Sandals Resorts International and Sandals Foundation participated in a beach clean up at Fishermans Beach in Montego Bay (St James) on April 19..
MONTEGO BAY JAMAICA Sandals Resorts International (SRI), is encouraging guests, team members, and community stakeholders to take part in specially curated activities to observe World Earth Day 2022. This is as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to marine conservation and awareness.
The Caribbean’s largest hospitality company has organized a week-long celebration that includes wildlife sanctuary tours, tree plantings and composting sessions, lionfish culling, and underwater clean-ups. It is being led by the Environment Health and Safety Division in partnership with the Sandals Foundation, its philanthropic arm.
Adam Stewart, SRI executive chairman, and president of Sandals Foundation, said that connectivity to the environment is an integral part of who we all are and underpins every aspect of our daily operations. We will continue to offer educational opportunities and awareness programmes to all stakeholders through partnerships to support environmental sustainability efforts. Our ability to preserve and protect both the beauty and productivity of our lands is vital, from recycling to the removal plastic straws to marine sanctuary management or coastal clean-ups.
Last year, members of Sandals Resorts International’s Food and Beverage Team showcased their creativity when they created this Earth Day themed cake to raise awareness about environmental protection..
Sandals and Beaches Resorts have always been committed to environmental sustainability. They are the only hotel chains worldwide to have all their resorts certified through the EarthCheck benchmarking and certificate programme. Ten resorts currently hold Master Certification. This is a 15-year-long record of consistent recognition for best practice. Additionally, throughout its history, Sandals has garnered sustainability-driven accolades such as the CHA/AMEX Caribbean Environmental Award for Green Hotel of the Year, the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Green Six Star Diamond Award, and the PADI Green Star Award. Each resort has its own environment health and safety officer who is responsible for managing sustainable programs. These include the installation and retrofitting of lighting and equipment for greater energy efficiency and performance, as well as the composting of food waste.
Gavin Palmer is the corporate manager, environment, safety & health. He noted that Sandals Resorts and Sandals Foundation have invested millions in education advocacy programmes, out-planting more 12,000 corals, and engaging over 55,000 people with conservation efforts. Our resorts were retrofitted with solar energy systems, herb gardens and composting units.
Our goal is to involve a broad cross-section of people in our awareness and sustainability efforts every year. We are happy to create activations that include guests, farmers, fishermen, and other community partners. Team members are an integral part of all our programmes. This year Sandals La Source, Beaches Turks & Ciicos have commissioned their on-resort composting programs. They are expected to positively impact solid refuse management by providing environmental education for over 100 people, including students, backyard farmers and landscapers as well as government officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Patrice Gilpin, Sandals Foundation Public Relation Manager, plants a tree in a nature restoration exercise by Sandals Resorts International and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Parks as part of the Forestry Rehabilitation Programme..
Food and beverage team members were not forgotten and will present their best Earth Day-inspired recipes, meals, and cocktails throughout week-long festivities. Two minutes will be devoted to energy conservation, turning off all lights at the resorts and performing dedicated entertainment. The week’s educational celebration will be concluded with an Earth Day-themed party at various resorts, using recycled materials as decorations.
Palmer shared his vision for the future and said that, in honor of Sandals founder and former chairman Gordon Butch Stewart (PADI), a partnership was planned with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and Sandals Foundation to launch the Sea the Legacy of Love Scholarship Program. The programme will provide 40 Caribbean divers with certifications ranging from open water to advanced, in keeping the 40th anniversary of Sandals. This, in addition to the opportunities for guests such as coral outplanting in Jamaica or St Lucia, will have an impact on life below.
Sandals Resorts International continues to be committed to environmental sustainability as a core function of their operation through advocacy, action, innovation and future planning.
After planting many trees in the Blue Mountains, members of Sandals Resorts International’s philanthropic arm Sandals Foundation (foreground), pose for a photo with members from the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park..
