PURE GOLFING DRAMA

Introducing La Réserve Golf Links, the first and only links-style course in the Indian Ocean, opening December 2023.

An experience of pure golfing drama, this exhilarating new course offers far-reaching views over tropical bays, sandy beaches and the ocean.

How committed is Attitude to sustainable tourism?

Attitude Hotels is committed to tourism with a positive impact. So much so, we created the Positive Impact movement in Mauritius. We have eight eco-committed hotels on the island, offering guests the chance to have an incredible holiday, while being a responsible traveller, too. Every day we seek to have a positive impact on the local environment, community and economy.

Why did Attitude bet on responsible and sustainable development 15 years ago?

The planet’s warning signals are flashing red. We can no longer move forward with a traditional model. Since Attitude was founded in 2008, sustainability has been at the heart of every decision the group makes. The strategy is not defined by single, disconnected measures, but a holistic approach that is embedded in every action and decision.

Post-pandemic, tourists have approached travel differently. They are more aware and are looking for value-added, more responsible travel. Staying at an Attitude hotel gives meaning to a holiday. It means supporting the community that welcomes tourists, and it means supporting our local economy by giving local entrepreneurs, artists and craftspeople the opportunity to flourish.

It is also about preserving the environment, taking care of our island and our planet. It’s a whole ecosystem to consider. To take action, we had to rethink our operating model and dare to shake up the status quo.

How did Attitude take on the challenge to transform its business?

We have had to make bold decisions. By 2020, we achieved our goal of eliminating all single-use plastic in the guest experience. This represents the elimination of almost four million single-use plastic items from our hotel business per year. This decision meant that we had to rethink the way we operate in several departments. We created a Bulk Shop in each Attitude hotel, where guests can help themselves to local tea, coffee, sugar and snacks in reusable glass jars. On arrival, they receive a reusable Dopper water bottle, a brand committed to the fight against plastic pollution like Attitude. Guests can fill-up at the water fountains available or at the bar.

What are Attitude’s main sustainability achievements and commitments to date?

Above all, our commitment to positive impact tourism is the purpose of the Attitude Group. In 2020, we have moved from a results-oriented business model to a purpose-oriented model. And that’s already a big achievement!

We have increased our sustainable tourism initiatives and included our customers. When guests arrive, they are invited to tie a string of fishing net collected from the beach to our ‘Miray Lespwar’, a wall display of our sustainable actions and future commitments. This tangible link allows customers to symbolise their commitment to the local economy, environment and community, too!

One of our suggestions is for customers to take a small blue net bag with them when going in the lagoon, sea or walking along the coast. It means they can look out for rubbish and help collect it while out and about. We also have reef-safe mineral sunscreen available to our customers, which helps protect the underwater life. All of our suppliers and service providers are encouraged to improve their environmental footprint. We have a single-use plastic policy in our guest experience, but this is only made possible by working closely with our suppliers on packaging reduction projects.

At POZ Spa, only natural ingredients are used and these are all sourced locally or in the region. This includes ingredients such as moringa oil, pure coconut oil and Chamarel coffee beans. When guests buy any of the spa products, five percent is donated to the Green Attitude Foundation, which helps fund various sustainable development projects, such as scientific programmes at the Marine Discovery Centre. The centre is located at one of our hotels, Lagoon Attitude, and we are proud of the incredible efforts the centre makes to preserve the marine eco-systems. The Marine Discovery Centre team, including our marine biologist, educates local fishing people and school children, as well as our guests, and raises awareness of our coastal and marine environment.

Attitude Hotels has also created a Gender Equality Committee to provide a more inclusive environment for our employees, and for our customers. We are implementing concrete measures such as extended paternity leave and gender-neutral job offers.

In 2022, Attitude was named overall top sustainability performer at the first sustainable tourism mauritius awards. How can this award serve to benefit the mauritian tourism industry?

The centre is also the Mauritian base for several regional scientific programmes in collaboration with committed organisations. The centre recently took part in a scientific study on hawksbill turtles in the Indian Ocean in collaboration with Reunion Island.

We have also created an investment company – Otentik Investment – to support projects that are in line with our sustainable development objectives. Since June 2022, 50 percent of our food and beverage purchases have been from suppliers with the Made in Moris label. The label showcases companies that support the local economy, local jobs, creativity and know-how. In fact, we are the only hotel group to hold the Made in Moris label.

The post-pandemic recovery of Mauritius is positive. There are still many challenges to position Mauritius as a sustainable destination, but the common vision and commitment of players in the private and public tourism ecosystem will take the destination further in this direction. Fortunately, more and more responsible initiatives are flourishing, and not only in the tourism sector. However, hoteliers cannot act alone. Mauritius can become a reference for the Indian Ocean region if we adopt a collaborative national approach. Every Mauritian must know that by protecting the environment, he or she makes the destination more attractive. The whole country will benefit.