Desert Islands Resort and Spa recognized for sustainability

LOS ANGELES, California – Green Globe announced certification of Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, United Arab Emirates.

LOS ANGELES, California – Green Globe announced certification of Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, United Arab Emirates. Set on the island haven of Sir Bani Yas, just off the coast off Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf, the property is recognized for its environmental, social, and cultural sustainability policies and achievements.

The Desert Island Resort & Spa aims to minimize the use of water through installation of sink aerators and low-flow showers and toilets and to reduce energy consumption by at least 10 percent annually in line with Anantara Group requirements โ€“ for example through energy-efficient lighting and mindful use of air conditioning. A waste management plan is in place, and the property also promotes local cultural awareness among guests.

Christian Zunk, General Manager at Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, said: โ€œWe are actively engaged in our adherence to the Green Globe Standard for Sustainable Travel and Tourism. This recognition highlights Anantaraโ€™s sincere commitment to operating in an environmentally, socially, and culturally responsible manner. โ€œOur yearly Guest Satisfaction Survey score remains well above the industry average and shows that our commitment to the environment and the service we provide exceeds guest expectations. Without restricting their comfort in any way, Anantaraโ€™s environmental culture also extends to communication on sustainability issues with our guests.โ€

The Desert Island Resort & Spa conducts regular awareness training on activities that increase its environmental impact, and on its own responsibilities towards environmental conservation and sustainability. It also supports local environmental campaigns.

Green Globe Certificationโ€™s CEO, Guido Bauer, said: โ€œFor the Desert Island Resort & Spa, little things count, such as turning off taps, using only the absolute necessary amount of water for cleaning, or turning off unnecessary lights, as well as computers and other electronic appliances when not being used. These practices are passed on to employees, guests, and other parties involved.โ€

Mr. Bauer added: โ€œThe resort also knows about its responsibility to contribute to sustaining its beautiful surroundings and the endangered species on the island. Employees pass the importance of environmental awareness on to guests when organizing nature and wildlife drives and walks or snorkeling expeditions.โ€

As a working wildlife sanctuary, Sir Bani Yas Island offers great opportunities to encounter endangered animals and explore diverse topography. Desert Island Resortโ€™s Nature & Wildlife Drives invite guests, who will be accompanied by an expert guide, to step behind the scenes and gain a unique perspective on the work that goes into caring for the several thousand animals, including giraffes, cheetahs and striped hyenas that call the Arabian Wildlife Park their home.

The Arabian Wildlife Park takes up approximately half the size of the island and provides an authentic environment for wild animals to freely roam, while the island remains a unique experience for visitors. Arabiaโ€™s largest wildlife reserve was established in 1971. Thanks to decades of intensive conservation work and ecological investment, it is now home to thousands of animals and several million trees and plants. Animals that can be found on the island include gazelles, deer, giraffes, dolphins, and sea turtles, as well as around 30 species of mammals, including a variety of antelope and one the worldโ€™s largest herd of endangered Arabian oryx. Many of the more than 100 individual species of wild birds on the island are indigenous to the region.

ABOUT DESERT ISLANDS RESORT & SPA BY ANANTARA

Nestled amid the waters of the Arabian Gulf, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara offers lavish comforts, splendorous views, and adventurous getaways. The Abu Dhabi beach hotel may be off the beaten path, but getting there from anywhere in the world is easy either by ferry or a beautiful sea plane journey. The resort is located just 8 km off the Abu Dhabi Emiratesโ€™ western coastline and 250 km from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

This quintessential Arabian five-star hotel offers a true glimpse of Middle East travel thanks to its glorious location on Sir Bani Yas Island, a nature reserve off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The resort sits on a pristine beach surrounded by warm waters safe for swimming and snorkeling. The combination of Desert Islands Resort & Spaโ€™s verdant natural surroundings and impeccable services makes for a complete luxury vacation experience.

Contact: Desert Islands Resort & Spa Anantara, P.O. Box 12452, Al Ruwais, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Telephone: +971 (0) 2 801 52 01, Fax: +971 (0) 2 801 54 04, Email: [email protected] ; Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas โ€“ UAE, Nancy Nusrally, Area Public Relation Manager, Tel: +97125589156, Mobile : +971506601097, Email: [email protected]

ABOUT ANANTARA

For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveler. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means โ€œwithout end,โ€ symbolizing this sharing of water and the heartfelt hospitality that lies at the core of every Anantara experience.

From lush jungles to pristine beaches and legendary deserts to cosmopolitan cities, Anantara currently boasts 17 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates, and will see new openings in China, Bali, and Abu Dhabi in 2012.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com . Follow Anantara on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara and Twitter: Anantara_Hotels .

ABOUT GLOBAL HOTEL ALLIANCE

Based on the airline alliance model, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the worldโ€™s largest alliance of independent hotel brands. It uses a common technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its members, while offering enhanced recognition and service to customers across all brands, through a unique loyalty program, GHA Discovery. GHA currently is comprised of Anantara, Doyle Collection, First, Kempinski, Leela, Lungarno Collection, Marco Polo, Mokara, Mirvac, Omni, Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL, Shaza, and Tivoli hotels & resorts, encompassing almost 300 upscale and luxury hotels with 65,000 rooms in 51 different countries. www.gha.com

ABOUT GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION

Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe Certification is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, supported by the United Nations Foundation. For information, visit www.greenglobe.com .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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