Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club
Supports Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur
With Special Travel Package
San Pedro Facility Takes in Record Numbers of Malnourished Sea Lions
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (July 28, 2009) – Changing weather patterns have affected marine food supply, and as a result, California sea lion rescue centers throughout the state – including the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro – are taking in record numbers of malnourished sea lions this year.
To help fund the non-profit MMCC – which supports marine animal rescue, rehabilitation and release along the Southern California coast – Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club in Redondo Beach has developed the “Save the Sea Lions” Package, which encompasses a donation to the MMCC, as well as oceanfront accommodations, and entrance to the facility to learn about the marine life that is carefully nursed back to health there and returned to natural habitats.
This season, guests will tour an especially busy facility. In fact, according to MMCC spokesperson Jill Romano, the Care Center has taken in more than 365 sick and stranded seals and sea lions since the beginning of the year. “We’re only halfway through 2009 and we have already exceeded our total number of patients from the entire year of 2008,” she says. “We derive much of our financial support from outside donors, so the Portofino program is especially important and timely.”
The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club faces King Harbor, home to its very own colony of California sea lions. “Our guests can observe these creatures frolicking and feeding in their natural habitat, so we wanted to offer the opportunity to sustain and support them, especially since weather conditions have made marine life particularly vulnerable this year,” said Jeannene Glenn, general manager at The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club.
Indeed, increasing water temperatures have coincided with a dramatic rise in sea lion deaths and strandings. Experts think that El Niño – a cyclical, global climate event that brings warmer waters to the California coast every few years – is responsible, since fish follow colder water out to sea, affecting the availability of the normal food sources.
With a portion of each package price donated directly to the Marine Mammal Care Center, Portofino’s “Save the Sea Lions” Package helps provide much needed funds to treat growing numbers of sick sea lions. The package is based on availability and, in addition to the donation to and entrance to the MMCC, offers the following:
Oceanside accommodations with scenic views of the ocean and the sea lions, starting at $299.
A signature stuffed Portofino sea lion
Complimentary 2-hour paddle boat that seats up to four people, allowing guests to paddle near sunning or frolicking sea lions
A disposable camera to catch all of the excitement on film
The Marine Mammal Care Center is a non-profit, publicly funded organization that supports marine animal rehabilitation along the Southern California coast. Operating primarily through memberships, grants, donations and special events, the Care Center provides care to sick and injured animals. In addition, guests of The Portofino are welcome to assist the Marine Mammal Care Center by donating items on the MMCC’s wish list, which can be accessed at www.marinemammalcare.org.
ABOUT THE PORTOFINO HOTEL & YACHT CLUB
A haven for business and leisure travelers, The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club is located only seven miles from Los Angeles International Airport, in the beach town of Redondo Beach at King Harbor. A fixture in Redondo Beach for nearly 50 years, the property – Los Angeles’ only waterfront hotel – recently underwent an extensive $11 million renovations of its guestrooms, public and meeting spaces, restaurant (BALEENlosangeles) and 181-slip marina.
For more information, call 800-468-4292, e-mail reservations@hotelportofino.com or visit www.hotelportofino.com.