Maldivian Chaaya Hotels are building a Sustainable Future

The Maldives are amongst the few destinations with unspoiled ecological hot spots and rich in biodiversity. Green Globe members, the Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo Resort and the Chaaya Lagoon Hakuura Huraa, located in the Maldives, have been enthusiastically involved in environmental protection activities as well as social welfare programs for years.

"As one of the trendsetters in Maldives, we have paved the pathway towards a sustainable future," said Mr. Kumar Prem, General Manager at the Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo Resort. "Our commitment is reflected in our management principles and daily practices, which aim at building a sustainable future for the generations to come. We strive to include our partners, customers, staff, and local communities where relevant and to the extent possible. We minimize waste by evaluating operations, ensuring efficiency by adapting environmentally-friendly waste disposal practices, composting programs, and actively promoting reuse and recycle programs. Due to our energy saving initiatives, we have seen a drop of 25% in energy consumption per guest over the past couple of years."

The Chaaya Lagoon Hakuura Huraa initiated a project called "Walk Way Lights Powered by Nature", with the objective of generating electricity using sea water (wave) and solar power, utilizing materials with a zero/low cost, including leftover wood, discarded bulbs, old generator battery, solar panel and a power generator made in-house. The use of natural resources to generate electricity has reduced the consumption of diesel, thus minimizing the carbon footprint. Other best practices at this idyllic island paradise include the installation of solar panels for hot water heating, the collection of rainwater, and the reuse of treated waste water for gardening and flushing purposes. A number of vegetables and herbs used in the kitchen are grown on the resort’s own organic farm.

"It is our goal to continuously identify all potential impacts on the environment, and manage such impacts whilst using our resources in a sustainable and proficient manner," added Mr. Nalinda Liyanage, General Manager at the Chaaya Lagoon Hakuura Huraa.

In keeping up with their pledge ‘I Will Be Green’, both Chaaya hotels impress with their numerous CSR activities, such as regular tree planting campaigns, beach and reef cleaning days, and, periodically, local school children are educated on the importance of the environment. The front office teams also host special briefings on ‘protection of the underwater environment’, which is available to all guests.

At Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo a group of resort executives has teamed up with local health officials, travelling around the islands to hold educational seminars on healthcare and deliver medicines, including drugs for first aid kits, IV fluids, pain killers, ear and eye drops, skin ointments, dressing and bandages, and disinfectants. Earlier this year, a blood donation campaign was organized with the assistance of National Blood Transfusion Services of Maldives. The blood was donated to the Thalassemia Center in Male.

Tourism and agriculture are the dominant industries in the Maldives, and the development of tourism fostered the overall growth of the country’s economy since the 1970’s. The Maldivian Chaaya resorts conduct awareness programs and presentations on hotel operations, encouraging students to join the industry.