Which social cause does your company passionately support? Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa supports NGO Mente Viva (Mind Alive), a nonprofit organization which I cofounded in 2007. Its mission is to promote the culture of peace through meditation among children in public schools. A research conducted in October 2016 ■ PULSE 37