COMMUNITY & SUSTAINABILITY
The Caribbean is the destination of choice for many British holidaymakers and supporting the islands is crucial to the economy and the hospitality industry. At Essential Detail we recognise the importance of being aware and involved, and as a region with a rich and diverse culture, one thing that stands out is the supporting community, island initiatives, nurturing local talent, and giving back to strengthen local opportunities.
We love that our Essential Detail hotels understand, and embrace their chosen projects, groups and support their own staff skilled development.
East Winds, Saint Lucia Supporting their Community & Sustainability
East Winds Garden
East Winds 12 acre natural landscape has 100 different types of flora beautifully arranged throughout the hotel grounds, from many differnet plants, tree and birds. Guests are welcome to join the weekly Garden Tours led by passionate Head Gardener, Sylvanus, as he shares the stories and medicinal qualities of this little piece of Eden. The garden at East Winds is a tropical botanic garden, full of fruit, vegetables and herbs – all of which are used both in the kitchen and in the spa to create authentic organic dishes and spa treatments free of additives and preservatives.
Banana Museum
Something a little different, East Winds is home to the island’s first ‘living banana museum’. Producing fruit from up to 10 different varieties – in yellow, red and green. The museum was planted as part of East Winds’ efforts to help preserve varieties of bananas that are becoming rare either because they are difficult to grow and transport.
The Green Plan - Green Globe Certified
Nurturing Nature, Sustaining Life – East Winds commitment to sustainability is at the core of the hotel. With their Green Plan, they have created an eco-friendly and sustainable environment that captures the essence of protecting the natural world. Through practices such as organic farming, renewable energy utilisation, waste reduction, and water conservation, they strive to minimise their environmental footprint. By embracing the Green Plan, they aim to foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
East Winds Family Foundation
The property supports their own causes and the East Winds Family Foundation founded in 2017. The foundation supports the children of staff members ensuring they receive a proper education by remaining in school. The foundation provides each staff member's children with the opportunity and funds to stay in education and in order to achieve this goal, a small donation from guests of USD $1 per room for each night spent at the hotel will go towards ensuring the future of the close-knit East Wind community.
Help Paws
Compassion for Our Furry Friends – at East Winds they have a deep love for animals, and through their Help Paws program, they are dedicated to their welfare. They actively support local animal shelters and organisations that rescue and care for abandoned and mistreated animals.
Other Ways East Winds Supports Saint Lucia
Donating supplies to schools and senior centres / Providing lunches to local teachers / Reusing, recycling, and donating used furniture / Sponsoring gifts or prizes for community activities.
Jamaica Inn, Jamaica Supporting their Community & Sustainability
Green Globe Certified
At Jamaica Inn the hotel is ahead of its time and has been sustainably focused and a Green Globe-Certified hotel for the past 17 years. Jamaica Inn has implemented many green initiatives, such as composting, recycling waste, recycling grey water, tree-planting initiatives, use of renewable energy, use of eco-friendly chemicals in all departments, eliminating the use of Styrofoam products and installation of LED bulbs in every area of the property. All these initiatives are implemented with the planet and wellbeing of guests at the forefront, a mindful hotel now and in the future.
Jamaica Inn Coral Planting
Since the 1970s, severe weather events, overfishing and disease have led to an 85% reduction in coral coverage in the waters around Ocho Rios, leading to a decrease in the size and quality of fish by 600%. After lots of hard work and collaboration with local fisherman, Jamaica Inns White River Fish Sanctuary is making a difference and coral and fish are on the increase, largely funded and facilitated by the Jamaica Inn Foundation.
Sea Turtle Conservation
Jamaica Inn is not just a comfortable spot for guests – it is a haven for a colony of Hawksbill turtles. These gentle creatures safely nest and hatch on the beach every summer. During the months of June – November, guests can witness mother turtles come ashore and dig a nest to lay her eggs or help tiny turtle hatchlings make their way to the open sea. We love that Jamaica Inn are proud custodians of their special area of the island and work in harmony with nature, always striving to preserve the incredible beauty of their little piece of Jamaica. Their many eco-friendly initiatives have now become a way of life at the inn and guests are encouraged to get involved and offset their environmental impact when holidaying at Jamaica Inn.
Other Ways Jamaica Inn Supports Jamaica
Donating supplies to schools and senior centres / Providing lunches to local teachers / Reusing, recycling, and donating used furniture / Sponsoring gifts or prizes for community activities.
Rabot Hotel, Saint Lucia Supporting their Community & Sustainability
Island Growers Programme
Located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encouraging locals and guests to explore the natural environment. Rabot Hotel started the ‘Island Growers Programme’ in 2008 with the intention to form a revival of the cacao industry in Saint Lucia. Since this began, they have influenced many farmers across the island to establish cacao farms on their estates.
Gentle Farming Approach
Rabot Hotel offer shade for tree seedlings as Cacao thrives in the shade of other trees. It’s better for nature too, because more biodiversity leads to regenerative agriculture and better climate resilience / Pruning working with farmers to provide professional hands-on help and share knowledge on pruning practices, this helps them get the best possible cacao yield / Organic fertiliser helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients, for effective plant and tree growth, and are gentler on natures than chemical fertilisers / Premium price guaranteed for all farmers, no matter the size of their yield.
Helen’s Daughter’s
The Helen’s Daughters organisation strive to give rural women farmers the appropriate tools, skills, and support to help increase the production of foods that are consumed on island, particularly in the booming hotel sector. The hotel proudly partner with them on their Hotel Chocolat Apprenticeship Farm at Project Chocolat.
Energy & Waste
Rabot Hotel is commitmented to sustainability, with their use of solar-heated water and energy-saving lights. Waste management meaning there is a strict no-plastic policy and composts organic waste. The hotel also focusses on water conservation with harvesting rainwater.
Other Ways Rabot Hotel Supports Saint Lucia
The estate supports employing local islanders / Buildings blend into the rainforest using natural materials and colours / Empowering rural women in agriculture / Hands-On Learning for guests with the "Tree to Bar" tours learning about cacao farming and even make their own chocolate.
Young Island, St Vincent Supporting their Community & Sustainability
World Pediatric Project
90% percent of the world’s population has access to only 10% of the world’s health resources. Throughout the Caribbean, it’s challenging for local children to receive quality, critical-care health services. St. Vincent & The Grenadines has a high incidence level of rheumatic fever, close to 200 times that of the United States, which can result in rheumatic heart disease if left untreated. Throughout the year, teams of doctors and medical professionals travel from North America to help patients in St Vincent. Young Island shows their appreciation and gratitude for helping the local community and neighbors with accommodating these doctors and medical professionals by offering concessionary rates arranged through World Pediatic Project. In addition, the resort also proudly supports ther fundraising initiatives.
