Friday Dec 20, 2024
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
General Managers of the Cultural Triangle Hotels of Browns Hotels & Resorts with the local community for “Sustainable Bee Honey Farming”
Bees are nature’s masterful architects, pollinators and guardians of biodiversity. Their colonies embody a delicate balance of collaboration and purpose, playing an essential role in maintaining ecosystems. Valued primarily for its medicinal and nutritional benefits, in Sri Lanka, the tradition of harvesting honey from wild bee colonies spans generations, where local farmers have long nurtured bees to protect the environment and enhance their livelihoods. Building on this symbiotic relationship, Browns Hotels & Resorts recently launched a Sustainable Bee Honey Farming Project, led by its properties in the Cultural Triangle: Hotel Sigiriya, Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya and Occidental Paradise Dambulla.
Under the guidance of an Agriculture Instructor and Department of Agriculture (Central Province) Bee Keeping Subject Matter Officer S.J.K. Kulasinghe the initiative aims to protect biodiversity, strengthen local economies and enhance guest experience. The project began in September with a gathering of local communities and by conducting awareness sessions for both hotel teams and residents. These sessions were designed to build knowledge on sustainable beekeeping practices and highlight the role of bees in supporting ecosystems. By November, bee boxes and colonies were distributed to participating community members and hotel properties, marking the start of their journey in cultivating thriving bee colonies. Browns Hotels & Resorts continues to support the project through regular workshops and monitoring, ensuring the health of the bees and the success of the initiative.
The collaboration between the hotels and local residents not only fosters environmental sustainability but also creates new income opportunities for participants. Browns Hotels & Resorts has pledged to purchase the honey produced by the colonies, providing a stable and reliable source of income for community members.
The honey is seamlessly integrated into the hotels’ offerings, from honey-inspired dishes at buffets to wellness treatments that celebrate its natural purity. This ensures that guests not only enjoy a premium product but also connect with the sustainability efforts at the heart of their experience.
The Sustainable Bee Honey Farming Project by Browns Hotels & Resorts is a significant step towards strengthening communities, protecting ecosystems and redefining sustainable hospitality in Sri Lanka.
