Sustainability has become crucial to the hospitality industry and travel commerce, particularly as travellers grow increasingly concerned about the environment, climate change, and the welfare of local communities.
As a result of this mandate, hospitality brands across the globe are now choosing for sustainable practises. This is further supported by the findings of the Sustainable Travel Report 2022 published by booking.com, which indicate that 78% of global travellers plan to stay in a sustainable property at least once this year and 71% of travellers plan to make greater efforts to travel more sustainably throughout the year.
Sustainability is the cornerstone of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and its properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The company continually redefines new sustainability benchmarks and instils its core values of compassion, inclusivity, empowerment, and diversity.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, a Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts-managed hotel situated on one of the Maldives’ finest coral reefs, has advanced its environmental efforts. The resort focuses on a number of eco-friendly activities, including the reduction of plastic usage, the cultivation of organic fruits and vegetables on-site, and the preservation of coral reefs.
Reduce waste and single-use plastics
During the previous year, the resort reduced its plastic consumption by replacing plastic garbage bags with washable and reusable garbage bags and plastic laundry bags with hand-made paper bags made from magazines found on the property. In addition, the resort has replaced its plastic water bottles with refillable, customised drinking water bottles and has added wooden key cards, paper bags, wooden straws, and wooden bins in an effort to reduce the resort’s plastic consumption. Through these steps, the property has been able to minimise its consumption of plastic by over 11,500 kg between 2021 and 2022.
Taking a step forward, the resort has introduced tote bags made entirely from broken umbrellas discovered on the property. These bags have become a fashionable accessory among resort guests.
Farm to plate
The resort has implemented a special effort, ‘Farm to Plate,’ an organic vegetable farm that produces fresh fruits and vegetables on-site. The farm features a designated composting area where dried leaves are transformed into compost and where wastewater is used as the primary water supply. The resort collaborates closely with the local community to recycle coconut palm leaves into roofing for resort public spaces.
Coral Reef Conservation in the Maldives
As part of its marine life conservation programme, the resort has placed a number of glass-crushed Reef Cubes around the property to increase the fish population. In addition, the resort organises monthly reef and beach cleanups in which guests are encouraged to participate. In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, the resort has implemented a number of initiatives, including the use of solar energy, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, and the conservation of water.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is committed to making a difference by driving an eco-friendly change and providing value to its guests, people, and earth. With a number of sustainability projects on the horizon, the resort remains focused on its current sustainability initiatives, and future projects would draw more attention to the conservation of coral reefs, marine life, and ocean literacy, as well as raise awareness of various issues related to sustainability and well-being. As a company founded on its fundamental beliefs and guiding principles, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is committed to socially and environmentally bettering the future.
