Following the collaborative agreement between the foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), National Operator of the Blue Flag and Green Key, and the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) to promote sustainable tourism, the partners organized a Green Key Award ceremony
From Right to Left: Paul Henriquez (SHTA Board Member), Lorraine Talmi (SHTA Board Member), Paul Boetekees (Princess Heights General Manager), Elisa Oldani (Green Key National Operator, EPIC St. Maarten), Arnaldo Phelipa (Holland House General Manager) and Laura Bijnsdorp (EPIC St. Maarten).
The two establishments that received the Green Key Award were Holland House Beach Hotel, which obtained the award for the first time, and Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel, which is being awarded for the third consecutive year.
This event was a celebration of environmental sustainability on St. Maarten and the achievement by the two beautiful properties but also presented the opportunity for other businesses to learn about the importance of preserving the tourism product and profiting from it in a sustainable way.
“The Green Key programme is not just a set of guidelines to follow, it is a comprehensive programme that ensures a reduction of waste and energy, which not only benefits the environment but it is beneficial to the cost of our business as well. It educates our staff, it educates our management and it drives a spirit into your organization. Going green for us it’s a rewarded investment and [one] that we attempt to keep up “said Paul Boetekees, General Manager of Holland House.
Princess Heights is the ground-breaking establishment which became the island’s first Green Key Hotel. Mr. Arnaldo Phelipa, General Manager of Princess Heights, congratulated Holland House for their achievements and urged other businesses to move towards a greener and more sustainable business attitude for the benefits of the community, the environment and the business itself.
The event was well attended by many trade and tourism businesses supportive of sustainable operations on St. Maarten as well as EPIC representatives Laura Bijnsdorp, Elisa Oldani and Kippy Gilders and SHTA Board Members Lorraine Talmi and Paul Henriquez.