Written by Lemongrass on 25th Oct 2018
The Future of Sustainability: Lanserhof Sylt.
*New – opening 2020*
Where: Lanserhof Sylt, situated on the Island of Sylt off the coast of Germany and often referred to as the Hamptons of the country due to its impressive natural landscape and temperate climate.
When: 2020
The details:
- Due to open in 2020, Sylt will be an architectural masterpiece and not at the expense of its location, as Sylt will be constructed with ecologically and ‘health friendly’ building materials, monitored by building biologists
- Lanserhof Sylt is designed by renowned wellness architect Christoph Ingenhoven – the mastermind behind the monastic Lanserhof Tegernsee
- The resort will make use of geothermal energy to supplement triple glazing and 26cm of insulation in the thatched roof to reduce energy consumption
- All excavated soil will remain on the island to aid in ecological conservation and reduce the carbon footprint that would result from moving the soil
- Coastal and nature conservation will be employed and monitored throughout construction to minimise the impact on the surrounding landscape
- Lanserhof Sylt will have the largest thatched roof in Europe with 12,900 square metres
- Architectural wellness lies at the heart of all Lanserhof properties and reflects Lanserhof’s ethos of holistic wellness that goes beyond physical spaces and underlines the approach of Lanserhof – to be healthy and stay healthy
- Sylt, by design, will be constructed with health, prevention and regeneration in mind, integrating the functions of a resort with state-of-the-art medical care, while at the same time being geared towards the well-being of its guests, and striking a balance between the environment and the individual.
For more information contact: Laura Smith or Fredrica Slater at Lemongrass Marketing
E: lanserhof@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
Celebrating 10 years of sustainability at Azura Retreats
Where: The Azura Retreats portfolio includes three properties, Azura Benguerra Island, Azura Quilalea Private Island, Mozambique, and Azura Selous, in the heart of Tanzania’s largest game reserve, all with impressive sustainability initiatives. Plans for a fourth property on the horizon.
When: Open all year
Appeals to:
- Ambitious philanthropists who appreciate the finer things in life and enjoy making a positive impact along the way
The details:
- Conceived as the vision of Stella and Christopher Bettany, former London financiers, Azura Retreats has always held community and environment at its core – before the first brick was laid in Mozambique, the couple had built a school on the remote Benguerra Island and recruited an Environmental and Community Specialist to ensure the luxury retreat bore minimal impact on the environment
- Their first school on Benguerra Island now educates 400 children – 10 times more than the 40 children that received education before their arrival more than 10 years ago
- All three properties in the Azura portfolio were constructed in collaboration with the local community using sustainable materials where possible – from the handmade bricks to the wooden structures and interiors manufactured by small local businesses
- Intelligent water systems installed in each property recycle water where possible, with solar powered showers available for guest’s use
- Azura Quilalea is proudly single-use plastic free, with only bamboo straws and glass bottled water offered to guests
- As an advocate for Pack for Purpose, guests can show their support by bringing supplies for local projects in their luggage to be shared by the Azura Retreats team
- The Rainbow Fund, founded by Stella and Christopher, supports a variety of social and environmental projects, large and small, from building schools to environmental protection initiatives. To date, they have built their own school and housing blocks for teachers, sponsored local football teams, supplied neighbouring medical centres and conducted environmental research on turtles nesting on the island in the surrounding reefs. They are currently fundraising to build a medical centre within the community
Rate: From $700 per person per night
For more information contact: Alana Fogarty and Alex Liste at Lemongrass Marketing
E: azura@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
Martinhal implements sustainability policies for a sustainable future
Where: Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts, Portugal
The details:
- Martinhal have implemented a full sustainability programme across of its’ four resorts in Portugal
- It has provided all staff with re-usable thermo cups to cut down on plastic waste
- Takeaway boxes are now biodegradable and come with disposable bamboo cutlery
- Plastic straws have been banned and replaced by paper straws
- A desalinisation programme has been initiated, whereby garden irrigation uses desalinated water from underground reserves, minimising fresh water usage
- Employees are encouraged to volunteer for regular beach cleaning days
- Martinhal has installed 233 solar panels and 520 photovoltaic panels to generate its’ own green energy
- Glass bottles are used wherever possible, saving 55,000 plastic bottles a year across the four resorts
Rate: Rooms at Martinhal start from €180 per night
For more information contact: Ellena Johnstone and Charlie Mottram at Lemongrass Marketing
E: martinhal@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
The Nautilus: A 400-point plan to ensure economic, socio-cultural and environmental sustainability in the Maldives
*New – opening January 2019*
Where: The Nautilus, a 26-house private island that is located in the Baa Atoll, Maldives
When: Opening January 2019
The details:
- Opening January 2019, The Nautilus, a tiny private island in The Maldives, will redefine luxury and offer absolute freedom at its core, allowing guests a chance to indulge in their ultimate desires
- Committed to ensuring sustainability within the region, The Nautilus’ 400-point plan will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the resort’s contribution to the economic, socio-cultural and environmental sustainability, and will be measured and evaluated annually to ensure continued development
— A plastic free environment:
- The Nautilus operates a plastic-free policy where possible. Straws are bamboo or paper, and water is served in glass bottles, with guests supplied with refillable thermos bottles to use as they move around the island. Bathroom amenities are either unpackaged or packaged in recycled, unbleached cardboard
— Protecting marine-life:
- The neighbouring coral reef and lagoon at The Nautilus is a marine-protected area and vital for the long-term health of the island. Guests can show their support through a coral regeneration programme, where they can adopt their own reef and watch it grow under the supervision of the expert team armed with the latest regeneration techniques to ensure its success.
- The Nautilus works closely with local charities The Manta Trust and Manta Matcher to contribute to their research on marine management and how to drive conservation for its inhabitants, including Manta Rays and nesting turtles on the island
- All of the fish served at the restaurants is responsibly sourced and Marine Stewardship Council certified and all cleaning products are environmentally friendly to ensure the water remains a healthy habitat
— Purchasing policy:
- The Nautilus favours environmentally certified suppliers with robust environmental policies and social practices. This covers everything from their recycled paper to organic produce and certified wood
— Commitment to local products:
- The Nautilus works closely with the neighbouring islands, buying local products within the region and employing local craftspeople in the development of the resort. They believe investing in local agriculture is the best way to support the local community, making life for local people economically sustainable
— Renewable energy:
- Solar panels are being incorporated into the building process to ensure a portion of energy usage will come from a renewable source
http://www.thenautilusmaldives.com/
Rate: from US$1,967 for two sharing a Beach House with pool on bed and breakfast basis per night
For more information, please contact: Alana Fogarty and Tom Robins at Lemongrass Marketing
E: nautilus@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
ROBINSON go green in an effort to ‘Save The Maldives’
Where: ROBINSON Club Noonu, Maldives
The details:
- One of ROBINSON’s newest clubs, this resort on the private Maldivian island of Orivaru on the Noonu Atoll is seeking to minimize waste and operate sustainably, particularly given the delicate balance of the Maldive’s ecosystems
- Adam Szkop, General Manager of ROBINSON Club Noonu says:
“The topic of sustainability is of great importance to us here at ROBINSON Club Noonu. We actively seek to reduce waste for example in the reduction of plastic bottles using our own drinking water system, which fills the fresh mineral water directly into environmentally friendly glass bottles. The subject is not only part of our corporate philosophy but is also very close to my heart personally and my employees. This attitude is reflected in all areas: From the cultivation of herbs to the responsible preparation of the food we focus on a sustainable use of our resources.”
- The resort does not use plastic bags, instead using bags woven from corn and asks guests to take all one-use plastics home with them
- All food is cooked fresh and with minimal wastage. Food shipments are only received every 2-weeks to minimize the resorts’ carbon footprint and thus as much produce as possible is sourced locally
Rate: Prices start from £1,135 per person for a week, all-inclusive.
For more information contact: Alex Liste or Charlie Mottram at Lemongrass Marketing
E: robinson@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
A big lake with a small carbon footprint: Earth, water, sky – how Lake Constance embodies sustainability
Where: Lake Constance, surrounded by Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Principality of Liechtenstein
The details:
Lake Constance is a destination which prides itself on its vast and varying landscape. The region is committed to protecting its most valuable asset by employing strategies that embrace sustainability. Here are some ways that Lake Constance is demonstrating its commitment:
— Earth:
- The Wollmatinger Marsh is the region’s oldest and most renowned nature reserves on the German side of Lake Constance. The conditions support countless animals and plants, threatened species and rarely-occurring in their natural habitat, and at the heart of the marsh is the NABU-Wollmatinger Marsh Nature Conservation Centre – the caring steward of this 767-hectare conservation area for almost 40 years.
- On 13 October 2018 a brand new state-of-the-art nature centre: NABU Lake Constance Center opened. The centre offers visitors an exhibit showcasing valuable information about the surrounding wildlife and access to local guides
- The centre offers 200 guided tours annually to raise awareness for protecting this sanctuary. Small groups of visitors get to explore the marsh in the company of local experts who are familiar with the bird and plant species native to Lake Constance
- The NABU Lake Constance Centre maintains 27 protected areas including the 1,000-hectare habitat network “Western Untersee”
— Water:
- Lake Constance’s lake water is so clean that it provides drinking water for approximately 4.5 million inhabitants in Germany and Switzerland. As such, the ‘Sustainable Lake Constance” project works to maintain the drinking water quality by reducing emissions caused by shipping and water sports
— Sky:
- The Aqua Tower hotel in Radolfzell, Germany, was originally a water tower, converted over 8 years into a fully sustainable hotel by the Räffle family, and opened in April 2017
- Using solely renewable resources such as water, sun and wind, the building generates more energy than is necessary for its operation. Not only is it fully independent from gas or fuel and absolutely environmentally friendly, the hotel has 20 rooms including storey suites, panoramic view rooms and the private spa suite, which is the highest hotel room in the whole Lake Constance region
Getting there: fly London to Friedrichshafen from £178 per person with Lufthansa
For more information contact: Fredrica Slater and Carley Lee at Lemongrass Marketing
E: lakeconstance@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990
Lausanne, a gold standard, pioneering city for sustainable development
Where: Lausanne, Switzerland – on the shores of Lake Geneva
The details:
- As a pioneer in matters of sustainable development, the City of Lausanne is active in a variety of spheres, including energy, mobility, town planning, education and social affairs. It is the first European cities to have received the Gold European Energy Award.
- Conscious of its exceptional natural setting, Lausanne has made sustainable development one of the spearheads of local policy and it represents one of the four pillars of excellence in the municipality of Lausanne, alongside culture, education and research, sport and Olympism
- Green tourism has undergone rapid growth in the city, with many restaurants and hotels offering local produce, while the city has created designated trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
- Green by nature, Lausanne extends from the floral quays of Ouchy to the forest of Jorat in the north, surrounded by the Lavaux vineyards to the east and those of La Côte to the west. There are also 350 hectares of public parks and gardens – perfect for walks and relaxation
- Lausanne has a strong green transport system, from the city’s many pedestrian zones conducive to walks, self-service bicycle hire, a compact public transport network which is mostly powered by electricity and solar-powered boats on Lake Geneva – to help the city roads be as green and clear as possible
- All guests at Lausanne hotels also receive a free of charge Lausanne Transport Card for free and unrestricted access to all public transport services in the city
Rate: Flights to Geneva start from £40 (short transfer to Lausanne)
https://www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/en/
For more information contact: Alex Liste or Charlie Mottram at Lemongrass Marketing
E: lausanne@lemongrassmarketing.com
T: 01865 237 990