The 10 Most Sustainable Hotels in Aruba

REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE

• Water canteens and water coolers for guests to discourage the purchase of plastic bottles. 290,000 water bottles saved per year
• Electronic signature at check-in instead of paper
• Recycling bins for aluminum and green glass
• Left-over food donated to local farmers
• Old furniture is reused or sold for refurbishment
• Purchase products in bulk
• Dispensers for toiletries rather than individual packaging

WATER SAVING

• Load washing machines to full capacity before use
• Water saving faucets
• Water saving toilets
• Grey water used for irrigation in garden
• Changing of bed linens only on Wednesday and Saturday and on request or check out
• Sprinklers are on timers which are adjusted depending on amount of rainfall. We also collect rain water and use it for irrigation.

NATURE PRESERVATION

• Monthly Beach Clean Ups with guests and employees
• Farmed wood
• Outdoor deck made of recycled materials
• Use of eco-friendly cleaning products

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is a Platinum-certified Green Globe resort. We are committed to operating an eco-friendly resort and adhering to the best practices of sustainable tourism.  Our initiatives include:

• • Annually reviewing our performance and improving year to year toward the industry’s best practice levels.
  • Wherever possible, purchasing local products and services with minimal negative environmental impact.
  • Recording and tracking our operational performance in order to maintain an effective environmental sustainability plan.
  • Giving preference to employing local people wherever possible.
  • Reducing, reusing and recycling throughout the property to prevent and control pollution.
  • Educating our staff, guests, suppliers and community in order to build environmental awareness and action.
  • Lowering our utility costs by tracking the performance of current systems and technology
  • Introducing a measurement and monitoring system across the company.

At the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, we constantly find ways to innovate eco-friendly developments. Some of our main efforts include:

• Saving water by using Aerators and Dual Flush Systems
• Saving energy by using Solar Heaters and insulation doors and windows
• Minimizing emissions and waste generation of regular and hazardous materials involved in our operations
• Protecting and minimizing our impact on the air quality
• Decreasing solid waste generation and, where possible, increasing re-use and recycling practices
• Properly managing our waste water resources to minimize our impact on the environment
• Encouraging and enhancing environmental awareness among our guests, staff, and the local community
• Participating with NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations) in conservation programs to protect local species and their habitat
• Every year, sea turtles lay their eggs on Eagle Beach. To protect them from harm, we have our staff ensure that there is no human interference

We monitor all of the water use on our properties, including water used for pools, guest rooms, kitchens, restaurants, dining areas and gray water for landscaping.

We use timers on our electrical equipment, including air-conditioning units, outdoor lighting for walkways, 100% energy saving light bulbs, refrigeration equipment in the kitchens and more.

Plastic constitutes 90% of all trash floating in the oceans. Straws are in the top 10 of items picked up during trash cleanups and affecting Aruba wildlife, turtles and other species. This is one of the main reasons we have eliminated the use of plastic straws and other paper and plastic goods throughout the properties. We have reduced our bottle usage by 60% by using BiB (bag in box) systems.

Hotel determines suitability of all products before they are purchased, and we provide full training for staff whenever new chemicals or equipment are purchased for use at any Divi property.

Among standout practices, Hyatt Regency Aruba was lauded for: The “elegant” use of natural ventilation in the main lobby, befitting the resort’s tropical location while resulting in “substantial energy savings.”Use of premium environmentally friendly solutions, such as the planned introduction of biodegradable food trays instead of cheaper polystyrene trays.The roof garden with skylights for the Ruinas del Mar restaurant, hailed as “one of the few successful roof gardens in Aruba” in the Green Globe Certification Audit Report. Community work by employees done during work time.

The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino continually strives to operate in an environmentally friendly way. It recently introduced new digital thermostats as well as LED lighting in all guest rooms. The hotel is in the process of installing new double-pane glass windows and doors.  Other green initiatives already implemented include constant exhaust air regulators, a solar domestic hot-water system, domestic water booster bumps to regulate water pressure, energy recovery units, and a gray-water filtration system, which recycles zinc water for plant irrigation. The associates also participate in community beach cleanups and Earth Hour.

At MVC Eagle Beach we care about the environment. Most of our actions take place in the back of the house so our guests don’t really notice but you can be sure that by doing business with us you are helping care for the planet and can trust that we are doing everything possible to minimize the environmental footprint resulting from travels.

We are proud to have received two high ranked certificates for our input in helping the environment. MVC Eagle Beach successfully attained EarthCheck Silver Benchmarked status and the Travelife Gold status.

The Travelife scheme awards hotels who improve their environmental management and social policy by working with and contributing to the local community. To gain the EarthCheck certification, MVC Eagle Beach had to report their environmental footprint to independent auditors and adhere to internationally recognized standard of Best Practice.

Coast Hotels are nestled in magnificent mountain ranges and spectacular cities, in quaint towns and coastal retreats. We want to keep those places beautiful. Our eco-friendly, hotel practices help protect our surroundings by encouraging sustainability in a variety of ways: recycling, composting, sustainable foods, bio-degradable cleaning supplies, energy-efficient lighting and more.

Sustain. Protect. Experience. These are the principles that guide The Ritz-Carlton Environmental Responsibility strategy and goals, including:

• further reducing energy and water consumption 20% by 2020 (Energy 20 percent per kWh/conditioned m2; Water 20 percent per occupied room. Baseline: 2007);
• increasing local and organic dining options by partnering with local farmers, growers and seafood purveyors;
• sourcing environmentally preferred products;
• empowering our hotel development partners to build green hotels;
• engaging and inspiring our employees and guests in conservation efforts.

We are focused on integrating environmental sustainability throughout our business, including architecture and construction, hotel operations, and procurement. A comprehensive set of initiatives and practices are in place, designed to reduce energy use, water consumption and waste, while database and monitoring systems help us to track consumption and monitor progress against goals.