purpose How we’ve helped to make a difference to people’s lives, local communities and the world in 2023
MAHALI HAS A NEW VEGETABLE GARDEN
This fabulous new eco-garden is growing vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. It provides up to 60% of the restaurant’s vegetables - as well as fresh, healthy vegetables to the team too. Impact: • Reduces our carbon footprint from food deliveries • Provides our guests and team with healthy, nutritious vegetables
SON BUNYOLA HAS INSTALLED 12 BEEHIVES Each hive is home to around 60,000 bees and one queen. They’re managed by Mel Caramel, a small local business specialising in certified organic honey. Impact: • Provides delicious, fresh, and nutritious honey to our guests and team, while providing a home for bees • Reduces our carbon footprint by locally sourcing food • Supporting local businesses
NECKER GUESTS ARE NOW RESTORING MANGROVE FORESTS The unassuming mangrove tree, with its tentacle-like root, plays a critical role in coastal ecosystems, protecting the land against storms and erosion, and providing a critical habitat for some of the world’s most bio-diverse ecosystems. They also act as carbon sinks, sucking up and storing huge quantities of CO2 as they grow.
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In 2017, Hurricane Irma destroyed over 90% of the BVI’s mangrove habitat, decimating wildlife populations. To help local authorities with regeneration efforts, Necker, in partnership with Virgin Unite, launched a new tour in 2023 whereby guests kayak through the mangroves before helping to plant juvenile mangrove trees. All tour fees go to supporting this conservation effort. Impact: • Helps to regenerate and conserve this critical ecosystem and its wildlife populations • Helps reduce CO2 in the atmosphere
MAHALI HAS BUILT A COMPUTER LAB FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN
Thanks to generous donations from guests, the first such facility in the entire region has 20 computers and six laptops. It will be connected to the internet in Q1 of 2024. Impact: • Enabling the local schoolchildren to learn how to use computers, opening them to a world of knowledge and opportunity
SON BUNYOLA BOUGHT TEXTILES FROM EBF The Eve Branson Foundation was commissioned by Son Bunyola to make a bespoke collection of textiles for the hotel, including bathmats, laundry bags, rugs and embroidered napkins. Impact: • Supporting EBF, providing jobs and income for local Berber villagers around Kasbah Tamadot
ULUSABA HAVE SET UP A SUSTAINABILITY BOARD
...where staff can make suggestions. One idea has seen waste orange peel turned into a candied bar snack.
NECKER HAS LOCALLY SOURCED THEIR COFFEE Necker changed coffee supplier during 2023 to help support a local business. It’s now sourced directly from organic supplier Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters. From the roaster and straight to the island. Impact: • Supports a local business • Reduces carbon footprint from food deliveries
MAHALI HAS INSTALLED A SOLAR FARM The camp and the staff village now run 85% of the time on renewable solar energy. The farm generates 21,000KWh in electricity, saving on average $7,000 a month in fuel costs. Impact: • Saves over 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year
KASBAH DISCOVERED SOME ‘SHINING STARS’ EBF and our KT team piloted a new initiative called ‘Shining Stars’ aimed at rewarding and recognising the many achievements of local primary school children. Impact: • Helps to instill confidence in all areas of school life • Keeps young learners firmly on their path to a proper education
MONT ROCHELLE RECYCLED THEIR REFURBISHMENT
The Mont Rochelle team refurbished a number of their bedrooms in 2023. Rather than buying all new furniture, they recovered and repainted the old furniture. Impact: • Reduced furniture waste and waste disposal • Reduced use of raw materials
MAHALI SCHOOL CHILDREN SCORED NEW TEAM FOOTBALL SHIRTS
The Metro Office team donated the funds to buy new football shirts for the grade 6 & 7 students (aged between 12 – 14 years) - for the girls’ team. Huge thanks to Chuks for organising the fundraising. Impact: • A delighted group of kids who will hopefully go on to win the league!
SON BUNYOLA INSTALLED A WASTEWATER RECYLCING PLANT
The wastewater treatment plant harvests water from the hotel drainage to irrigate the farm and hotel grounds. Impact: • Reduces water wastage and conserves water supplies
MONT ROCHELLE DONATED £900 TO THE KUSASA PROJECT
15% of the revenue on selected spa treatments was donated to this inspirational Franschhoek NGO. They operate a primary school for over 150 underprivileged children. Impact: • Giving young children an education who would otherwise miss out, setting them on a path to future success
NECKER JOINED IN WORLD CLEAN UP DAY To coincide with World Clean Up Day, the Necker team took to the paths for a day of island spring cleaning. Around 130 people kindly volunteered their time to help. Impact: • Reduces litter and environmental pollution
MOROCCAN EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
Our Earthquake Appeal, in partnership with EBF and Virgin Unite, has so far raised an astonishing £682,000 for the victims of the tragedy, which devastated the local communities around the Kasbah. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated. It will make such a difference to their lives. Despite the Kasbah closing, VLE continued to pay our loyal team their salaries throughout 2023.
THE LODGE DONATED 35 WINTER JACKETS TO THE APPEAL
METRO OFFICE SUPPORTED OPERATION CHRISTMAS
The team at the Metro Office were invited to be a part of Operation Christmas Child, The Samaritans Christmas initiative to bring joy and hope to children in need. 25 shoeboxes were filled with presents, wrapped up and sent off to deliver Christmas magic to girls and boys around the world.
T H ANK Y OU to everyone, at every property, for your outstanding efforts to make an impact, and make us a purpose-driven company. Let’s keep it up in 2024.