Eco-Conscious Guests from Middle East.
Environmental awareness and protection initiatives appeal to holidaymakers from Gulf region who value sustainability as well as luxury
A commitment to eco-friendly initiatives has made the picturesque Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort a popular choice with environmentally-conscious guests from the Middle East.
As discerning international holidaymakers increasingly consider a destination’s green-credentials before booking a vacation, the resort is welcoming visitors from across the Gulf region who look for sustainability as much as luxury in their choice of hotel.
Now firmly established as a popular green-haven that is dedicated to protecting, preserving and promoting the natural beauty of the Maldives, the number of guests from the Middle East choosing to stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort has steadily risen each year.
Located in the South Ari Atoll, Rangali Island is a collection of three islands 30 minutes by seaplane from the capital Malé. The resort is at the very heart of the tranquil and beautiful scenery that makes the Maldives one of the world’s most-loved destinations.
The management team at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort has put into place a series of innovative eco-protection projects that not only appeal to a new generation of environmentally aware guests but also target some of the most pressing global and local issues.
These include reducing the use of single-use plastics and protecting the beautiful underwater coral reef eco-system the Maldives is famous for.
Introducing alternatives to imported water in plastic bottles has meant using glass bottles that are filled with desalinated and filtered water from the resort’s nearby Team Member island.
Each of the branded glass bottles come with a message that encourages guests to reuse them during their stay, with two placed in each villa and refilled daily. The use of reusable bottles has been warmly received by guests who value zero-waste policies while .
While refillable bottles will soon be available through the resort and on excursions, plastic bottles have already been removed from all back of house staff areas with team members due to receive their own reusable bottle to use at water stations around the island.
Moves to lower the use of plastic also extend to using paper straws at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort’s dining outlets as well as innovative ideas such as replacing individual plastic villa key cards with unique wooden cards.
A novel solution that has been widely appreciated by guests, the use of wooden cards helps to emphasis the wide range of alternatives to plastic that exist and the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort’s commitment to innovation.
In the resort’s villas, a move towards sustainable amenities has seen liquids placed in ceramic instead of plastic containers while a ‘plastic-free breakfast’ initiative means yoghurt as well as individual portions of peanut butter and Nutella are offered to guests in glass jars with butter wrapped in paper.
In February this year, 10 staff members from Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort took part in The Zero Plastic Run in Hulhumale organised by ICS Maldives. This event saw participants pick up any plastic they find while running or walking along a set route to help bring attention to the environmental impact of discarded plastics. The resort plans to hold similar events in communities around South Ari Atoll in the Maldives.
Protecting and helping to regenerate the beautiful coral reef that surrounds the island is another area where the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort has established impressive eco-friendly projects that have been warmly received by guests, who are encouraged to play their part through a popular ‘Coral Adoption Programme’.
One of the most complex ecological systems on the planet, coral is at the heart of the Maldives’ eco-system, but the effects of global warming and rising sea temperatures are unfortunately putting it at risk.
The resort is heavily focusing on rejuvenating the vital coral reefs around Rangali through daily repairs and projects to help establish and grow new reefs.
Hotel guests are encouraged to support the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort’s coral protection initiative by adopting and planting a coral frame, with 48 planted so far.
Stefano Ruzza, General Manager of Conrad Maldives said: “Sustainable initiatives that help to protect the natural beauty of the Maldives are at the core of everything the resort sets out to achieve.
“There is a passion to respect and nurture our incredible natural environment that attracts people from all over the world, including the Middle East, who come to enjoy a holiday they will never forget.
“Guests from the Middle East are enthusiastic about our environmentally-friendly policies, especially the way we have reduced plastic use and our coral adoption programme.
“Families enjoy our coral adoption programme, where their name is attached to a coral frame and updates on its progress and growth over time are shared. This helps to not only create lasting memories that will resonate with guests for years to come, it also creates a wonderful connection with the Maldives and the natural world.”
Stefano added that today’s luxury traveller seeks more than just prestigious lifestyle options and are increasingly look for destinations with an active eco-conscious ethos such as the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort.
“Everything we do at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort is anchored in conservation and taking a responsible attitude to protecting the environment as much as possible,” said Stefano. “Our guests continue to show a deep understanding and a warm appreciation for our ongoing conservation efforts.”