Gala Dinner Raises Over $10,000 for Sala Bai’s New Training School for Young Cambodians!

Heritage Suites hosted its 2nd Charity Gala Dinner for Sala Bai with Celebrity Chef Luu Meng and raised over $10,000 for the building of its new school
Heritage Suites Hotel in Siem Reap held its 2^nd Charity Gala Dinner and Auction for Sala Baï Hotel & Restaurant School’s extension project last Friday, March 21^st 2014. The event featured the country’s Top Chef Luu Meng, supported by Heritage’s Executive Chef Boun Vibol and highlighted Cambodia’s acclaimed Best World Rice campaign. The event raised USD 10,000 net.
Claude Colombié, Director of Sala Baï, commented “It has been such a successful event, exceeding by far our expectations! We feel really proud to have such wonderful partners by our side! On behalf of all our students and team here in Siem Reap, millions of thanks to the Heritage Suites team, to Chef Luu Meng and the sponsors of the event for their great dedication. Having organized so many events in my professional life, I should say that this one will remain very special to me, not only because of Sala Baï, but also because of the genuine kindness and commitment of all who participated and supported us! “L’envie de faire plaisir”… “

Sala Bai Director Claude Colombié with Architect Claire, Photo by Stéphane De Greef

To further combat human trafficking and reduce poverty, Sala Bai aims to increase the number of students by 50% in 2016 while preserving the current ratio of young female students (70%). The expansion of Sala Bai: January 2014 – July 2015: Property Acquisition & Construction Work; September 2015: Increase of the number of students, reaching 110; addition of the Beauty Therapy Training; September 2016: 30 more students. Total of 150.

Cambodia’s Top Chef Luu Meng with Sous Chef Sophal alongwith Heritage Executive Chef Vibol and team, Photo by Stéphane De Greef

As Cambodia’s most celebrated chef, Luu Meng is passionate about creating career opportunities for the younger generation. “I am very thankful to Sala Baï for creating such an inspirational project for the Cambodian people. It was a true pleasure to work alongside Chef Vibol and his team and I admire Heritage Suites for their dedication. Our teams of the Malis & Thalias group will always support Sala Baï‘s cause and actions in helping Cambodians youth to get out of extreme poverty. These youths will become the actors of the economic development of our country.”

Charity Gala Dinner & Auction for Sala Bai with Dean Williams, Photo by Stéphane De Greef

Heritage Suites Hotel is strongly committed to support Sala Baï in educating underprivileged young Cambodians in the hospitality industry. It shares their vision of fighting human trafficking through vocational training. This is what drives the hotel’s active training and hiring of the students as well as its fundraising events and awareness campaigns. Magnus Olovson, General Manager, explains the reason for his commitment:  “The little Sala Bai School has simply captured our hearts and souls through its commitment, tuition quality, consistency, humanity and performance.” More than 75% of the hotel’s employees in the restaurant, kitchen, housekeeping and front office departments were trained at Sala Baï Hotel & Restaurant School in Siem Reap.

Source: https://www.heritagesuiteshotel.com/gala-dinner-raises-over-10000-for-sala-bais-new-training-school-for-young-cambodians/