A new pilot program allowing travellers to participate in a range of social and environmental initiatives to get more from their stay has been launched by Marriott International’s loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy.
The ‘Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy’ program features three separate levels that guests can opt to join at their discretion.
- Environmental Protection – aims to support the resiliency of the natural environment because of environmental degradation, pollution and climate change.
- Community Engagement – aims to create a positive impact in the communities where Marriott hotels operate through cultural education or volunteerism
- Marine Conservation – aims to restore and preserve marine ecosystems and species.
Currently, 15 Marriott International hotels in the Asia-Pacific have signed up to the program, each providing access to their own social initiatives either on-site or located nearby.
Activities and programs that guests can get involved with include mangrove conservation at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, coral transplanting at The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa, beach clean-ups at The Sanya Edition, food redistribution at W Bali – Seminyak and more, the initiatives offer a feel-good factor to guests who can continue their journey knowing they left a positive and meaningful impact during their stay.
Marriott International Asia Pacific Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Bart Buiring, said the company was in a strong position to provide meaningful experiences at home and abroad and partnering with travellers to forge a positive change.
“One of the growing trends we’re observing is how conscious guests are of their personal impact on the destinations they visit, Buiring said.
“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 between guests, associates, and the local community.”
Marriott associates, employees and guests collectively donated over 85,000 hours in 2020, working on local initiatives to help local communities in which resorts are located. The new Travel for Good initiative falls under the company’s wider ‘Serve 360: Doing Good In Every Direction’ ecosystem where the company pledges to make a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business.