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With the recent introduction of direct flights from Air Vistara and the relaunch of Air Mauritius from Delhi, India has positioned itself as a strong seasonal market for JW Marriott Mauritius Resort.
According to Sydney Pierre, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, Mauritius Franchise, India represents approximately 5% of their mix of guests at the resort year-round. “This is subject to increase by up to 10% during the season,” he said.
JW Marriott Mauritius Resort has positioned itself as a luxurious, picturesque retreat with a plethora of guest suites, from the Manor House Spa Suites to the expansive, ultra-luxe Grand Beachfront Villa.
Situated on the southwestern side of the island, the resort is set against a backdrop of the majestic Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by protected coral reefs and lush vegetation, immerse in the heart of authentic Mauritian culture. Pure Spa is a sanctuary of relaxation to unwind while discretely enjoying a moment in Serene Spaces.
In the pre-Covid times, the property organised 60-65 nuptials. With the revival of the trend of grand scale weddings, the property projects hitting the 80-100 wedding mark this year. It further aims to exponentially increase wedding share, boosting various sectors and driving demand for accommodations, transport, local artisans, event planners, florists, photographers, and more.
“The century-old, colonial-style JW Marriott Mauritius Resort extends timeless luxury in a place where guests can feel mindful and present, and personalised service is paramount,” said Pierre. “Guests are welcome to explore the wonder of the night sky with personalised Stargazing,” he said, adding, “They can also embark on a culinary journey around the world with five distinctive restaurants and discover the clear waters by kayaking through the turquoise lagoon and swimming with dolphins.”
With sustainability forming the core of the hotel’s brand strategy, the resort has been consciously working towards environmental consciousness, incorporating the best practices and involving the local communities.
“It is our commitment to creating positive social, environmental, and economic impacts,” said Pierre, enlisting the key practices. According to him, the keyways in which sustainability is at the heart of Marriott Mauritius brand strategy include environmental practices, certifications and standards, local engagement, guest education, cultural preservation, sustainable cuisine, employee engagement and partnerships and collaborations.
“JW Marriott Mauritius incorporates eco-friendly practices throughout its operations. This includes energy-efficient lighting and appliances, water conservation measures, waste reduction and recycling programs, and sustainable guest experiences, like dry amenities, local sourcing, etc,” he said.
On certifications, Pierre shared that JW Marriott Mauritius is currently pursuing the implementation of the Green Key Certification to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. “Achieving these certifications prominently reinforces the brand’s sustainable identity to guests,” he explained.
Local engagement and cultural preservation are two key areas for giving back to the land and its people. Pierre shared that JW Marriott Mauritius actively engages with the local community for sourcing products and services locally to support the regional economy, provides job opportunities to locals, and collaborates with community projects and charities.
“We promote local culture, heritage, and traditions, and support cultural preservation through promoting local art, music, and crafts, or organising activities,” he avered.
To ensure that the guests are senstised and informed of the practices, JW Marriott Mauritius has a programme in place. “At JW Marriott Mauritius, we feel it is important to educate the guests about our efforts and encourage them to participate in eco-friendly practices during their stay. We do it by providing information on conservation, responsible water usage, and responsible tourism activities,” he explained.
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy will feature SaffronStays’ homes in approximately 20+ markets across India, including Alibaug, Lonavala, Pawna, Kamshet, Mahabaleshwar, Karjat, Nashik, Igatpuri, Ranikhet, Chail, Manali, Dehradun, Ooty, with many more to come. Before being added to the Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, SaffronStays’ rental properties were audited and reviewed by Marriott International to meet the company’s high standards for regulation, design, and amenities.
Sustainability, for JW Marriott Mauritius, is not limited to guests. It is ingrained in the hotel’s corporate culture, said Pierre. “Our associates receive training and empowerment to help ensure that they are aligned with the sustainability objectives of the brand,” he said.
The brand also collaborates with other businesses and organisations that share similar sustainability values, so as to amplify the hotel’s impact. This includes partnering with NGOs, suppliers, or participating in industry-wide sustainability programmes.
“JW Marriott Mauritius along with its sister hotels (Le Meridien Ile Maurice & Westin turtle By Resort & Spa, Mauritius) is redefining sustainable travel by taking a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional green practices. Our commitment to sustainability is evident in the following practices that set it apart from other brands,” said Pierre.
For the same, the brand has employed various practices that set it apart from the other brands to work towards a sustainable future. These practices include: a regenerative approach, carbon reduction, zero-waste initiatives, sustainable sourcing, biodiversity conservation, empowerment of local communities, education and awareness, innovative technologies and forging partnerships for impact
“Our hotels go beyond merely being eco-friendly, they adopt a regenerative approach to sustainability,” said Pierre. “This means actively working to restore and enhance the local environment and communities rather than just minimising negative impacts. The hotel engages in marine conservation projects, and community development initiatives,” he added.
According to Pierre, the brand hotels have implemented rigorous measures to reduce its carbon footprint significantly and the group is working towards investing in renewable energy sources and any remaining emissions are offset through verified carbon offset projects.
The report by Collinson highlights a significant shift in consumer perception, with 76 per cent of Asia Pacific respondents valuing brand experiences as crucial as products or services. This reflects the preferences of the customers seeking hyper-personalisation. The research also reveals a rising appeal for travel-related rewards in loyalty programs, with 90 per cent of consumers interested, notably in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and China.
Waste reduction is one of the most crucial challenges for any hospitality brand. To tackle this, Pierre shared, the hotels have implemented comprehensive waste reduction programmes. “They strive to achieve zero waste by minimising single-use plastics, promoting recycling, composting organic waste, and repurposing materials creatively within the hotels’ operations,” he said.
Additionally, the hotels take great care in sourcing their materials, products, and food. It prioritises working with local suppliers who adhere to sustainable practices, he pointed out. “The hotels’ menus predominantly feature organic, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients to support regional farmers and reduce the carbon footprint of its food supply chain,” he said.
Local communities and their active engagement in any mega project makes for a very important requisite for a sustainable practice. JW Marriott Mauritius not only provides training and employment opportunities to locals, ensuring they benefit directly from the tourism industry, the hotel also invests in charities to improve the well-being of the surrounding communities, Pierre informed.
“We see ourselves as educators and advocates for sustainable travel. Through workshops, guided tours, and interactive experiences, we like to inform guests about the region’s environmental challenges and the hotels’ effort to address them as well as information on the local culture and heritage. This fosters a sense of responsibility and awareness among visitors,” he said.
Additionally, the hotels continuously invest in cutting-edge sustainable technologies to improve its efficiency and minimise its environmental impact. “This might include energy-efficient HVAC systems, smart lighting controls, water-saving technologies and paper saving technologies,” he said.
In order to foster active partnerships for a deeper impact, he said the hotels collaborate with like-minded organisations and partners to amplify its sustainable impact. “We work with NGOs and environmental experts to stay at the forefront of sustainability practices,” he said.
“We aim to increase our sustainable initiatives to enhance our local communities, including job creation, providing water consumption sustainably and to develop eco-conscious solutions throughout the journey,” said Pierre, adding “Our hotels contribute to the community in various meaningful ways, fostering positive relationships and making a lasting impact.”
Some ways in which the hotels contribute to the community, include: employment opportunities, whereby the brand prioritises local hiring as such to help reduce unemployment in the community and ensure that the economic benefits stay within the area.
According to the brand, it is committed to sourcing 100% of its fruits, vegetables, seafood, poultry and meat from Mauritian growers, farmers and suppliers, or else favouring goods provided by regional partners in the Indian Ocean by January 2025.
Promoting local culture and heritage by showcasing local art, crafts, music, and traditions, providing guests with an authentic and enriching experience, and providing sale platform for local artisans at the resorts for their economic upliftment.
It also contributes considerably towards environmental initiatives that benefit the community as a whole. These include conservation efforts, such as beach cleanups and mangrove/ tree planting.
Additionally, the hotels collaborate with schools and educational institutions to provide learning opportunities for students, offer internship programmes , career talks, or vocational training and support local charities and social causes donations campaigns. “We work with NGOs striving to uplift the standard of living of vulnerable families and children,” concluded Pierre.
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