Secret Retreats Community Helps Raise More Than $15,000 for Misool Foundation

Misool Protected Area

Secret Retreats, a collection of more than 100 independently owned boutique hotels, restaurants and cruises, has helped raise more than $15,000 USD for the Misool Foundation (www.misoolfoundation.org) as part of its first-ever annual charity campaign.

Throughout 2017, the collection took a multi-pronged approach to support member property Misool's non-profit, Misool Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting some of the world's richest reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The Secret Retreats family came together to support the foundation through charity dinners led in partnership with Secret Tables chefs, special guest chef experiences onsite at Misool and a 6-month fundraising initiative in which participating Members donated $1 USD for every night booked at their hotel. Secret Retreats then matched the donations to further the impact.

Encouraging responsible, sustainable tourism is a foundation of the Secret Retreats brand. All Secrets Retreats Members share the belief of supporting and protecting their communities and environments and are required to sign a Sustainability Pledge before joining the Secret Retreats community. Some even go as far as creating their own non-profits and foundations to give back to their surroundings even more.

Secret Retreats chose Misool Foundation as the first recipient of the annual campaign as the innovative foundation has proven to successfully promote sustainable tourism and community-based environmental conservation through its protected 300,000-acre marine park. The foundation has made great strides in not only conserving the marine environment around the resort but even help increase biomass while also empowering the local community to protect their homeland. The significant donation will go toward furthering Misool Foundation's existing projects which include continually patrolling their no-take zone.

In June, Secret Retreats will launch its 2018 campaign which will support the Myanmar-based Inle Heritage Foundation. Founded by Yin Myo Su, who is the Managing Director of Inle Heritage Foundation as well as several Secret Retreats Member properties in Myanmar, Inle Princess Resort, Inle Heritage Stilt Houses and Mrauk U Princess, the non-profit organisation aims to preserve the Inle region, and help it to thrive as a place to visit, work and live.

Misool Protected Area

“Sustainable and responsible tourism has always been a pillar of the Secret Retreats ethos but with the new annual campaign we're able to harness the collective power and support of our community to not only raise awareness of our Members' selfless service but also provide concrete monetary support,” said Secret Retreats Managing Director, Stéphane Junca. “2017 was just the beginning and we're looking forward to increasing our efforts and donation this year to support Inle Heritage Foundation.”

To learn more about Secret Retreats and how it encourages sustainable and responsible tourism, please visit https://www.secret-retreats.com/en/we-care.