Feature by: Alexa Williamson
We all know that our natural resources are dwindling – even more so in the 21st century than the last. And if this continues at the rate it is, without more recycling, going on holiday will soon become a luxury instead of a choice. Therefore, environmentally aware resorts are to be commended. And as I learned from my stay at LeSport, the Sunswept Resorts chain in St Lucia is one of the more conscious ones.
Because I feel strongly about recycling and want to promote places that are environmentally friendly (as well as providing an excellent experience), here’s what LeSport and its sister complexes do…
The BodyHoliday, LeSport
* works with the organic farms of St Lucia and uses their produce at LeSport
* refurbishment of new rooms includes water saving devices
* water recycling is in practice on gardens/grounds and rooms
* solar water heating for staff rooms
* vegetable waste goes to farmers as feed
* separate disposals for meat and vegetable waste
* organic farms use bio-diesel with oil from The BodyHoliday
* current partnership with St Lucia Organics and The BodyHoliday
Jalousie
* has put measures in place to stop effluence from flowing into the sea
* uses grey water on the lawns
* has installed pumps that can work to capacity and as such are more efficient
* waste oil is recycled and passed on to St Lucia Linens
* timers have been placed on pumps
* environmentally friendly management of sewerage
* composting
Cotton Bay Village
* uses citrus-based (not chemical-based) cleaners purchased locally
* installation of devices to regulate a/c
* grey water is still generated for re-use on grounds
* recycled seaweed (a good fertiliser) is used in private garden
* timers have been placed on pumps
* implementation of programme of switching off units when not in use to save energy
Rendezvous
* education and sensitisation programmes are in place for staff. Both old and new staff are updated on the general green direction of the resort and ways in which they can contribute
* clean-up campaigns
* energy saving lights installed across the resort
* solar water heating in kitchens. Plans to equip the entire resort with solar heating capacity
Further information:
LeSport Review – Part 1 (The London Reviewer)
LeSport Review – Part 2 (The London Reviewer)
Sunswept Resorts (official site)
Interview with Vincent Andrew about LeSport’s healthy eating & fine dining ethos (The London Reviewer)
Caribbean poetry by Alexa Williamson (The London Reviewer)
[...] Reviewer’s pictures of LeSport (Flickr) LeSport (official site) Sunswept Resorts (official site) Feature: environmentally friendly holiday resorts (The London Reviewer) Interview with Vincent Andrew about LeSport’s healthy eating & fine [...]
[...] – list of body treatments (official site) LeSport (official site) Sunswept Resorts (official site) Feature: environmentally friendly holiday resorts (The London Reviewer) Interview with Vincent Andrew about LeSport’s healthy eating & fine [...]
[...] Reviewer’s pictures of LeSport (Flickr) LeSport (Official site) Sunswept Resorts (official site) Feature: environmentally friendly holiday resorts (The London Reviewer) Caribbean poetry by Alexa Williamson (The London [...]
You may be lucky enough to be looking for a holiday resort, or just need a place to sleep for the night, but there are a lot of ways that responsible citizens can help to reduce damage to the earth – and ourselves in the long run. One easy thing is to pick “green” accommodations when available, not just those who say they’re doing something, but those who actually are. You can do this through a website I’ve run across recently, iStayGreen.org, where you not only locate green hotels, but rate them, which puts pressure on hoteliers to do as much as they can to be well rated.
Uniquely, the site features a social networking system, so groups with like interests can get together, advise each other and exchange information. It’s about time something like http://www.iStayGreen.org came along.