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."
