virna2016janmar-final

26 / 56

can significantly enhance an individual’s life (and vacation) experience.
“Most elephant organizations who take volunteers have them plant
trees or clean up the dung or do all sorts of things around the camp,”
says John Edward Roberts, director of elephants at
in northern Thailand, bordering Laos
and Myanmar. Very useful, unless it takes away jobs that would other-
wise be done by locals.
Funded by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas’ Golden Triangle Asian
Elephant Foundation, the camp is a refuge and working village for 25
elephants and 60 mahouts (elephant handlers) who might otherwise be
begging on the streets. Guests may choose to shadow a worker, riding
on the elephant’s neck and bathing the elephant in the river. Or, they
may learn about elephant biology and behavior from the camp’s resi-
dent veterinarian as they roam the grounds with the elephants.
These and other programs give guests the satisfaction of sup-
porting a stable and sustainable community for local mahouts and
their elephants, while enjoying the kind of authentic cultural experi-
ence today’s tourists crave.
Seeding Awareness
Owners and guests of have the
opportunity to learn about important conservation efforts to protect
wildlife that is right underfoot on Cabo San Lucas beaches.
In 2008, the resort signed on to create a sanctuary for endangered
sea turtles that dig their nests on Medano Beach, and Casa Dorada’s
own Manuel Solano was tapped by local authorities to coordinate sev-
eral federally mandated wildlife protection and conservation projects
conducted by a network of participating Los Cabos businesses.
During the May-to-December nesting season, Casa Dorada staff
relocates nests to a special humidity- and temperature-controlled area
within the resort. The day they hatch, the resort’s concierge staff alerts
owners and guests and, after dark, up to 80 people gather at the mar-
gins of where the tiny turtles are released to find their way to the sea.
Before the sea turtles set out on their 90-minute journey, resort guests
learn about the life of sea turtles and the importance of protecting them.
Between 2008 and 2015, more than 117,000 sea turtles have been
released in San Lucas Bay.
Getting the Word Out
Guests may not need much encouragement to get involved. One in four
Americans volunteered through an organization in 2013, according to
the Volunteering and Civic Life in America survey by the Corporation for
National and Community Service. And, of those who volunteer, nearly
eight in 10 contribute money to a charitable cause. The odds are very
good that some of these people are within every owner base.
“If they aren’t volunteering, I would argue that someone isn’t ask-
ing,” writes David Clemmons in The VolunTourist , a newsletter for the
travel trade, arguing that participation is less about demographics than
simply asking.
The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas makes sure no prospec-
tive volunteer is left behind, plugging events on the activities tab of its
website, in pre-arrival concierge calls, on the resort activities calendar,
and via fliers left in villas.
Owners are encouraged to share their volunteer experiences by
posting photos to StarwoodVacationNetwork.com. They also sign
waivers so that the Westin Ka’anapali can use photos for external pur-
poses and for internal presentations. “I really love to be able to use our
imagery on social media channels,” Nolan says.
Dedicated volunteers, such as the Zankos, can become volun-
tourism ambassadors while heading back to their villas after a day of
weeding or roadside cleanup.
“If it’s a rainy day, you’re muddy, you’re dirty, you’re sweaty,” says
Jerry Zanko. “Going back to your villa, you get perplexed and curious
looks from other guests who are trying to size up what this is all about.
They’ll say, ‘What did you do today that you look grubby?’ We’ll tell
them and they say, ‘Oh wow, I wish we’d known about that!’”
Comfort Level
Of course, not every guests wants to break a sweat on vacation.
“Doing a beach cleanup is very different from hiking down part of
the mountain in Honokowai to get down to the valley,” Nolan admits.
“We’re very clear about where you’re going and if there are any physical
limitations. That hasn’t really been a barrier for our volunteers.”
The resort provides transportation, sandwiches, water, and juice.
24
Riding, bathing, and walking with the
elephants are activities that guests at
Anantara’s elephant camp may
participate in.