Friends of the Ocean

This fun, sustainable tourism program works with the tourism sector by partnering with hospitality groups, restaurants, city officials, and agencies to reduce the impact of consumer pollution on our oceans while traveling.

We provide educational and promotional material in addition to permanent beach cleanup collection stations for guests to participate in, while visiting your establishment.

Meet a friend of the ocean

Meet Annabelle

Friends of the Ocean was born out of a proven successful pilot program at the Marriott, Los Suenos, Costa Rica. While on a vacation, an American family participated in the hotel's 5 Minute Friends of the Ocean Beach Cleanup activity. The impact of recovering plastics inspired their highschool daughter to contact us. This connection led her to start a 5 Minute Foundation chapter in her hometown, Virginia Beach.

Since, she has involved her classmates in beach cleanups and currently is working on Virginia Beach’s first Friends of the Ocean Program with another hotel in the Bonvoy family. Check out the full story here.

Become a Friend