Hotelier with Malta links runs charity in Russia

German-born Thomas Noll, the former general manager of the Selmun Palace Hotel and for four years general manager of the Corinthia Nevsky Palace Hotel in St Petersburg, is running a charity for Russian orphans based at the Grand Hotel Europe, one of St Petersburg's most luxurious hotels, of which he has been general manager since 2005.

The Grand Hotel Europe Charity Foundation is no ordinary charity; it is indeed a pro-active one as it provides University education for 10 orphans. They are employed in various departments of the hotel and the charity helps to renovate their accommodation if necessary.

The foundation also runs regular programmes for younger children at three orphanages, providing music teachers, while heads of the Grand Hotel's various departments talk to them about opportunities in the hotel industry.

But how does the charity raise money?

Mr Noll told the Financial Times in a recent interview: "Seven per cent of the revenue from our top 100 customers and three per cent from the next 200 goes into the charity. Once a year I hold a gala event and auction for the top 100. It keeps everyone excited to see if they are invited".

Another fund-raising source is the Russian Christmas market, which he founded four years ago. Every day a celebrity paints an oil painting for auction. Last year, Vladimir Putin made a painting, raising about €2 million.

Mr Noll, 48, has been involved in charity work since 1985, when he opened a hotel in Kenya.