MIAMI, FL – Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges, today announced partnerships with the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Palms Hotel & Spa to offer an ocean friendly vacation. Building on their commitment to sustainability, both hotels will provide new ways for guests to preserve the ocean during their stay.

Beginning today and for Super Bowl LIV, guests will experience several new environmentally forward initiatives, including:

• La Mar by Gastón Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, Miami and Essensia at The Palms Hotel & Spa will debut new dishes inspired by Florida’s coasts, highlighting the importance of local, sustainably caught seafood and the importance of supporting Florida fishermen. A portion of the dish proceeds will benefit Ocean Conservancy efforts in Florida. The seafood found in both menu items is provided by Gulf Wild™, the nation’s only conservation-based traceability program that works directly with U.S. fishermen who are dedicated to the integrity and sustainability of fisheries throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Wild™ sets the standard for genuine, responsibly caught, traceable and reliable wild domestic seafood. Guests can indulge in the following dishes:
  • La Mar by Gastón Acurio: Executive Chef Diego Oka and his team created the Super Barrio, a super-sized cebiche bowl featuring grouper, octopus and shrimp with spicy leche de tigre, cancha, choclo, sweet potato topped with fried crispy calamari.
  • Essensia: Executive Sous Chef Daryn Garcia and his team will be serving red grouper bouillabaisse with smoked prawns, mussels, fingerlings potatoes, garden pea tendrils and grilled sourdough bread.
• Guest room televisions will play a special Ocean Conservancy video featuring information on issues affecting the ocean and provide simple ways for guests to help preserve it.
• Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Palms Hotel & Spa staff will participate in Ocean Conservancy and the NFL’s Huddle for 100 beach cleanup in Miami on January 28. As the Ocean Partner for the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, Ocean Conservancy set a goal to remove and divert 54 tons of plastic and other debris from South Florida waterways this NFL season for Super Bowl LIV.
• Both hotels will join the #TeamOcean social media campaign where guests can post pictures and show how they support the ocean, as well as receive prizes for participating. Anyone can follow along at @OurOcean, @MO_Miami, @PalmsCircaMIA and by using #TeamOcean.

“The ocean is a critical part of Florida’s economy, with a huge driver being tourism. Last year’s red tide crisis and harmful algal blooms contributed to more than $90 million in tourism losses,” said Jon Paul “J.P.” Brooker, Senior Manager and Policy Counsel for Ocean Conservancy’s Florida Conservation program. “We’re working to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and it takes great partners like the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Palms Hotel & Spa to help spread the word to their guests about the importance of the ocean and how everyone can make a difference for Florida’s beaches and coasts.”

These new initiatives to raise awareness and help protect the ocean build on the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Palms Hotel & Spa’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, including the reduction of plastics like the removal of straws, conserving natural resources and minimizing waste.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Ocean Conservancy as all eyes are on Miami and our beautiful beaches,” said Robert Lowe, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Miami. “From regular beach cleanups to abolishing all single-use plastic across all operational departments, guest rooms, The Spa, restaurants and bars – sustainability values are deeply ingrained in Mandarin Oriental’s heritage. We are in a strong position to drive vital changes in the industry and pledge to eliminate all disposable plastics in our hotel by the end of March 2021. By working together with Ocean Conservancy, we are able to protect the ocean and inspire guests to join this critical movement.”

“We couldn’t be more proud to partner with Ocean Conservancy,” said Katja Janzon, Vice President of The Palms Hotel & Spa. “Sustainability is at the core of The Palms Hotel & Spa’s mission and the overall guest experience, so when we were presented with the opportunity to team up with such a renowned, eco-friendly partner, we were eager to join forces as we work towards the shared goal of protecting our ocean. At the hotel we have been committed to sustainability for more than 10 years with initiatives such as quarterly beach cleanups, working consistently with sustainable purveyors at Essensia to ensure the use of sustainable and premium ingredients, and reducing the amount of disposable plastics we use. In fact, our goal is to eliminate single-use plastics by the end of 2020. The collaboration with Ocean Conservancy, though, takes our initiatives to new heights, and we look forward to having the community and ocean benefit.”

Guests can find more information about how to protect the ocean by visiting the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Palms Hotel & Spa’s websites.

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About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, please visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

About Mandarin Oriental, Miami

Contemporary in design and with a prominent waterfront location, the Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Miami features 326 elegant guest rooms and suites – offering dramatic views of the bay and the Miami skyline.  Amenities include an award-winning tri-level spa, La Mar by Gastón Acurio restaurant featuring authentic Peruvian cuisine, waterfront MO Bar + Lounge, Oasis Pool Bar, luxury boutique Karma and extensive meeting and business space.

About The Palms Hotel & Spa

The Palms Hotel & Spa combines genuine service, laid-back sophistication and oceanfront serenity into a 251-room destination where complete wellness and environmental awareness are at the center of each experience. Privately owned and managed by The Krause family, who also own just a few blocks away the 97-room boutique-style Circa 39 Hotel at 3900 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, The Palms sits along a wide stretch of beach at the northern end of the South Beach entertainment district. An AAA Four-Diamond rated hotel, The Palms Hotel & Spa is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a collection of the finest independent luxury hotels around the world, a Florida Green Lodging Three Palm and a TripAdvisor Silver Green Leader registered property. For reservations or further information, please call 800.550.0505 or visit http://www.thepalmshotel.com. The Palms is located at 3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140.

About Gulf Wild™

Gulf Wild™ was created by the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance, a non-profit organization of accountable, progressive, and conservation-minded fishermen, to promote seafood sustainability and fishery conservation throughout the Gulf of Mexico. When you see a Gulf Wild™ tag or notice the Gulf Wild brand, you are looking at the absolute best in fresh, responsibly harvested seafood. Find out more at www.mygulfwild.com