Chinese Marriotts Black Out for Earth Hour

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On March 30, 2018, 24 Marriott International hotels in the Hainan area of Sanya, China, went dark for one hour in support of Earth Hour (8:30 pm local time), a movement to shed light on climate change.

Some of the day’s activities included: 

  • Le Meridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & spa lit a bonfire featuring a bamboo dance, beach crab hunting and a live concert.
  • A soap making class at the Westin  Shimei Bay Resort, wherein all materials were recycled from the white tea aloe soap found in the hotel’s guest rooms. The hotel also hosted a Healthy Run 1.5 km evening running event.
  • Sanya Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay screened environmentally-themed movies in the garden and invited guests to partake in a wish-making activity with lotus lanterns.
  • The Shanhaitian Resort Sanya, Autograph Collection hosted a themed buffet dinner.
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Haikouis went “dark” in its restaurant, with a candlelit dining area and a performance at the Flair bar on the hotel’s top floor.
  • Renaissance Haikou Resort & Spa invited guests to the lobby during Earth Hour with a themed cocktail.
  • The Ritz-Carlton Sanya Yalong Baywill’s presented a five-element menu of water, fire, wood, earth and metal, crafted by Daniele Vacca, chef de cuisine of Sofia Italian restaurant.
  • Shenzhou Peninsula Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhou Peninsula Resort held a beach cleaning activity and crafted a 60+ symbol sand sculpture, followed by a ceremony to turn the lights off and a concert with a non-alcohol cocktail hour.
  • The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya Marriott Yalong Bay Resort & Spa, Sheraton Sanya Bay Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Hainan, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort, Xiangshui Bay Marriott Resort & Spa all invited guests to a moonlight concert by offering themed cocktails and special snacks.

The event included an additional local charity donation initiative for Hainan; on March 24, 2018, a portion of lunch and dinner sales from any of the Marriott International hotels’ restaurants were donated to Sanya Bright Connection, a non-profit supporting children with autism and cerebral palsy.

"It's a privilege for us to support Earth Hour because it echoes Marriott International's global focus on the environment" said Denise Naguib, vice president of sustainability and supplier diversity. "Today, business plays a critical role in taking on our world's most pressing social and environmental issues, including climate change. Earth Hour reflects a philosophy we aim to practice year-round through our sustainability & social impact platform, Serve 360."

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