At the St. Regis Bali Resort in Indonesia, 124 suites and villas look out upon Nusa Dua beach, where golden sands meet glittering, emerald waves.
For the guests who travel to this 5-star destination spot, the resort asks one thing: Leave the reef better than you found it.
To rebuild damaged coral reefs off its shores, the resort has long partnered with the Nusa Dua Reef Foundation, a nonprofit committed to conserving coral reefs and reducing the impacts of climate change.
Under the guidance of the foundation, St. Regis Bali Resort uses the MARRS method (Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System): A coral reef restoration technique spearheaded by an international group of marine scientists in 2006 and perfected over the last two decades.
The method hinges on attaching coral fragments to artificial reef systems called “Reef Stars,” which are anchored together in a web-like structure on the ocean floor.
“Guests can ‘adopt’ and plant their own coral-bearing ‘Reef Stars’ on the seabed – creating a tangible, personal link to ocean conservation,” the resort said in a statement.
“Rooted in the Balinese philosophy of Nyegara Gunung, the program is deeply embedded in local tradition and supported by science. Efforts are monitored for real impact, and tied to broader initiatives like coastal cleanups, school outreach, and reef-safe guest education.”
The resort’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint go beyond the reef.
In a write-up for The West Australian, travel writer Sue Yeap noted that St. Regis Bali Resort had been stocking guest rooms with water from its own bottling facility since 2018.
“Located within the grounds of the St. Regis, it uses Japanese advanced Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology, transforming seawater into pure, pH-balanced drinking water,” Yeap said, adding that the facility can process and refill up to 10,000 glass bottles per day.
According to St. Regis, the resort transformed 175 metric tons of food waste and 191,590 kilograms of landscape waste into nutrient-rich compost last year.
“Local agricultural students help determine the types of fruit, herbs and vegetables best suited to the St. Regis’ chef’s garden, which also houses hives of stingless bees for harvesting trigona honey,” Yeap observed.
As resorts around the world transform into firefly conservatories and sea turtle havens, St. Regis Bali joins a growing number of tourist sites that are looking for ways to give back to the world around them: The protected habitats that are much more than just beautiful “backdrops” on their guests’ vacations.
“At a time when travelers are demanding more from luxury – and greenwashing is under the microscope – The St. Regis Bali offers a powerful example of purpose-driven hospitality,” the resort said.
You may also like: This 5-star island paradise doubles as a sea turtle rescue
Header image via the St. Regis Bali Resort
