JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa To Introduce Purpose-Driven Environmental Protection Experience as Part of ‘Good Travel With Marriott Bonvoy’

Against the backdrop of the global pandemic, and with travelers increasingly aspiring to make a positive impact on the communities they visit whether locally or abroad, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa introduces the Turtle Shelter, as part of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa joins 14 other Marriott International properties across Asia Pacific as part of the program’s pilot launch.

Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy is a program offering meaningful travel across Asia Pacific, aiming to create opportunities for guests to forge first-hand connections with local communities and the environment during their stay, promoting both cultural understanding and positive change.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is nestled on Mai Khao Beach, next to Sirinat National Park, which is where leatherback sea turtles come to nest and lay eggs. As custodians of this land, the resort understands that it has a responsibility to protect these endangered reptiles.

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The Turtle Shelter is a dedicated facility at the property, operated in partnership with the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Rehabilitation & Education Center and Phuket Marine Biology Center, which helps to care for the turtles that are disable and injured on Mai Khao Beach. Hotel guests can visit the shelter, learn about the turtles’ life-cycle, observe feeding sessions and be educated about the environmental issues that impact their survival.

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The resort’s turtle mascot, Nong Ta Wahn, is on-hand meet and greet guests and all visitors will receive a turtle bracelet made by the local community. The hotel has also created plenty of turtle-themed features around the resort, especially at the kid’s club and pool, and guests can take part in turtle towel-folding classes!

The 16th Mai Khao Turtle Run is taking place virtually this year, to raise awareness of the project. The overall aim is to deliver meaningful experiences for every guest, which raise awareness about the plight of leatherback sea turtles and support their conservation, while also working with the local community and generating benefits for the entire area.

Every year during Songkran Festival, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa together with Mai Khao Marine Turtle Rehabilitation & Education Center organize an annual “Sea Turtles Release Ceremony”. The aim of this event is to release fully recovered turtles back to their natural habitat in the ocean.

“One of the growing trends we’re observing is how conscious people are of their personal impact on the environment and the destinations they visit,” said George Varughese, General Manager, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa.

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“The Turtle Shelter offered at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa provides an excellent opportunity for our guests to connect with nature, allowing them to give back while staying with us. We are excited to launch the Turtle Shelter as part of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy and look forward to bringing truly meaningful travel to our guests at home, or from abroad once international travel resumes.”

The experience is complimentary for hotel guest, who can make a booking through this link.

As of launch time, Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy features 15 meaningful experiences across three distinct pillars – environmental protection, community engagement and marine conservation.