Bentota Beach Hotel is Green Globe certified

Wednesday, 31 August 2011 02:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Bentota Beach Hotel.

The Green Globe certification requires conformity to 248 preset standards, some of which being energy efficient measures, emission reduction, effective water management and waste management systems with to emphasis on reduce, recycle and reuse.

The team at Bentota Beach Hotel improved its daily practices and processes to achieve a rating of 70% of the 248 standards.

The Green Globe certification is awarded after an audit by a team of Green Globe assessors and upholds the highest standards of credibility and transparency. The organisation follows an independent third party verification process and updates its criteria annually to ensure international compliance to the standards.

Green Globe Certification supports the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). The GSTC is the agreed international standard for the sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. The Green Globe Standard meets and exceeds all the requirements of the GSTC.

Bentota Beach Hotel, designed by the master architect Geoffrey Bawa portrays a Dutch Fort with its high granite walls and design. The resort which celebrated its 40th year in operation has become a timeless landmark in the Southern Coast. The resort provides its discerning clientele with plush 4 star accommodation, dining and adventure options. Sanjeeva Perera, General Manager of Bentota Beach Hotel added, “We are extremely proud to achieve a certification from one of the most recognised sustainability brands in the world today. John Keells Hotels Group pledges to ‘Be Green’ and the resort has proven to stay true to this whilst challenging the status quo to constantly improve and emphasise on our social and environmental responsibilities.”

Chaaya Village Habarana and Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo were other resorts of the John Keells Hotels Group that were awarded the Green Globe Certification; whilst Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Cinnamon Grand Colombo have also been certified. “I will be Green” is one of the pledges upheld by the John Keells Hotels Group, staying true to this; the largest hotels and resorts chain in Sri Lanka attempts to achieve the highest green standards and to reduce its carbon footprint. The Green Globe Certification is a step taken in this direction that will begin a journey of conversion that emphasises on sustainable tourism.