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Sustainable Hotels in the Caribbean
Sustainable tourism comes in all shapes and sizes, and although it's tough to make it carbon neutral at present, we can still do as much as is in our power to help move towards that goal.
What is Sustainable Travel?
Sustainable tourism comes in all shapes and sizes, and although it's tough to make it carbon neutral at present, we can still do as much as is in our power to help move towards that goal.
This year, for example, in readiness for the turtle nesting season, Calabash Cove and the Fisheries Department used the opportunity to conduct turtle awareness training for its team members and help them understand the island's biodiversity.
Saint Lucia's Biodiversity.
The interactive educational afternoon with Fisheries Officer Yvonne Edwin included discussions on the varieties of turtles found in our coastal waters, the time of the year they frequent our waters, their sizes, life expectancies, survival rates from the day they hatch, nesting and breeding habits as well as the challenges faced by turtles and other marine life culturally as well as economically and environmentally.
In a follow up training session team members will learn how to relocate and rescue turtle eggs in case the nest is too close to the water line. They will also receive training in tagging previously untagged turtles when they come ashore at Calabash Cove for nesting. Tagging allows monitoring travel habits of these ancient sea creatures said to be the closest surviving relative of animals from the Dinosaur's age.
Plastic Free
Each year at the end of April, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day. It is an opportunity to appreciate the Earth and reflect on ways to contribute to sustainability. One of the best ways to enjoy the Earth is to see it in all its facets through travel. Unfortunately, unsustainable travel can harshly affect local ecosystems and the world. To celebrate Earth Day, Calabash Cove reviewed everything that minimized its footprint by reducing plastic use, restoring coral reefs, combating deforestation, and promoting vegan and vegetarian options.
Plastic pollution has been an important topic over the past few years and for a good reason. Plastic is extremely slow to degrade and has created enormous problems for our oceans, lakes, rivers, and beaches.
Calabash Cove Resort maintains a strict plastic-free policy.
Sustainable Hospitality in Action
A popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotel in Saint Lucia, Calabash Cove is always looking to improve. Here are some other notable green features the 26-room property offers: solar power to heat water, energy-saving LEDs in all light fixtures, operating own on-site water treatment plant and recycling the water for irrigation, timers for all pool pumps, collects rainwater, no disposable food containers or disposable cups and glasses, lunch boxes made from recycled material, straws made from degradable paper, no disposable plastics like cutlery or plates, all produce sourced from local farmers whenever possible, collect used kitchen oil and send to a commercial laundry and Saint Lucia Distillers on the island - it is used as fuel to heat laundry water or fire a distillation still, extremely seldom fog grounds for mosquitos to allow birdlife to flourish, mulching back grass cuttings back into the gardens, and kitchen waste is collected and given to a pig farmer and more.
