Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney will participate in the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout for the second time on Thursday, 20 June 2013.  Franz Donhauser, the general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, will lead by example when he experiences what it is like to be homeless for one night.

Mr. Donhauser participated in the 2012 Vinnies CEO Sleepout and successfully raised over $12,000 for the homeless community in Australia.

"I was very proud of our fundraising contribution last year and we hope to surpass this amount when my peers and I head to the cold streets again," said Mr. Donhauser.  As providers of some of the best luxury accommodations in Sydney, we want to do all that we can to ensure as many people as possible have a warm bed to sleep in and a good night's rest."

More than 100,000 Australians find themselves homeless every night.  Each year, an increasing number of Australia's leading CEOs sleep out in support of the St. Vincent de Paul Society's services for the homeless.  This year, Mr. Donhauser will join leaders from other top companies around Australia to participate in the society's events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Launceston and Darwin.

With the support of Tourism Accommodation Australia in NSW, Mr. Donhauser is encouraging other leaders in the hospitality industry to support the event and help raise funds for homeless people in Australia.

This year's event will focus on raising awareness of homelessness in Australia and promote the concept that CEOs can truly make a difference by investing in someone's future.  The 2013 Vinnies CEO Sleepout aims to add to the A$13 million the event has already raised for the homeless community, along with Mr. Donhauser's fundraising goal of A$12,000.

All money raised through the sponsorship of participants goes directly towards the ongoing provision of St. Vincent's services for the homeless across the country.

To learn more about the 2013 Vinnies CEO Sleepout, please visit www.ceosleepout.org.au.  To donate directly to Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney's fundraising drive, please visit http://www.ceosleepout.org.au/ceos/nsw-ceos/franz-donhauser.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts remains committed to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner while balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders.  In striving to be a leader in corporate citizenship and sustainable development, a corporate-level CSR Committee drives the company's initiatives in the strategic areas of stakeholder relations, environment, health and safety, supply chain and employees.  Under the umbrella of sustainability, Shangri-La's social responsibility programme consists of the two elements of "embrace" and "sanctuary."  Embrace focuses on Shangri-La's Caring People Project, which aims to promote the highest level of education and health support in underprivileged communities.  In sanctuary, the programme concentrates on Shangri-La's Care for Nature Project, which promotes the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.  For more information, please access the CSR section on www.shangri-la.com.

PRESS CONTACT:              
Jessica Somers

Director of Communications

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

Tel: (61 2) 9250 6151

Fax: (61 2) 9250 6116

E-mail: Jessica.somers-haggie@shangri-la.com

Website: www.shangri-la.com

For digitised pictures of the group's hotels, please go to http://www.shangri‑la.com/imagelibrary.