With Earth Day approaching on April 22, travel brands are highlighting sustainable experiences and programs. Below are recent initiatives from several hotel and resort groups focused on environmental stewardship and community benefit.
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa
This boutique property in St. Barth has strengthened its sustainability efforts across dining and marine conservation. The 44-room hotel recently introduced a zero-waste culinary concept at its beachfront restaurant AMIS, designed to minimize food waste through careful menu planning, preservation techniques and ingredient reuse. Le Barthélemy also expanded its partnership with Coral Restoration St. Barth and now offers interactive, guided dives that allow guests to learn about and participate in coral restoration work.
© Sandals Resorts International
Sandals Resorts
The Jamaican, family-owned all-inclusive brand works with its philanthropic arm, Sandals Foundation, on large-scale environmental and food-security projects. A Trees for Life initiative aims to plant more than 500 food-bearing trees across the Caribbean, building on the foundation’s longer-term work that has already resulted in thousands of trees planted. Sandals sources over 90 percent of its produce and poultry from local farms at many resorts, and has begun establishing composting sites at select properties to reduce waste and support on-site gardens and local agriculture.
WorldMark by Wyndham
WorldMark by Wyndham is rolling out a Planting Seeds environmental education program focused on urban permaculture and community food resources. The program will debut workshops at WorldMark Portland Waterfront Park that introduce guests to small-scale urban farming techniques and sustainable gardening practices. Workshops are complimentary for guests, and any surplus produce grown during the program will be donated to a local community-supported agriculture (CSA) initiative, reinforcing the connection between tourism, local food systems and hunger relief.