UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — “Turtle Talk” started as an idea Penn State undergraduate student Emily Raneri developed during her summer internship with the activities department at Marriott’s Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores, Florida. Now, after Raneri won a company-wide innovation contest for her program, it is a staple for Marriott Vacation Club ocean-front locations in south Florida.
An educational program for families and people of all ages, “Turtle Talk” teaches guests about sea turtles and how to create a safe space for them. Following an informational presentation about the turtles, guests can also participate in a beach cleanup, helping to remove trash and waste from the shore to support the safety of the wildlife.
"When I began my internship, I noticed there were a lot of turtles on the beaches,” said Raneri, who is majoring in recreation, park, and tourism management and pursuing a Meetings and Events Management Certificate. “I wanted to find a way to educate guests about the turtles and the proper safety measures needed to protect the wildlife.”
During her internship with Marriott’s Ocean Pointe location, Raneri submitted “Turtle Talk” to Marriott Vacation Club’s highly competitive innovation contest, which allows interns to pitch ideas for improving current processes or creating brand-new processes or activities. Out of 271 entrants, Raneri’s was selected as the winning entry. During the final round, she presented her educational program to a panel that included company executives and directors.
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Emily,” said Lisa Ruggerio, Raneri’s supervisor and director of activities at Marriott’s Ocean Pointe. “She did so much research outside of what her responsibilities were for working in our department. The fact that we already incorporated it into our activities guide, that Emily was hosting it weekly, and that it was a successful, highly attended event were also key contributors to her overall victory.”
During the “Turtle Talk” presentations, guests receive red flashlights. Red light is less disruptive to the turtles, as white light can disorient them. For example, turtle hatchlings can rely on the moon to help find the ocean. Human-made white light can interfere with this natural ecological process, according to Raneri.
As part of the program, guests receive a text message each night reminding them to close their blinds or turn off their lights to provide a safer environment for the turtles on the beach. Guests could also participate in a nighttime “turtle walk,” which allows them to walk the beach with red flashlights and safely look for turtles.
“It was a lifelong dream of mine to see turtle hatchlings,” Raneri said. “During my internship, I saw so many more than I thought I ever would. I grew to learn a lot about them, and it was something I loved.”
Raneri hosted “Turtle Talk” a few times before she completed her internship. She also trained an associate at the company in how to run the presentation and program so it could continue at other Marriott resorts with similar ocean-front settings.
“I would recommend students with similar passions to pursue a major in recreation, park, and tourism management,” Raneri said. “The really great thing is that it is such a versatile major. It is useful in a lot of different career fields.”
Raneri said her internship at Marriott’s Ocean Pointe taught her how to bring a design or concept to life and create memorable guest experiences, which are topics at the heart of the Meetings and Events Management Certificate.
“The Meetings and Events Management Certificate is a great program for anyone who is interested in event planning and guest experience,” Raneri said. “This was an invaluable experience to take an event from start to finish. These real-life event and program management experiences are ones I will take with me through my career.”
The Meetings and Events Management Certificate is a joint program between the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and the School of Hospitality Management. Email coordinators Kristin Thomas in recreation, park, and tourism management or Nada Madrid in hospitality management for more information.