Limousine drivers, who picked up and dropped passengers at the Sheraton Hotel, received free iftar boxes as the management's way of sharing during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The Sheraton Hotel in Riyadh, which belongs to the Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is celebrating the holy month of Ramadan by sharing through its Iftar for Cabs initiative,” said Paul Dunphy, Sheraton Hotel GM.

Earlier, the hotel gave 80 free iftar boxes to children whose ages ranged from 7 to 17, Dunphy said, adding that the children are orphans under the custody of the local government.

“This initiative is our way of appreciating the cab drivers who support our hotels throughout the world by providing transportation services to our guests,” he added.

Guido de Wilde, SVP and regional director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East, said: “Iftar for Cabs represents the spirit of Ramadan and we are extremely proud of our hotel's teams who come together for this initiative every year and go that extra step to give back to the community.”

The iftar initiative, which is the idea of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has been running since 2010 and has since become an annual tradition for many cab drivers throughout the region. Last year, Starwood delivered over 3,000 iftar packs to cab drivers across the region.

“Catering teams at each hotel prepare the packs, which include a diverse selection of food and beverage items. Associates from across various departments within the hotels, including catering, administration and guest services join forces on the Iftar for Cabs initiative,” De Wilde added.

This initiative has been widely appreciated by its hotel owners, the community and local transport authorities, he said.

The group currently operates eight of its nine renowned international brands in the Middle East.