For three decades, Sandals resorts have appealed to couples in love, yet it is also the nature lovers and ecologically cultivated guests who are drawn to the environmental element that the Green Globe certified hotel chain has to offer.
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) works to ensure that all environmental aspects associated with the operations of their hotel brands and the surrounding communities are ecologically sound—the current Green Globe Auditor Workshop sponsored by Sandals is one such effort. In accordance with the hotel group’s commitment to environmental education, the workshop is providing training on the enhanced Green Globe Company Standard with field excursions, team exercises and group discussions hosted at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, St. James.
“It’s a way of life,” said Richard May, who leads SRI’s comprehensive environmental affairs and sustainability programs. “Sandals Resorts International has long been committed to sustaining the environment through beach clean-ups, anti-litter campaigns, tree-planting events, and adhering to policies that promote responsible tourism.”
According to Richard, the resort group aims to educate guests and team members at all 20 of its Sandals, Beaches, Grand Pineapple and Royal Plantation branded resorts, about the importance of sustainable tourism, advocating water conservation techniques, marine life preservation, and other environmental projects. Among various recognition and awards, SRI earned the inaugural Green Globe Platinum Award for Sandals Negril. The easygoing Luxury Included ® resort, along with all other SRI hotels, exercises methods to promote sustainability both on small and large scales, such as conserving water via an “ask before you pour” policy where restaurant staff will only pour and refill water at the guests’ requests.
Some of SRI’s environmental achievements include: reduced water consumption (by up to 200,000 liters per day in some resorts) with the installation of water-efficient showerheads and guest education via towel/linen reuse cards; forestry replenishment due to tree-planting sessions across the Caribbean; and energy adeptness by way of energy-efficient lighting, solar water heaters, and modern air-conditioning systems management.
Reaching the Community
The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, launched in March 2009 with a mission to support education, the community, and the environment.
With the environment as one component of the foundation, Sandals guests can fulfill their need to give back while on vacation by participating in activities aimed at making a positive impact on the environment and the community around the resort.
During the foundation kickoff, Sandals Foundation Coordinator, Heidi Clarke, stated that more and more people desire to volunteer while on vacation. Further, Richard is pleased with the Sandals Foundation’s ability to empower guests to make a difference in the Caribbean.
“What guests can do to help is, at times, difficult to spell out for them without appearing intrusive,” May said. “But now their involvement and efforts are more easily managed with the formation of the Sandals Foundation. In addition to making donations, guests can arrange visits to local communities to assist in outreach efforts through the resorts they are staying at. The Sandals Foundation also spearheads a range of initiatives including reef and beach clean-up sessions, tree-planting, toy drives, programs to improve literacy, developing marine sanctuaries and educational meetings with local fishermen. The Foundation also works with volunteer organizations like the US based Great Shape, whose Thousand Smiles project takes free dental care to thousands of Jamaicans. For more information on the Sandals Foundation, visit www.sandalsfoundation.org.