American Airlines, Hyatt hotels offer free vacations to NYC healthcare workers

New York City healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus battle are being treated to complimentary vacations courtesy of American Airlines and Hyatt hotels. More than 4,000 employees at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens will get three-day trips to a variety of destinations in the US and the Caribbean once COVID-19 subsides and they're able to take time off, the two companies said Friday. Doctors, nurses, physician assistants and even food-service workers are among those receiving the thank-you gift. “We are extremely grateful to Hyatt and American Airlines for this generous gift to our healthcare workers, who have been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Israel Rocha, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals' Elmhurst facility. American says this is the carrier's largest ever donation of flights to a single cause. “Every worker at Elmhurst has seen and experienced challenges many of us cannot imagine," American Airlines president Robert Isom said. "They’ve given so much of themselves and chose to serve their community with care, compassion and equity for every patient." Both Hyatt and American are encouraging members of their loyalty clubs to donate points so more health workers can be given free trips.<br/>