Green Hospitality in Curacao
Curacao Chapter receives 2 awards at Annual HSMAI Leadership Conference
HSMAI Curaçao Chapter was awarded with the best Small Chapter in the category of Customer Interaction Program as well as the category of Websites. Leaders all over the world were able to resonance the name of Curacao receiving these awards during the Annual HSMAI International Leadership conference.Read more...
Presentation ‘Using Social Media to Improve your Business’
Today’s digitally driven consumers now broadcast their experiences directly online via Social Media. The reality is that consumers are using social media to speak up, regardless of whether or not you are participating in the conversation.Read more...
As result of the “How Green is Curacao Hospitality” on October 30, 2008, we wanted to provide our members,
hospitality sales & marketing professionals with talking points with regard to “green Curacao”. Members told us
that they are being asked by visitors and tour operators. They needed green examples to tell the tour operators
and to propose in their companies.
In addition, the event was important because, like in other countries, Curacao also struggles with the balance
between economic development and the environment. Often, environmental organizations and businesses are in
disagreement about what needs to happen. We wanted to show that both sides are aware and care for the environment.
What was needed was for someone to open the dialogue. Let it be HSMAI! So, we invited the most vocal environmental
organization to provide an introduction. Several of the businesses in the panel are located and do business around
one of the most disputed areas.
The president of the environmental organization started his introduction with: “This is the first time we have been invited by the hospitality sector.” This section will highlight the initiatives mentioned in the discussions, but we also request you, if you are a business with green initiatives in Curacao, to send a short text to about your green initiative to be added to this page in order to have a bigger and better view on the initiatives taking place on our island to support a sustainable hospitality and tourism development in Curacao and the world.
In addition, the event was important because, like in other countries, Curacao also struggles with the balance
between economic development and the environment. Often, environmental organizations and businesses are in
disagreement about what needs to happen. We wanted to show that both sides are aware and care for the environment.
What was needed was for someone to open the dialogue. Let it be HSMAI! So, we invited the most vocal environmental
organization to provide an introduction. Several of the businesses in the panel are located and do business around
one of the most disputed areas. The president of the environmental organization started his introduction with: “This is the first time we have been invited by the hospitality sector.” This section will highlight the initiatives mentioned in the discussions, but we also request you, if you are a business with green initiatives in Curacao, to send a short text to about your green initiative to be added to this page in order to have a bigger and better view on the initiatives taking place on our island to support a sustainable hospitality and tourism development in Curacao and the world.
HSMAI Green Hospitality
| Organization | Category | Green Activities | Type |
| Art & Nature Inn | Hotel | No air-conditioners, only fans | Energy |
| Energy saving light bulbs | Energy | ||
| Reuse water from laundry | Water | ||
| Catch rainwater | Water | ||
| Waste water treatment plant | Water | ||
| Reuses broken dishes to make Mosaic room decor | Reuse | ||
| Guest apartments also have containers for material for compost bins | Reuse | ||
| Guests get reusable bags on arrival | Recycle | ||
| Plastic containers painted and used as planters | Reuse | ||
| Glass recycling | Recycle | ||
| Veranda's are made of trees | Reuse | ||
| All trees on property were grown from seed left by birds | Native | ||
| Native plan nursery | Nursery | Grows native trees from seeds. Native trees provide shade and coolness, are drought and pest resistant | Native |
| Wannabike / Wannago outdoors |
touring activities |
Groups get exact number of plastic cups with group member names written on them. Incentive for returning all cups at end of tour | Reduce |
| Use garbage to build ramps and rafts | Reuse | ||
| Companies can adopt a biking trail | Clean | ||
| Hold regular clean-ups | Clean | ||
| Curacao Actief | Touring Activities | Catches water from airconditioner to wash their jeeps | Reuse |
| Use reusable cups, plates, utensils | Reuse | ||
| Use local snacks, drinks, bottled water to provide business to locals | Native | ||
| Have checklist to turn off power at end of working day | Energy | ||
| Are working to power their jeeps with biodiesel | Energy | ||
| Boca Gentil | Luxury Resort Villas | Waste water treatment plant | Water |
| Keep original vegetation | Native | ||
| Have used construction material from sustainable sources | |||
| Solar water heaters | Energy | ||
| Energy efficient bulbs that produce less heat | Energy | ||
| Villas have shutters to provide ventilation | Energy | ||
| Villas have wide roofs and veranda's to provide shade | Energy | ||
| Small catchment areas on property to that rainwater does not go to sea (bad for reef) | Environment | ||
| Buyers are made aware of beauty of the reef through a CD with pictures of the reef | Environment | ||
| Maduro & Curiel's Bank N.V. | Bank | Recharge mobile phones online rather than by using scratch cards | Reduce |
| Participated in campaign to get reusable bags for glass handed in | Awareness | ||
| Support several environmental organizations | Awareness | ||
| Has given away seed for local plants | Native | ||
| Are converting hardcopy internal forms to electronic forms | Reduce | ||
| About to build new offices, which are "green" | |||
| Breezes Curacao | Hotel | Reuses kitchen oil | Reuse |
| Energy efficient light bulbs | Energy | ||
| Program to reuse towels | Water | ||
| Donate left-over food | |||
| Firgos | Distributor | Major distributor of plastic bags has introduced extensive line of products made from recycled material | |
| Curacao Plastics Recycling Company | Recycler | Recycles plastic PET bottles, also from cruise ships | Recycle |
| MarkStra | Consultant | corporate gifts were re-usable plastic shopping crate | Reuse |
| composting bin, including for shredded office paper | |||
| re-uses envelopes to make to-do lists | Reuse | ||
| prints on both sides of paper | Reuse | ||
| produces reports only digitally | Reduse | ||
| drought resistant, native and fruiting plants for landscaping | Native | ||
| Marriott | Hotel | uses locally produced bottled water | Native |