JW Marriott provided us with the perfect escape to feel good and was exactly what we wanted during our short trip in southern Thailand. We enjoyed the relaxing and enjoyed the luxurious resorts that we stayed at. But the feel-good factor came from the delicious, plant-based food we ate and the eco-friendly initiatives that were evident. The global hospitality industry has a significant impact on our planet and the environment. It’s important that they take steps to reduce that impact and operate sustainably.
The food they serve is one way to make a positive impact. Ingredients, food waste, and sourcing are all factors that need to be considered to achieve sustainability goals. The JW Marriott resorts of southern Thailand have increased their plant-based and vegan options on their menus, which has had multiple positive impacts. It was also interesting to learn about the other sustainability initiatives that they have implemented and their future plans.
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa
Our first stop was JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa which boasts an enviable beachfront location that is surrounded by natural beauty. Just over an hour away from Phuket International Airport, this resort is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy their vacations in a resort which is both remote and secluded enough to enjoy a generous piece of secluded escape but close enough to allow seamless transfers. With 293 rooms to choose from and many with direct pool access and views of the ocean, this luxury resort in southern Thailand is a hidden oasis.
The JW Garden is a unique sustainability initiative that was inspired from the JW founders’ love of nature and outdoor activities. The vast 27-acre organic farmland will be launched in April 2024. It produces over 200 varieties of plants and fruits, vegetables, herbs, leaves, and other edibles that are used to create dishes throughout the resort. Khun Joy, a woman of great passion and inspiration, is leading this project. She is passionate about creating a “circle of sustainability” which starts with happy people who develop a healthy mind, body and spirit. This in turn leads to wealth, prosperity and wellness. This is not just any resort garden. It is a JW Garden that will hopefully inspire others to develop similar sustainable organic food projects in the region.
The JW Marriot Khao Lak served a variety of vegan foods that was both impressive and plentiful. Hotels, resorts, restaurants and other establishments that serve vegan food will attract more guests, not only vegans. Plant-based meals have a positive impact on the environment and the planet. So when on the chalkboard adjacent to the egg station at JW Marriott Khao Lak one of the options is ‘Vegan Scramble’ this is an excellent way to encourage guests to choose a plant based meal for breakfast. Our vegan scramble which was prepared with diced peppers, tomatoes and onion before being served with roasted tomatoes and sour dough, was most certainly towards the top of our global ‘Tofu Scramble Leaderboard’ and we would love to eat it again!
JW Marriott Khao Lak partnered up with Oceans for All Foundation to create a Bamboo Shark Nursery and Conservation Center based at the Resort. Since opening in 2023, they have released endangered Bamboo Sharks into the Andaman Sea, where they have 70% survival rate, which is higher than the 50% survival for this species. The higher survival rate is due to the fact that they are kept at the conservation centre for six months. Khun. Ying made our time at the Bamboo shark Nursery and Conservation Centre enjoyable and informative. She was clearly knowledgeable and passionate for the work that they are doing.
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Our next destination was JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa which is located just steps from the serene and unspoiled Mai Khao Beach, and offers guests an extensive choice of luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. There are many options for those who would like to explore the outdoors. You can choose to explore the nightlife and cafes in one of the many Phuket beach towns, or you can walk through the forest to Sirinat National Park and enjoy the natural surroundings. Rest assured, however, that this luxury resort has a variety of restaurants, pools and activities as well as a spa.
The vegan food at JW Marriot Phuket was creative and plentiful. From Beyond Burgers in Siam Deli, to a vegan version the legendary signature JW French toast for breakfast, to the vegetarian a-la-carte menu at Ginja Taste, to a delicious beetroot apsaccio served with citrus, balsamic, and croutons in Cucina, it was everywhere. It was evident that Executive Chef Brian Moore, and his team, are committed to creating and offering exciting plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan dishes throughout the resort. This has a positive impact on health and the environment while also contributing to the 2025 Sustainability goals set by Marriott International.
JW Marriott Phuket also has other sustainable initiatives, such as an annual event celebrating World Earth Day. All ingredients for this event were sourced from within 50km. To source the necessary ingredients, the team was asked to suggest local suppliers, growers, and producers from their own communities or villages who could not only meet the distance-based requirements but also the food quality and standard that would be required. After the event, some of these local growers remained in the supply chain of JW Marriott Phuket. This has a positive social impact. The successful event saw the installation solar panels in the kitchens for the preparation of the event meals through a partnership with Sunsear. Sunsear is a leading Thai provider of cleaner, greener energy.
JW Marriott Phuket adheres to the Marriott International standards and does not use plastic bottles, straws, or miniature bathroom products. However, we were still excited to find shower gel, shampoo and conditioner in refillable dispensers from vegan friendly vegan brand Aromatherapy Associates in our room, as often the bathroom amenities use animal derived ingredients which are of course not suitable for vegan guests. The many sustainability measures included bamboo toothbrushes and razors, which were packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes that had been printed in soy ink. JW Marriott Phuket has taken another positive step in protecting the environment.
We must all embark on the long and winding journey towards more sustainable hotels and resorts. As guests, it is our responsibility to support operators making positive changes. We should also encourage others to do so. Meanwhile, those in the industry are responsible for researching and developing new ideas that will make a real difference. Our time spent with JW Marriott in southern Thailand has been educational and enlightening. We feel that both resorts in Khao Lak & Phuket are moving in the right direction.
