Green Globe announces certification of Bentota Beach Hotel in Sri Lanka - eTurboNews
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LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe today announces the certification of Bentota Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka. Located in the southwest corner of Sri Lanka, Bentota Beach Hotel sits between stretches of unspoiled beach along the Indian Ocean and the calm waters of the Bentota River.
Green Globe Certification CEO Guido Bauer said, "We are proud to be working with the John Keells Hotels Group and congratulate Bentota Beach Hotel on their inaugural certification.
"Over the years, the region around the hotel has had to recover from the tsunami of 2004 and Bentota Beach Hotel has been a willing contributor to ongoing community development. Guests to this idyllic resort are encouraged to visit and support the local turtle conservation activities of Kosgoda Sea Turtle Hatchery.
"The hotel itself along with its manicured gardens is a significant part of local heritage. This former rubber plantation was first transformed into a landscape garden over 80 year ago and is a living part of Bentota's cultural experience," added Mr. Bauer.
The hotel has implemented a number of key sustainability contributions resulting in the improvement of its own operations, as well as of the community in which it operates. Monitoring of energy and water usage is under way, with measures implemented for reducing each. Renewable sources of energy have been used where possible – the additional cooling generated by the pump system has been diverted to the air conditioners in the guides' and drivers' accommodation areas, while solar power is made use of for the kitchen, pantry, and spa complex. The garden staff of the hotel are actively working on an organic vegetable garden – still in its infant stages – which, once fully developed, will meet the hotel's own requirements for organic herbs and vegetables.
Beyond these environmental achievements, however, the hotel has taken significant measures in local community development through its involvement with the Bentota Beruwala Hoteliers Association. The hotel along with the Association has been instrumental in developing the lives and livelihoods of the "Beach Operators" as they are now known - local youth who are now given priority in organizing beach activities along with cultural and environmental tours for guests. The management of Bentota Beach Hotel also has plans to set up an association to protect and conserve ecosystems that are part of the Bentota River.
Mr. Sanjeeva Perera, General Manager of Bentota Beach Hotel, said, "I am extremely proud to achieve a certification from one of the most recognized sustainability brands in the world today. John Keells Hotels Group pledges to 'Be Green' and the resort has proven to stay true to this whilst challenging the status quo to constantly improve and emphasize our social and environmental responsibilities."
ABOUT BENTOTA BEACH HOTEL
Bentota, known for its broad golden beaches, is situated in the southern coastal zone of Sri Lanka, a mere one-and-a-half-hour drive from Colombo. If the idea of a vacation calls to mind an image of lazing around on the beach, indulging in mouth-watering delicacies, and returning home with sun-kissed skin, Bentota Beach hotel should be given top priority.
The hotel's design is based on an ancient Dutch fort by the famous Geoffrey Bawa and is situated at the point where the Bentota River flows into the Indian Ocean. Expect to be lulled by the sounds of ocean waves and the water lapping against the river banks. Bentota Beach Hotel accommodates 130 rooms and 3 suites, all of which have sea-front or river-front views.
The hotel, through its specialized sports center (Club Inter Sport) organizes excursions, including taking a boat ride along the Bentota River to the surrounding mangroves, visiting the turtle hatcheries in Kosgoda, or taking an hour's drive to explore the Dutch Fort in Galle. For those looking for something more laid-back, there is a Balinese spa with expertise in pampering.
Contact: Sanjeeva Perera, General Manager, Keells Hotel Management Services,
Bentota Beach Hotel, Bentota, Sri Lanka, Email: sanjeevap.khms@keells.com , Phone: +94(0)342275176-7, 2270524, Mobile: +94(0)718440159, Web: www.johnkeellshotels.com
ABOUT GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION
Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification brand to be an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) an agency of the United Nations, and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
For information, visit www.greenglobe.com .
Green Globe Case Study - The Lodge at Chaa Creek
Watch Green Globe videos at www.youtube.com/user/greenglobecert .
26 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFTjBV_s5_KYZsl_OyH3z7FaToGMQ&url=http://www.eturbonews.com/25412/green-globe-announces-certification-bentota-beach-hotel-sri-lank
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