Banyan Tree’s Stay for Good initiatives reinforce the Group’s long-standing commitment to the environment and surrounding communities by highlighting sustainability-oriented guest experiences. To celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June 2015, Stay for Good Greening Communities Together activities will take place in Banyan Tree resorts worldwide. Special tree planting and community clean-ups will support, protect and enhance each resorts’ local environment; the target for 2015 being two trees planted (per room night booked) at each hotel, from 1st to 7th June.
Banyan Tree Phuket
A perfect example of the Group’s sustainability policy, Banyan Tree Phuket was formerly an ecological wasteland, polluted by an old tin mine. Along with cleaning the soil, the planting of more than 7,000 trees transformed the area into a beautiful and environmentally-sensitive resort. For the Stay for Good Greening Communities Together initiative in June, additional trees will be planted at the resort and around the campus of Prince of Songkla University. Guests of Banyan Tree Phuket and Angsana Laguna Phuket will be invited to join the planting of more than 2,000 trees from 1st to 7th June.
Banyan Tree Seychelles
Nestled in pristine Intendance Bay on Mahe, Banyan Tree Seychelles is closely linked with various social and environmental projects, as well as the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles. To commemorate World Environment Day, the resort’s team will plant trees and invite guests and school children on educational tours of the resort’s organic farm where fruit, vegetables and herbs for the resort’s restaurants are grown. On 3rd June, associates at the resort will conduct a clean-up of the surrounding wetland area and beach, preparing future nesting spots for endangered turtles.
Banyan Tree Yangshuo
Located in Southern China near the ancient township of Fuli, Banyan Tree’s latest opening, Banyan Tree Yangshuo, is surrounded by majestic karst mountain peaks, a winding river and quaint villages. To help green a small island on the Li River near Fuli, 10 minutes from Banyan Tree Yangshuo, the resort will aim to plant approximately 300 trees, as well as arrange a general clean-up of Doufu Island. Transfers will be available for guests to the island either by bamboo raft or shuttle bus.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Facing the Caribbean Sea on the vibrant Riviera Maya of Mexico, Banyan Tree Mayakoba is a sanctuary which protects a variety of habitats from the sea, to the mangroves, dunes and jungle. During June, guests will be invited to help introduce native species of trees around the hotel and also take part in planting trees at nearby Mayan communities to support their food production.
Banyan Tree Lijiang
This stunning resort, overlooked by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, is one of the first hotels in China to be awarded the prestigious EarthCheck Gold Certification. Reflecting the local heritage and culture of Yunnan province, Banyan Tree Lijiang is a prime example of sustainable tourism in China. Since Earth Day (22nd April), the resort has been involved in a fund raising campaign to support the planting of 2,000 trees as part of a local forestation campaign to introduce highland coniferous trees on Yunnan’s Laoqun Mountain, a World Nature Heritage region and home to the protected Golden Monkey. On 5th June, the hotel team and guests will travel to Laoqun Mountain to plant trees as part of this campaign.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Commemorating milestone anniversaries in 2015 (Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is 20 years old and Angsana Ihuru celebrates its 15th anniversary), both properties are home to the most colourful, vivid house reefs in the Maldives, carefully preserved by specialists at the resorts’ marine laboratory. From 1st to 7th June, together with guests of both resorts, the team will work to clear the reef of coral predators and plant at least 1,450 corals.
Banyan Tree Lang Co
Nestled along the stunning coastline of Central Vietnam, these beach resorts are surrounded by verdant green hills, paddy fields and mountains. This June, the team at Laguna Lang Co will aim to plant at least 200 shading trees at local schools. Guests will be welcomed to join the team along with members of the local community in tree planting activities; as well as a clean-up of the resorts’ three kilometre beach, residential areas close to the resorts, and key tourist areas in the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Hoi An.
For a full overview of Stay for Good activities, please contact Charlene Tan at [email protected]. For regular updates, please follow Banyan Tree on Twitter and Facebook.