Couples at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas Focus on 'I Give' Before 'I Do'

ST. THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDS--(Marketwired - Sep 28, 2015) - Beginning this season, couples hosting their destination wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas will now have the opportunity to give back to the Caribbean island community as part of their experience. "Lasting Contributions" was created to help couples build the idea of service and community work into their special day, inspiring lasting memories with their loved ones. The program is inspired by The Ritz-Carlton Community Footprints program, a renowned corporate social responsibility program embedded into The Ritz-Carlton service values.

Before the big day, the couple and their wedding party will have the chance to choose from a number of service opportunities provided by the resort, including a visit the Boys & Girls Club of the U.S. Virgin Islands to spend time with local children, helping them with their school work and working together on creative art projects. Child wellbeing is one of three key pillars of the Community Footprints program, with hotels around the world partnering with local organizations that provide a safe haven and nurturing environment for children. For couples seeking other kinds of experiences, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas will provide a list of other partner opportunities around the island.

"Increasingly, we find that all kinds of travelers, including those traveling for their wedding, are looking for a more authentic, local experience as a way to fully immerse themselves into the destination," said Cliff Brutus, director of sales and marketing for the resort. "We created this exciting new program for our guests who are looking for meaningful experiences that also benefit the local community."

Weddings at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
Nestled in tranquil Great Bay, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas offers a thirty acre lush island oasis for an intimate ceremony with close family and friends, or larger celebrations. Whether taking place at the Ocean Pavilion, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, or on the powdery white sands of the hotel beach, guests will enjoy panoramic views of the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea and the lush hills of St. John in the distance. 

For more information on weddings or to speak with a wedding expert, please call (786) 615-2208 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/stthomas to request information.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 90 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR).