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V eranda Leisure and Hospitality (VLH), operators of Heritage Resorts and Veranda Resorts, are offering the first carbon neutral hotel stays in Mauritius from October 2021. The initiative is a first for the hotel sector on the island and is part of a wider sustainable commitment and programme of community and environmental projects, many of which are already underway. The various projects are showcased on a new website under the programme name Now for Tomorrow. Heritage Resorts will be offering guests carbon neutral stays at its two hotels, Heritage Le Telfair and Heritage Awali in Bel Ombre – by offsetting all CO2 emissions that would be generated by a hotel stay. This objective will be achieved through the purchase of carbon credits with the Aera Group, an environmental commodity trader, and through local carbon offset projects including the construction of a photovoltaic farm. For guests at Veranda hotels, a voluntary contribution to these projects will be offered to customers. Now for Tomorrow comprises five areas of action, in accordance with the  Mauritius Business SignNatir pact, namely energy transition, circular economy, protection of biodiversity, living and integrated communities, as well as inclusive development. As sustainability is an integral part of VLH’s DNA, Heritage Resorts and Veranda Resorts are looking to integrate these five pillars of sustainability into their operations. For Thierry Montocchio, CEO of the VLH group, Now for Tomorrow is not just a promise. “We are launching this programme having already achieved great results from actions taken over the past ten years. He explains: “Our conservation programme that created ten artificial reefs in the Bel Ombre lagoon has enabled significant regeneration of the corals and we have seen 20 new species of fish. Our Heritage Training Academy has empowered local communities and offered them a career in the hotel industry. Our new water bottling unit enabled us to avoid using the equivalent of 27 tons of plastic bottles in 2019 and in addition, 65% of our waste has been recycled. Now for Tomorrow is also a first in the sector because it promises carbon neutrality through clearly defined objectives and an action plan. Acting for the climate and the environment means identifying and neutralizing our greenhouse gas emissions and coming up with concrete initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality.” Additional projects the group has committed to include from January 2022, 100% of the fruits and vegetables, seafood, poultry and meat consumed in the group’s hotels will come from Mauritian farmers and producers, or from regional partners in the Indian Ocean. The group is looking to recycle 75% of its waste by 2022, and aims to reduce food waste by committing to a pilot project carried out in collaboration with The PLEDGE on Food Waste group in Mauritius. Philippe Espitalier-Noël, CEO of the Rogers group which is the parent group of VLH Ltd adds: “Now for Tomorrow is not just about telling people that it is time to act now for the environment and for future generations, but it’s about leading by example. I have worked on this initiative since my appointment as CEO in 2007 and, more recently, among the business community as chairman of the “Sustainable and Inclusive Growth” commission of Business Mauritius.” To find out more about “Now for Tomorrow” please visit https://nowfortomorrow.mu/For reservations, please email: resa@heritageresorts.mu  and resa@veranda-resorts.comFor more information on the hotels please visit: www.heritageresorts.mu and https://www.veranda-resorts.com/ Ends About Veranda Leisure and Hospitality (VLH) VLH, the hotel division of the Rogers group, a diversified Mauritian company listed on the stock exchange, has two hotel brands, notably Veranda Resorts and Heritage Resorts which comprise seven mid-to-high-end hotels, a spa and cosmetics brand, Seven Colors spa; a championship golf course, the Heritage Golf Club; a beach club, the Heritage C Beach Club; a 19th century chateau. It also manages the operations of Heritage Villas, 45 luxury villas in Bel Ombre. The group employs 2,100 people.

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L ady golfers inspired by the excitement of last weekend’s Women’s Open and looking to spread their wings with their sport are invited to swing into action on the inviting greens of Aruba. This sun-drenched Dutch Caribbean island is the … Continue reading →

All guests will have unlimited complimentary access to Siyam Water World Highly anticipated new resort Siyam World, Maldives is bouncing towards its 28 October opening after installing the Indian Ocean’s biggest floating water park – and promising unlimited free access for all guests. Siyam Water World is a fun-soaked fantasia featuring an array of inflatable obstacles – all in a 2580sqm course specially designed by German SportsPark innovators Wibit Sports.  Located in Siyam World’s northeast lagoon, Siyam Water World is just one of the ever-expanding A-to-Z of experiences included in Siyam World’s revolutionary WOW! 24hrs Premium All-Inclusive concept. Inspired by a passion for sports, Wibit Sports pioneered the concept of inflatable playgrounds on the water 25 years ago; its SportsParks are now in 100 countries worldwide and have been enjoyed by more than 50 million users. The modular design allows endless combinations to suit all kinds of locations, from indoor pools, open waterfronts – and Indian Ocean lagoons! Suitable for all ages, fitness and ability levels, and optimized for safety, Wibit SportsParks are an exhilarating antidote to screentime, promoting balance, agility, coordination, social interaction – and most importantly of all, fun! With unlimited free access for guests aged 6yrs and above with an enormous carrying capacity, Siyam Water World promises endless aquatic escapades. Linked by banked curves and treacherous bridges, the slippery circuit of challenging obstacles includes halfpipes, slides, a climbing tower and a 3.2-metre springboard – not to mention ‘Flip’, the first free-floating human catapult on the water. Forging its own maverick path away from the Maldivian mainstream, Siyam World is on a mission to bring guests the broadest offering of unique experiences and pioneering concepts ever seen in the Maldives. Guests will be freed from the usual all-inclusive shackles of set menus, surcharges and venue restrictions; this lush natural island’s 54 hectares are home to 14 restaurants and bars including four different specialty restaurants for dinner, all of which are included in the WOW! All Inclusive package – together with an unlimited medley of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Siyam World’s WOW! factor doesn’t stop there – also included is a wild weekly Grand Beach BBQ; the roaming gaadiyaa, an authentic Maldivian food cart surprising guests with sweet and savoury snacks, soft drinks and tropical fruit each day; plus a spa bar serving up fresh healthy juices, smoothies and herbal infusions. At Siyam World, all-inclusive isn’t just a meal plan either; it’s an ever-expanding A-to-Z of WOW! experiences too – from aqua aerobics to kids Zumbini classes, via dance shows, pool parties, group wellness sessions, sunset cruises and snorkeling safaris… and now, unlimited access to Siyam Water World. Kids and teens will be in their element with an array of excursions and activities, plus family programmes focused on fun-filled learning and mindfulness at the Little Explorers kids club for children aged 3 to 11.  With a world-class spa, wellness and sports facilities, along with some of the region’s best dive sites just metres away, Siyam World is set be a game-changing new island of unlimited choice and endless escapades. A standalone brand under Sun Siyam Resorts, Siyam World, Maldives is an all-embracing five-star all-inclusive island resort that offers fun-loving, open-minded couples, romance seekers, families or larger groups of friends the freedom to roam, socialise and engage in an island community. Uncompromisingly quirky with a fun-loving attitude, a deep-rooted soul, and a unique approach to everything, this is one of the largest natural islands in the Maldives to boast a resort and show-stopping residences: a 54-hectare haven blessed with more than four kilometres of white sandy beaches and six kilometres of house reef. Siyam World shows off an enticing variety of 21 accommodation categories ranging from 89 to 3,000 square metres with up to six bedrooms, from lush Pool Beach Villas, expansive Beach Suites and breathtaking Beach Residences to the playful Over-Water Villas – complete with irresistible water slides. An exclusive enclave, The Beach House Collection, also features stunning Grand Water Pavilions and the magnificent Palace. All accommodation types overlook the pristine Maldivian waters, come with direct access to the ocean and feature generously proportioned indoor and outdoor living spaces with private pools. Contemporary yet tropical architecture will blend seamlessly into the island’s paradisiacal surroundings. Interiors boast a neutral colour palette, mixed with bold splashes of Maldivian hues, soft textures and wooden accents; a calming environment that allows the vibrant shades of the Maldivian surroundings speak for themselves. Siyam World, Maldives is located in the popular Noonu Atoll, a mere 40 minutes’ direct seaplane ride from Velana International Airport, and also accessible via a 30-minute domestic flight to Maafaru Airport followed by a 10-minute speedboat trip. For more information, visit Siyam World or follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok. For booking enquires email: stay@siyamworld.com or check out the latest offers at www.sunsiyam.com/siyam-world/offers. About Siyam World: THE MALDIVES REIMAGINED – A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES AWAITS Opening on 28 October 2021, Siyam World Maldives describes a quirky, carefree playground; a five-star, all-inclusive resort like no other. A striking new vision of the Maldives’ rich natural wonders, located in Noonu Atoll, approximately 40 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport. The island resort boasts an enticing variety of 21 accommodation categories ranging from 89 to 3,000 square metres, including lush Pool Beach Villas, expansive Beach Suites and breathtaking Beach Residences to the playful Over-Water Villas – complete with inviting water slides. An exclusive enclave, The Beach House Collection, also features stunning Grand Water Pavilions and the magnificent Palace. Guests at Siyam World have an endless array of ‘never-seen-before’ experiences to enjoy, including access to the Maldives’ biggest floating water park. Forget any preconceptions of monotonous dining – Siyam World guests can enjoy more than a dozen restaurants and bars with the peerless WOW! 24hrs premium all-inclusive concept that offers a tantalising selection of health, fitness and wellness activities, excursions, water sports, kids and teens activities, and way more excitement around every corner. BYE BYE BOREDOM – HELLO ENDLESS ESCAPADES About Sun Siyam Resorts: Sun Siyam Resorts is owned and managed by a 100 percent Maldivian company.  Ahmed Siyam Mohamed founded the company in 1990. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Sun Siyam Group, a diverse collective of companies proudly based in the Maldives.  Since the opening of the first resort over 20 years ago, Sun Siyam Resorts has grown to own and manage five luxury private island properties in the Maldives and a boutique beach retreat on the East Coast of Sri Lanka.  Each is unique, but what unites them all is the genuine warmth and heartfelt hospitality of their people, many of whom have been with Sun Siyam Resorts since the beginning.

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  Long after the bucket and spade brigade has departed for another year, the Cornish coastline really comes into its own. The rugged, northern perimeter of the peninsula is terrifically treacherous in places and has seen many sailing ships succumb … Continue reading →

SEAS THE DAY

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  Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, a secluded island hideaway in the archipelago’s secluded Shaviyani atoll, has announced the launch of a new collection of unforgettable ocean adventures, offering intrepid guests the chance to explore its vibrant nine-kilometre reef and beyond … Continue reading →