Nestled in a valley between verdant mountains and the cobalt-blue Caribbean Sea, Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Resort opens a new island destination for guests of Sandals Resorts. It is scheduled to open on March 27, 2024.
At first glance, the resort looks like a picture postcard from a dream vacation. Is bringing an international all-inclusive resort to a tropical paradise good for the island's people and environment? Sandals' recent launch in Curacao may provide insight into this crucial question.
Future goals
In anticipation of the opening of Sandals Royal Curacao in June 2022, the resort has partnered with AFC Ajax, a soccer team from Amsterdam, and local recycling company Limpi to develop the Future Targets soccer program. Providing nearly 100 goals and more than 600 soccer balls to island children, the program's focus on recycling, team building and community has impacted nearly 50 schools across the island.
While developing the program, Sandals Resort International CEO Adam Stewart said, “Curacao is a new island for Sandals and a new opportunity to expand our influence – and 'soccer' is the soul of the Caribbean.”
The soccer goals were made from fishing nets sourced from the ocean and recycled plastic waste. Fishing nets lost at sea, also known as ghost nets, make up nearly half of the world's “plastic soup” — a term referring to the accumulation of waste, including plastic, that ends up in the ocean and on Curacao's beaches.
“If we can give children the tools to play and in the process teach them how to protect our planet – that is the ‘goal’ in and of itself,” Stewart continued. Since its inception in 1981, Sandals Resorts has taken an unparalleled approach to supporting the communities in which it operates.
Sandals began its work in Curacao through its charitable arm, the Sandals Foundation. The Foundation operates under three main pillars: education, environment and community. Sustainable projects include coral reef restoration, tree and mangrove planting, marine reserves, and beach cleaning. As of June 2022, they have helped rid the planet of more than 440 tons of waste.
Sandals Foundation
“The future goals brilliantly embody Sandals’ steadfast commitment to empowering our islands in the Caribbean,” said Heidi Clark, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “Encircling ourselves with the destination was part of the blueprint as we rolled out plans for Sandals Royal Curacao – and a sign of our promise to generations to come.”
Last year, in particular, the Sandals Foundation focused much of its efforts on food security across the Caribbean. Across the world, food security remains a concern, and this is an even greater reality in the Caribbean islands where import-dependent economies are vulnerable to challenges in the international food supply chain.
Climate change has negatively affected traditional agricultural practices. To grow a sustainable future, the Sandals Foundation is committed to providing the skills and tools needed to create resilient food supply systems and food forests in schools and communities by providing essential equipment, training and investing in climate-smart agriculture technologies.
All inclusive dining on the island
The resort sought to provide entirely new experiences that push the customer beyond the resort gates. One such program is Island Inclusive Dining, where qualifying guests receive a US$250 dining credit at select restaurants around Curacao.
Luc Mathot, Vice President of Food & Beverage Product Innovation at Sandals, explains the motivation behind the island’s inclusive dining initiative: “We want our guests to feel the magic we felt when choosing Curacao as Sandals’ new home – from the landscape, its flavors and its people – and everyone knows One of the most powerful ways to truly understand a destination and its culture is through its food.
Kome, one of the participating restaurants, states its sustainability practices on its website, “We take our commitment to sustainability seriously, using environmentally friendly products and working directly with local farmers and artisans to reduce waste and ensure the freshest ingredients and highest quality of our dishes.”
Luuk Gerritsen, Kome's general manager, explains how they express this intention by working with as many local suppliers of the products as possible, such as Hofi Cas Cora and Zen Farms. They only serve locally caught fish from self-employed fishermen. Most of their cleaning materials are organic and eco-friendly, avoiding single-use plastics.
These options aren't always the cheapest, but the little things add up. “Since its inception, we have been part of this program [Island Inclusive Dining]“It gives us a way to reach a mass audience with a higher spending budget,” says Gerritsen.
“sandals effect”
Curacao relies heavily on the tourism sector, with 81% of its workforce working in the service sector, according to state reports. Increased tourism has an impact on the livelihoods of local people, as more visitors not only provide more jobs, but also provide an opportunity for growth within organizations. As teams grow to support more clients, additional management opportunities arise.
The influx of tourism spending around the island of Curacao is stimulating the economy, and Curacao is on track to make history. In July 2023, a year after Sandals Royal Curacao opened, the island had its best performing month to date, putting it on track to achieve the historic milestone of welcoming half a million visitors annually. Notably, 2023 also marks the first time that the number of resident arrivals exceeds 300,000 in the first seven months of the year.
The opening of the resort touches almost every part of the island's economy, from the ancillary business of taxi drivers to the supply chain. Many publications have called this the “sandals effect” because the company is keen to embed itself in the community. It affects the entire island, from youth football to job creation, increased arrivals and much more. Building on the impact they have had on Curacao, the sandals will help preserve the beauty and abundance of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for generations to come.
This article originally appeared on Media decision.
Hello! We are Ed and Jane Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
