Environmental & Safety Matters
Helping to Create a Sustainable Environment
Hurricane Readiness & Response Workshops
Over sixty members participated in workshops conducted in May. The workshops included detailed information on organizing and implementing a readiness and response plan. Allied member Stan Smith, a noted international insurance consultant specializing in assisting hotels in mitigating loses from natural disasters, provided an overview of insurance purchase considerations and ways to ensure maximum payout on claims.
Stan Benjamin Presented with First Sustainable Tourism Award
Exuma hotelier Stan Benjamin was presented with BHA's first Sustainable Tourism Award, in recognition of his longstanding support of environmental, education and sustainable efforts. Owner of Peace and Plenty, Mr. Benjamin founded the Exuma Foundation and has been actively involved in and supportive of sustainable activities.
Industry Input in Bahamas Environmental & Protection Bill
As part of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce led legislation committee, BHA provided input to Government in the Bill, commenting specifically on the composition of the Environmental Advisory Council, the adoption of incentives programs to promote conservation and sound procurement practices, and the establishment of an Emergency Preparedness Program and Environmental Management Systems..
BHA Awarded Grant for Sustainable Tourism Project
The InterAmerican Development Bank Multi-lateral Investment Fund (MIF) approved a four year $1.3 million grant to the BHA for a major sustainable tourism effort. The overall objective of the project is to improve the competitiveness of pilot destinations (ten islands) and our ability to position ourselves as a sustainable tourism destination.
The project will support operational, environmental and marketing standards aimed at the diversification of the tourism product for small to mid-sized hotels and touristic operations and support mechanisms to achieve such. The end result will be a new mix of diversified tourist products and packages appealing to specific market segments, such as, heritage, eco, cultural and nature tourism. Approval was granted at year's end and the project was targeted to commence early in 2006.
President Bethell Advocates Conservation and Energy Savings
With energy costs reaching a record high, impacting operations, profits, and potentially visitor travel, President Bethell outlined a series of steps which he indicated would help to reduce the burden on hotels and the industry. These included:
(1) increasing peak demand surcharge readings for hotels by BEC;
(2) expanding the duty exemption categories adopted by Government last summer for solar products to include a number of other energy efficient and cost reducing product categories;
(3) the adoption of bank lending policies which encourage financing for cost saving purchases;
(4) determining the feasibility of establishing a net metering program; and
(5) an aggressive approach directed at residents, businesses and government to encourage conservation and the use of efficient practices, equipment and products.
Major Crime Prevention Initiative Launched
BHA provided considerable support to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Ministry of Tourism in the formation of the Bahamas Visitor Safety Security Board. The purpose of the initiative is to engage all relevant public and private sector stakeholders in a coordinated and strategically planned sustainable partnership aimed at maintaining a safe and secure environment for all visitors to The Bahamas while facilitating a prompt resolution to any situations which may arise that affect the safety and security of our visitors.
The initiative was launched at the end of the year, incorporating a number of recommendations presented at a planning workshop in September which had over 150 public and private sector stakeholders in attendance. |
