Among the many attractions at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu is its white  sand beach and pristine waters.  Guests can enjoy the added thrill of swimming with the schools of tropical fish that make their home in the Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary.
In keeping with the resort’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) mission, the marine sanctuary was officially established on February 1, 2007.  The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary Stewardship group was granted 15 years of stewardship rights and obligations for the management of the sanctuary.  The stewardship group is composed of the resort, Scotty’s Action Sports Network and Dive Center and Amores Charities Inc.
The same year the sanctuary was established, resort employees took part in transferring giant clams from Palawan to the safekeeping of the marine sanctuary.  The Philippine government had removed the clams from poachers.
Today, over 160 species of marine life, including around 70 giant clams, are found in the six-hectare Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary.  Among the fish species spotted are angelfish, banner fish, blue tang, butterfly fish, clownfish, clown sweetlips, goldfish, lion fish, pipefish, puffers, rainbowfish and wrasses.  The sanctuary has also been the recent release site of hawksbill turtles and tropical fish that were handed to the local government by concerned citizens.
While the sanctuary houses a healthy house reef, two old sea vessels were sunk to form artificial reefs and aid in coral regeneration.  Loose coral was transplanted to the snorkeling area fronting the resort’s beach.  The resort’s management and staff also conduct reef checks and participate in regular clean-up dives to maintain the sanctuary’s conditions.
The resort encourages guests to be aware of, and to appreciate, marine life.  Supervised trips to the marine sanctuary are included in the scheduled children’s activities at the Adventure Zone, while a complimentary snorkeling safari for adults is offered daily.  One wall of the resort’s Entertainment Zone is dedicated to photographs of the various species to be found underwater, and a similar sign is located on the beach.
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu is the first resort in the Philippines to achieve ISO 14001 recognition.  The internationally recognized standard for the environmental management of businesses is a culmination of the resort’s initiatives towards being a real environment-friendly resort facility.  In the past, the resort has been the recipient of two Asean Green Hotel Standard Awards, in recognition of the resort’s compliance with environmentally friendly and energy conserving measures.