Last month, the ATS launched a new program with Hilton hotels, offering complimentary hotel stays for members working with COVID-19 patients. Members can book up to seven nights in a row via the member portal.

The American Thoracic Society has long-standing relationships with many hotels from years of conferences around the country. When the pandemic began, a number of hotels reached out to the ATS Meeting Services department to share that they were putting discount programs into place. Hilton leadership and Meeting Services Senior Director Emily Catanzaro discussed taking the hotel discounts a step further and making free rooms available to first responders.

”Shortly after the COVID-19 breakout, Hilton’s CEO, Chris Nassetta, and American Express committed to donating one million free hotel rooms to frontline workers. Since the American Thoracic Society supports the medical efforts during this pandemic, I was able to have ATS members added to their donation list,” Emily said. “Frank Passanante, senior vice president, Hilton Worldwide Sales-Americas, and Matthew Stumpf, assistant managing director of Sales, are incredible partners to the ATS and played a large part in making this happen.”

Hilton Hotels and American Express are donating a million rooms to frontline workers at zero cost to the ATS. In typical years, Hilton hotels are a headquarters hotel for the ATS international conference.