The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business

Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Baha Mar executives yesterday said the Cable Beach mega resort has invested more than $2m in conservation and sustainability initiatives to help attract environmentally-conscious guests.

Melvern Williamson, the Baha Mar foundation manager, told Tribune Business during the resort’s Sustainability Week first-day workshop that it will today unveil a $50,000 donation to the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). This, she added, aligns with the resort's efforts to promote itself as environmentally conscious.

“Annually, we donate over $2m to various environmental causes in the country,” she added. “These days, a lot of the guests now are asking for sustainability reporting companies, and we are putting initiatives in place that make sure that they can see it first-hand.”

O’Neil Leadon, director of conservation and sustainability programmes, said the effort to promote Baha Mar as sustainable can be seen through it being the only resort in The Bahamas with the 'Preferred by nature, sustainability certification', which means that - internationally, and with their guests - it is recognised as an environmentally-stable organisation.

He said: “If you're someone who is interested in environmental conservation, preserving the planet, or even just living a more sustainable lifestyle, then that 'Preferred By Nature' audit certification - on the e-mails, on our sites and on any communications that we make - that goes a long way in promoting the core value that we possess.”

Tarran Simms, Baha Mar's assistant director of conservation and sustainability programmes, added: “We also aid the BNT with mangrove restoration. The reason we do that is because mangroves play a part of the ecosystem service, especially for hurricanes and adaptation. And so we are doing what we can do to ensure that we save the environment through donation or also through associate’s education.

“We also donate to the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled. We have the Ranfurly Home and Nazareth home and Hands for Hunger. Lend a Hand, we actually sponsored a hydroponic system to them to help increase their food intake, and so we've actually incorporated this into our guest group activities.”