Meetings benefit soldiers

Lakeway Resort and Spa has launched a charitable incentive program for meeting planners to book their meetings at the Austin-area Dolce Resort and improve the lives of returning soldiers. The resort has teamed up with the U.S. Army Bass Anglers in support of the organization Returning Heroes Home. The organization has been working to raise $1.5 million to construct a new Warrior Family & Support Center to help meet the emotional and physical needs of wounded heroes of all military service backgrounds.

“With Ft. Hood, one of the largest military bases, as our neighbor, our staff has come to truly understand the sacrifice that these men give for their country with each year of service. At a time when every dollar is watched closely and cost cutting is the norm, worthwhile programs are often lost in the shuffle of low business levels,” says General Manager Stephen Bello. “This program will allow us to partner with other organizations through strategic meetings, an already established initiative for their company’s success, and feasibly make a difference.”

Starting this month and running through the end of 2010, all clients who mention the promotional code “HERO” in the booking process will be able to make two different contributions in their organization’s name to the program. Based on a meeting with 10 guestrooms or more, and keeping with the resort’s “On the Lake” culture, complete bass fishing tackle will be donated to the heroes for recreational use. For meetings with more than 25 guestrooms, a donation of 2.5 percent of rooms revenue will be donated to the efforts to build the support center.

Conference facilities at the 174 guestroom conference center total 24,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space, including 17 meeting rooms, with 12 breakout rooms, and four large ballrooms ranging from 4,000 – 5,800 square feet.

For information on the organization and what they are doing to better the lives of “Wounded Warriors” or to make individual contributions, please visit Returningheroeshome.org or Lakewayresortandspa.com .