Tag: environmental sustainability

HPL Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Hotel Properties and operator of hospitality establishments during the Asia-Pacific region, has confirmed it has taken over management of Soneva Gili, Maldives.

Assuring fans of the resort it is going to be “business as usual”, HPL was quick to emphasize its plans for the resort are restricted to re-branding it as Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives and minor enhancements going forward.

“Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives will complement the present HPL portfolio of hotels,” said Stephen Lau, chairman, HPL Hotels & Resorts.

“We intend to maintain the spirit of the resort accordingly; guests booked after the change in management will be assured that the terms and prerequisites in their reservations will remain unchanged.

“And the Gili Lankanfushi team looks forward to welcoming them to our island paradise within the Maldives.”

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives is positioned as an upmarket boutique resort that stands on the forefront of the eco-luxury sector and acts as a benchmark for luxury resorts.

The environmentally-sensitive resort is hidden away on Lankanfushi Island, in a lagoon at the North Malé Atoll. All of its 45 over-water villas, crafted in a standard style from natural materials, reflect the harmony of life by the water’s edge.

For ultimate privacy, guests can stay in a single of the seven Crusoe Residences or the personal Reserve, accessible only by personal boat. All villas at this luxurious island resort offer a personal water garden, outside bathroom, and roof-top terrace and over-water sundecks.

The interiors recreate a natural habitat, using sustainable woods, natural materials and standard fabrics, while still offering all of the modern amenities and providing the relaxation of true luxury.

“As an eco-sensitive resort, we’re committed to the rules of environmental sustainability, which plays a necessary part in Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives corporate philosophy,” said Iain McCormack, general manager of Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

“We’ve tailored the operations of the resort around this philosophy.”

McCormack added: “We have on staff a marine biologist, who’s liable for several ecological conservation programmes concerning the sea.

We also maintain our own organic herb and vegetable garden, which gives fresh and native ingredients utilized in the resort’s kitchens. An active recycling program of using waste for building materials is practiced.”

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives’ corporate responsibility extends beyond the resort’s perimeter to boot, with several programs currently active and can be continued following the name change.

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives marks the parent company – Hotel Properties – fifth property within the Maldives. Any other properties inside the group are Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru; Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma; and Rihiveli Beach Resort.

More Information

Headquartered in Singapore, HPL Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company, operated and wholly-owned by Hotel Properties, a Singapore main-board listed company.

HPL Hotels & Resorts manages the activities of twelve hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

These include Concorde Hotel Singapore, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Concorde Hotel Shah Alam, Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Casa del Mar – Langkawi, The Lakehouse – Cameron Highlands, Casa del Rio – Melaka, Rihiveli Beach Resort Maldives and Gili Lankanfushi Maldives.

For additional information visit the official website.

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Britain has moved up two places in a survey of tourism competitiveness performed by the Word Economic Forum.

The result means VisitBritain has achieved the ambitious target set by government within the latest tourism policy.

With very fine margins separating the head five places, competition on the top of the table is fierce (0.01 difference between second and fifth position occupied by Britain).

The biennial study, published under the title, Reducing Barriers to Economic Growth and Job Creation, sees positive movement for Britain within the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index’s top 10 countries.

Britain’s close European competitors witnessed considerable movement with France falling four places from third in 2011 to seventh, while Spain climbed to fourth from eighth.

But through VisitBritain’s extensive global GREAT marketing and a global profile never before seen on this country, Britain’s perceived ability to compete on an international scale shifted two places to fifth from seventh.

Britain is inside the top ten for a couple of other measures, including:

• Cultural resources: Britain ranks third for cultural resources. It’s in accordance with Britain’s World Heritage cultural sites, large selection of international fairs and powerful creative industries, which all rank inside the top ten (largely caused by the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee).
• Air transport infrastructure: Britain ranks 5th
• Environmental sustainability: Britain ranks 7th.
• Policy rules and regulation: Britain ranks 8th (includes transparency of policy making and visa requirements but extends to more business-related indicators comparable to prevalence of foreign ownership, property rights, business start-up costs etc).
• Internet use for business to consumer transactions: Britain ranks 1st.

Britain’s global marketing and effectiveness to draw tourists via marketing campaigns has moved up a gargantuan 22 places from 43 in 2011 to 21 in 2013.

Chairman of VisitBritain, Christopher Rodrigues said: “Tourism is an industry during which Britain is world class and competes internationally.

“These results clearly display what the industry and government can achieve once we interact, but more need to be done.

“Last year was Britain’s year to be showcased all over, and we now have used that to drive tourism growth with record spend last year.

“Our ambition is to construct in this to continue to deliver growth and jobs for Britain with an ambitious target of 40 million visits a year by the top of 2020 with the intention to support 200,000 additional jobs.”