Good Travel With Marriott Bonvoy Program Offers Meaningful Experiences in Asia Pacific
Coral Planting at The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa in Japan. Deteriorating conditions in the oceans surrounding Okinawa has resulted in coral bleaching and the death of coral over the years. Coral planting offers guests the opportunity to learn about coral seeding, a coral reef restoration method. The experience includes a lecture on coral ecology followed by hands-on coral seeding in the lagoon. Following the workshop, guests will receive email updates from the hotel with photos of the coral they’ve planted.
The global pandemic not only influences our current ability to travel internationally, but it is also influencing what we consider important when planning future travel. “Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy” aims to create a more meaningful travel experience by fostering first-hand connections with local communities and the environment. The goal is to help travelers create a more positive impact on the destinations they visit through cultural understanding and positive actions.
The program will be hosted at 15 Marriott hotels across the Asia Pacific region and offer curated purpose driven experiences that focus on environmental protection, community engagement, and marine conservation. Examples of activities include mangrove conservation in Fiji, coral transplanting and restoration in Okinawa and Maldives, beach cleanups in Sanya and Busan, and food redistribution in Bali.
Turtle Shelter at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in Thailand invites guests to join a tour of the turtle shelter located within the premises of the hotel, which is part of the National Reserve at Mai Khao Beach in collaboration with a dedicated Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation team. Guests will learn about sea turtles, environmental issues that impact their survival, and how to take care of turtles. In addition, a turtle release event is held once a year where around 40 turtles are released during the Songkran holidays.
"One of the growing trends we're observing is how conscious guests are of their personal impact on the destinations they visit. The launch of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy aspires to shift the way vacations are perceived – from pure leisure to value-adding opportunities to learn more about the natural environment and forge new connections with the local community," said Bart Buiring, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Marriott International Asia Pacific. "Our ambition is to expand the program to most of our Asia Pacific leisure destinations over time, and be ready to welcome guests with meaningful travel experiences once travel returns."
The 15 Hotels for the Pilot Good Travel with Marriot Bonvoy include:
The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong
W Guangzhou
The Sanya EDITION
Sheraton Grand Zhengzhou Hotel
Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung
JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa
W Bali – Seminyak
Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway
The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa,
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
The Westin Denarau Island Resort Fiji
Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach
To learn more about the new program, visit www.marriottbonvoyasia.com/goodtravel.
Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy