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7. How Marriott Bonvoy Is Spearheading Sustainability in Maldives

While there is never a “right-time” to celebrate the planet we live on and all of nature’s abundance, with World Reef Awareness Day, World Environment Day and World Oceans Day all in June, Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of resorts in the Maldives are highlighting and re-engaging conversations around sustainability this month.

Taking care of the environment and oceans and supporting local communities has been a recurring pledge of the Marriott Bonvoy in Maldives. Doing their bit for the environment, the oceans and the community on an ongoing basis, the resorts have been highlighting the importance of conservation with some of these following initiatives:

1.) Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy

Earlier last year, Marriott International launched the program which aspires to shift the way vacations are perceived – from pure leisure to a value-adding opportunity that allows travellers to explore and build deeper connections in local communities.

Conscientious travellers to the Maldives can look forward to include initiatives to continue to eliminate single-use plastics, implementation of reusable glass bottles for water and juices, usage of paper products around the resorts and initiating monthly dives against debris and clean-up days along with various other initiatives to promote the conservation of marine life and awareness of the same.

2.) #PlayWell with Manta Rays

At The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort - located in Baa Atoll, the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives - guests can now get up close and personal with manta rays at one of the world’s largest natural manta feeding destinations. Guests have the rare opportunity to snorkel with the gentle giants at the protected site of Hanifaru Bay just 18 kilometers from the resort. Swim with manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, embark on a turtle snorkel trip, and enjoy two scuba diving sessions - one in the house reef and one in open water.

This year’s Manta season officially started on May 6, 2022, and is expected to continue until early November. With wingspans up to seven-meter, speeds up to 24 kilometers per hour, and cognitive function at par with dolphins, manta rays are indeed one of the most majestic creatures in the ocean.

Classed as vulnerable, the Maldivian government added all ray species to the list of protected species, which also strengthens the country's reputation as a leader in marine conservation and promotes valuable, sustainable tourism based around manta populations. By connecting people to mantas, the mantas’ chances of survival will increase.

3.) The “Adopt A Coral” Initiative

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa invites guests to participate in the fun and interactive coral-fragment plantation activity in an effort to promote reef habitats and generate new coral. The resort has teamed up with Reefscapers, a coral propagation organisation appointed by the Maldivian government as custodians of the coral colonies in the Gulhi Falhu lagoon which was slated to be destroyed as part of a reclamation project. The activity is led by experts and offers a hands-on experience to participants while also providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose sole previous source of employment was fishing. The resort witnessed coral spawning in December 2021, a milestone in the resort’s coral propagation initiative that started in February 2020. To date, over 6,000 coral fragments from 15 different species of corals have been transplanted.

The resort also runs its own ‘water bottling plant initiative’ as part of the resort’s sustainability program that is dedicated to removing large amounts of plastic bottles from the resort. This initiative is an important aspect of the property’s commitment to protecting and preserving their environment through day-to-day operation, encompassing Marriott International’s wider “Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction” campaign.

4.) Sustainability through Fashion with Mazu Resortwear

W Maldives has partnered with cutting-edge Hong Kong swimwear label Mazu Resortwear to create two exclusive prints with a bold message in mind. Made out of 12 salvaged plastic bottles, the limited edition swimwear collection is stealing the scene in style and is inspired by the team’s commitment to saving the ocean. The luxury playground also routinely runs beach clean-up drives and lagoon cleaning initiatives.

5.) Standing Vocal for Local

Marriott International is committed to supporting local communities and embracing local businesses for sustainability. JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa uses Island Apothecary products – made from local natural ingredients, in some of the signature couple treatments at Spa by JW. This initiative supports women-run businesses in the community as each bottle is mixed, bottled and shipped straight from the island homes. The resort also uses locally sourced fresh catch in their restaurants and handmade tipi tents to bring to life the FAMiLY by JW experience in villas for kids. The resort team regularly schedules lagoon cleaning and island cleaning initiatives with associates, and has the same planned in the month of June as well.

For more information, please visit: https://www.marriott.com/en/destinations/maldives.mi.