Fight Malaria From the Lap of Luxury

For the last couple days, news headlines around the world have been all swine flu, all the time — which somewhat overshadowed World Malaria Day this past Saturday.

Sure, a potential pandemic is enough to make us all, um, sweat like pigs … but malaria is responsible for killing nearly a million people every year, the majority of which are young children in Africa. Reducing the spread of this disease by using malaria nets is pretty straightforward, but at $10 each, they're way beyond the means of many African families. (Shameless plug: Buy a Tonic Net Tee — make an impact against malaria and look good!)

Making a dent in those malaria numbers doesn't necessarily take traditional fundraising. The Luxury Collection — Starwood's group of uber-indulgent hotels like Venice's Gritti Palace and Danieli — recently launched an initiative for guests to help prevent the disease by simply staying at one of its hotels. When you book a room as part of the Collection's chain wide "We Invite You To Linger" package, a donation will be made to UNICEF and its efforts to both treat and prevent malaria around the world.

The promotion applies to the Luxury Collection's American properties, like the Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis and Scottsdale's Phoenician, so you can simultaneously relax and give back not too far from home. But it's also a great way to justify a long distance trip to somewhere far away and exotic, like Mumbai, where you can help raise money as you're luxuriating at the ITC Maratha (pictured). Of course, India is also an area with substantial rates of malaria, so a stay there with this package seems like a particularly good choice.

Still wondering where the "linger" part of the package's name comes in? When you book a room under this promotion, The Luxury Collection will throw in a free hotel night with every two, three, or four night stay. So you can help fight malaria, stay somewhere swanky and get a great deal? Pack your bags!

For more information, go to www.starwoodhotels.com.