Nadi, Fiji – 24 July 2026 – In celebration of World Mangrove Day (26 July) and the continued partnership between the Hilton Global Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island brought together team members, resort guests and WWF representatives for a morning of mangrove restoration, environmental education and conservation along the resort’s coastline.
Approximately 15 participants joined the initiative, learning firsthand about the vital role mangroves play in protecting Fiji’s fragile coastal ecosystems before helping prepare a site for mangrove restoration and then re-planting approximately 200 mangrove seedlings as part of the resort’s ongoing efforts to engage guests and team members in environmental and community initiatives.
The morning concluded with fresh green coconuts, providing an opportunity for guests and team members to connect while celebrating their contribution to the environment.
The activity coincides with the Hilton Global Foundation’s (HGF) recent commitment of US$5.4 million to 18 nonprofit organisations globally – its largest annual investment to date – supporting initiatives that expand career opportunities, strengthen community resilience and help make the world a better place to travel. As Hilton’s global philanthropic arm, HGF supports programmes aligned with Travel with Purpose, Hilton’s strategy to drive positive impact and create lasting value for its people, hotels, communities and guests.
In Fiji, HGF is supporting WWF’s mangrove restoration programme in Fiji, which is working with iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) communities to restore eight hecatres (19.7 acres) of mangroves across two sites within the Great Sea Reef — the Ba River Estuary and the Yasawa Islands. As one of the world’s longest barrier reef systems, the Great Sea Reef is central to Fiji’s blue economy, supporting fisheries, tourism, biodiversity, and the cultural heritage of coastal communities.
Mangroves are among the world’s most valuable coastal ecosystems, providing natural protection against storm surges and coastal erosion, improving water quality, storing significant amounts of carbon and creating essential nursery habitats for fish, crabs and marine life. In Fiji, they also play an important role in supporting local livelihoods, preserving cultural traditions and strengthening climate resilience for coastal communities.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to bring our guests and team members together to learn more about Fiji’s incredible natural environment while making a meaningful contribution,” said Shanaka Perera, General Manager, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji. “As an island resort, we recognise the responsibility we have to help protect the ecosystems that make Fiji so unique. Through initiatives supported by Hilton Global Foundation and WWF’s conservation efforts in Fiji, we’re proud to provide opportunities for our guests and team members to engage with and learn more about protecting these important ecosystems.”
WWF’s programme extends beyond restoration, supporting long-term community capacity through ecological restoration training, locally managed mangrove nurseries, and community-led stewardship initiatives designed to support sustainable livelihoods.
The mangrove restoration forms part of DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji’s CARE Committee initiatives, which encourage team members and guests to participate in activities that create a positive environmental and social impact within the local community.
As World Mangrove Day is celebrated globally on 26 July, the resort hopes the event inspires more travellers and local communities to appreciate the importance of protecting these remarkable
coastal forests.
