How is RIU Hotels driving child education in the Bahamas and Jamaica through its Proudly Committed strategy?
RIU partners with local organizations to provide literacy, STEM, and nutrition programs for 270+ children across Grant's Town Nassau and Montego Bay centers.
Photo by RIU
RIU Hotels & Resorts launched two new social projects in Nassau (Bahamas) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) on March 3, 2026. These initiatives, part of their Proudly Committed sustainability strategy, focus on literacy, STEM education, and nutrition for over 270 children and youth in the Caribbean.
What does RIU’s first social collaboration in the Bahamas entail?
For the first time, the hotel chain has established a social alliance in the Bahamas with the non-profit organization Lend a Hand Bahamas (LAHB). This initial three-year project is based at the Grant’s Town community center in Nassau.
The program is designed to transform the future of more than 200 children and young people (ages 5 to 18). Intervention areas include literacy, STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), socio-emotional workshops, and culinary arts.
How is RIU strengthening its educational support in Jamaica?
In Jamaica, the company has consolidated its sponsorship of the academic intervention program at the Wested Educational Centre in Montego Bay. This center provides comprehensive support to students from over 12 local schools who require academic reinforcement.
The collaboration stands out for its holistic approach, combining reading and math tutoring with a vital nutrition component (daily meals) and digital learning through the use of tablets. Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Melissa, the center has ensured school retention through personalized mentoring.
Social Impact Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
|
Indicator |
Bahamas Detail |
Jamaica Detail |
|---|---|---|
|
Strategic Partner |
Lend a Hand Bahamas (LAHB) |
Wested Educational Centre |
|
Location |
Grant’s Town, Nassau |
Montego Bay |
|
Direct Beneficiaries |
+200 children and youth |
77 students |
|
Main Focus Areas |
STEM, Literacy, Culinary Arts |
Academic reinforcement, Nutrition |
|
Duration/Status |
3-year alliance |
Consolidated and active project |
|
Technology |
Engineering workshops |
Tablets and digital learning |
Key Quote: These actions are the result of the “RIU Method”, a proprietary social investment system that prioritizes health, education, and child protection based on positive impact and relevance criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the RIU Method? It is the social investment model used by RIU Hotels & Resorts that prioritizes health, education, child protection, and biodiversity projects in the destinations where it operates.
Which RIU hotels are located in these destinations? RIU features flagship properties such as Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island in the Bahamas and several resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
How many organizations does RIU collaborate with globally? Currently, the chain works with a network of over 90 partner organizations worldwide to maximize its social and environmental impact.
About RIU Hotels & Resorts
The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 74% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has 98 hotels in 21 countries. In 2024, the chain welcomed 6,7 million guests and provided jobs for a total of 38.055 employees. RIU is currently the world's 40th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, and the fourth largest in Spain in number of rooms.
For further information please visit: www.riu.com.