Hospitality group Accor, which is a shareholder of Mantis Collection, took early steps to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as such, has now launched the ALL Heartist Fund to benefit its employees.

Accor allocated 25% of its planned dividend (€70 million) to launch the fund, which will assist the group’s 300 000 employees with coronavirus-related benefits for those without medical insurance.

The ALL Heartist Fund will also help furloughed employees experiencing financial distress and individual partners facing financial difficulty. As part of his own contribution to the fund, Chairman and CEO of Accor, Sebastien Bazin, decided to forego 25% of his compensation during the crisis, with the cash equivalent being contributed to the fund. Board members collectively decided to reduce their attendance fees by 20% to the benefit of the fund.

“Welcoming, protecting and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do. In light of the urgency and the scale of the situation, we have decided to act in an immediate and meaningful way, in the spirit of our values and commitments,” said Bazin.

“As our industry is going through tough times, we have to make tough decisions, but Accor has a strong balance sheet, which will enable it to withstand this crisis and emerge with strength during the recovery period. I am confident that Accor will soon rediscover the road to growth.”

The ALL Heartist Fund complements some of the initiatives that have been spearheaded by a number of hotels throughout the Middle East and Africa, including Mantis eco-escapes in South Africa, which have also distributed bars of soap and hygiene equipment to surrounding communities.