To achieve certification, the property was assessed and independently audited against more than 200 criteria across four sustainability pillars – environmental sustainability, socio-economic sustainability, cultural sustainability and sustainable management practices.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa’s general manager, Ravinder Dhesi, said the Ecotourism Australia certification reflected the property’s commitment to sustainable hospitality.
“We’ve woven responsible practices into the very fabric of our operations – from our on-site beehive and worm farm to the JW Garden that supplies fresh produce to our kitchens to energy-reduction measures like LED light fixtures, rainwater irrigation, high-efficiency gas boilers and flow-restricted water tanks,” he said.
“We also have initiatives that guests can participate in like tree planting excursions and behind-the-scenes wildlife tours via our partner Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
“Our certification marks a big step in the move towards a greener future.
“We look forward to continuing to measure, monitor and improve our environmental performance over time and finding new ways to do better for our guests, our community and the environment.”
The JW Marriott Gold Coast also participates in Marriott International’s Connect Responsibly program, which helps to improve the sustainability of events held at the resort.
Through the Connect Responsibly initiative, event planners can opt in to receive a complimentary report detailing the carbon footprint of their conference, meeting or event. The program also offers options for organisers to purchase offsets to neutralise the impact of the event.
“Congratulations to JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa for taking this significant step on their sustainability journey,” said Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan, regarding the property’s Ecotourism Australia certification.
“Their enthusiastic approach to embedding sustainability throughout all aspects of their business operations is a testament to their team.
“We are proud to recognise JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa as the second Marriott property in Australia to achieve Sustainable Tourism Certification, following Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel’s certification earlier this year.
“We look forward to our continued partnership with Marriott to certify more of their Australian properties in the coming years.”
Marriott International properties in Australia and New Zealand are actively seeking sustainability certification through a variety of programs, including Ecotourism Australia and EarthCheck. More than half of Marriott’s managed properties have either completed or begun the certification process.
