Beachcomber Impact Celebration - A tribute to 40 years of responsible and inclusive commitment
Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels hosted the Beachcomber Impact Celebration (BIC) on 19-20 November 2024 to mark two significant milestones: the 25th anniversary of Fondation Espoir Développement Beachcomber (FED) and the prestigious EarthCheck Gold Certification awarded to its Head Office and eight hotels in Mauritius. Held at the House of Digital Arts, this landmark event showcased four decades of meaningful actions positively impacting the planet and local communities. This immersive, educational and engaging event celebrated the Group’s dedication to sustainable tourism, raised awareness of environmental and societal challenges and revealed its future initiatives.
The two-day experiential event offered a journey through informative galleries, interactive booths and thought-provoking conferences, all designed to provide visitors with insights into the initiatives undertaken by Beachcomber. These efforts align with the eight pillars of the 52 Commitments Environmental and Social Charter: Use Water Efficiently; Choose Less but Greener Energy; Manage Waste Responsibly; Embellishing Environment/Biodiversity; Fostering Community Development; Responsible Sourcing; Engagement of our Artisans; and Contribution of our Guests. Each gallery and booth focused on one of these pillars, showcasing tangible initiatives under these themes and inviting active exploration.
“This year, we celebrate two major milestones in our journey towards a more sustainable future: the silver jubilee of FED, symbolising over two decades of commitment to socio-economic inclusion for the most vulnerable and the EarthCheck Gold Certification, an international benchmark in hospitality,” says Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé, CEO of Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels. “These achievements reflect our strong commitment to sustainable development and underscore our belief that the success of our Group, and the entire industry, is intrinsically linked to our responsibility to the planet and society. Preserving the environment is no longer a choice but a duty. Sustainable practices are increasingly becoming a key deciding factor for our guests. Our 52 Commitments Environmental and Social Charter will continue to guide our efforts as we strive to achieve even greater impact. These accomplishments are, above all, the result of the collective efforts and exemplary dedication of our Artisans, and I thank them heartily for their commitment.”
“Celebrating the 25th anniversary of FED, the first CSR foundation established by a private sector company in Mauritius, alongside the achievement of EarthCheck Gold Certification, a first for the Mauritian hospitality sector, is no coincidence,” adds Karine Perrier Curé, Beachcomber’s Chief Brand & Communication Officer and Chairperson of FED. “These milestones represent a pivotal step in our journey towards an increasingly responsible tourism industry. The Beachcomber Impact Celebration pays tribute to our sustainability journey, which began in the 1980s and showcases our concrete actions. Through conferences, immersive experiences and enjoyable activities, the event also aims to deepen awareness of the issues surrounding sustainable development.”
Commenting on the Group’s certification, Stuart Moore, CEO of EarthCheck, says: “Congratulations to Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels on achieving EarthCheck Gold Certification. My appreciation goes to their leadership team, Green Teams, Artisans and all stakeholders involved. We applaud your vision, embodied in your 52 Commitments Environmental and Social Charter, which contributes to protecting our planet and demonstrates exemplary dedication to reducing your carbon footprint.”
Immersive booths showcasing the Group’s tangible actions
Water is Precious
Managing and preserving water, the planet’s most vital resource, lies at the core of Beachcomber’s Environmental and Societal Charter. The Water Booth offered a playful yet educational exploration of the initiatives implemented to safeguard this invaluable resource. Through videos, models, impactful demonstrations and quizzes, visitors discovered practical ways to protect this essential natural asset.
Energy Efficiency
The Energy Booth spotlighted the technologies adopted across Beachcomber hotels to enhance energy efficiency. Visitors engaged with interactive demonstrations showcasing the difference in energy consumption between LED and traditional bulbs, the workings of lighting and the principles of dimming technology, all the while gaining a deeper understanding of the environmental issues at stake.
Waste Recycling
At the Waste Booth, visitors explored responsible waste management and recycling practices through interactive displays. Highlighting eight common waste types generated within Beachcomber hotels, this space delved into their life cycles and the measures taken to recycle or reduce them. With an ambitious target of recycling over 60% of its waste by 2025 – a milestone already achieved –, the booth illustrated Beachcomber’s commitment to sustainable waste management.
Biodiversity Conservation
The Biodiversity Booth offered a sensory and auditory immersion into the lush beauty of Beachcomber’s hotel gardens, celebrating towering trees, vibrant floral carpets and pristine sandy beaches. Reflecting the Group’s dedication to biodiversity conservation, this booth inspired visitors to take positive action to safeguard ecosystems.
Responsible Sourcing
Sustainable development is a collective effort that extends to Beachcomber’s suppliers. The Responsible Sourcing Booth highlighted joint initiatives with partners to reduce the Group’s environmental footprint. Examples included the environmentally conscious production of the Beachcomber Sommeliers’ Selection wine and the bulk purchase of cooking oil to minimise plastic waste. These collaborative efforts underscore the positive impact of shared sustainable practices.
Guest Participation
The Guest Booth featured a live beehive, insightful discussions with beekeeper Étienne de Senneville and tastings of the exquisite honey produced under Beachcomber’s Le Miel De Nos Jardins initiative. This booth celebrated the diverse and enriching experiences offered to guests, emphasising their vital role in achieving the Group’s sustainability goals.
The Commitment of Our Artisans
At the heart of Beachcomber’s sustainability journey are its 4,800 dedicated Artisans. The Artisans Booth offered visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their work, paying tribute to their commitment. It highlighted the pivotal role they played in earning the Group’s EarthCheck Gold Certification and carrying forward the legacy of FED.
Solidarity and Inclusion
The Solidarity and Inclusion Booth served as the crowning jewel of this immersive journey. It provided an in-depth look at FED’s transformative projects to uplift young people, small-scale craftworkers, women micro-entrepreneurs and people with disabilities. Highlights included a Ravanne workshop led by Kurvin Castel, echoing the Ravanne School inaugurated by FED in 2022, and a wonderful exhibition of Beautiful Localhands creations, reflecting 18 years of support to over 50 local handicraft workers.
The Talks
As part of the Beachcomber Impact Celebration, four conferences explored key themes such as FED, We Walk Our Talk, Biodiversity, and Lagoon Conservation.
- FED
This session featured Malenn Oodiah, the founder of FED in 1999, Eric Bell, who has been its long-serving manager and Viren Vythelingum, Beachcomber’s CSR Manager. Together, they reflected on 25 years of dedication and initiatives to promote socio-economic inclusion for vulnerable communities.
- We Walk our Talk
This session led by Géraldine Koenig, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer of Beachcomber, included contributions from members of the Group’s Green Teams and key suppliers. It highlighted how Beachcomber translates its ambitious sustainability goals into meaningful, measurable actions.
- Biodiversity
Led by Damien Dittberner, co-director of the documentary Mystic Mauritius, this discussion celebrated the breathtaking natural heritage of Mauritius while issuing a call to action. Participants were reminded of the urgent need to protect the island’s fragile ecosystems.
- Lagon
This session, moderated by Beachcomber’s Head of Construction, Thibault Lamusse, brought together Mélanie Ricot of Reef Conservation, oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo and Boris Toulet, Nautical Club Manager. Discussions centred on the critical importance of safeguarding lagoons and coral reefs, offering practical advice on protecting marine ecosystems and fostering a deeper understanding of their significance.
Each of these four sessions provided a platform for collective reflection on pressing environmental and social challenges, inspiring action towards a shared goal: building a better tomorrow.
FED, 25 years of dedication to social inclusion
Beachcomber established FED in 1999 to pioneer socio-economic inclusion for those in need. As the first CSR initiative in Mauritius, the Foundation has become a cornerstone of the Group’s commitment to socially responsible and compassionate hospitality. Over the past 25 years, FED has extended its reach far beyond social and vocational inclusion, collaborating with NGOs in four key areas: education, employability, health and youth development.
FED’s work has transformed countless lives through Projet Employabilité Jeunes (PEJ) launched in 2004 to offer vocational training to school dropouts, Beautiful Localhands in 2006 to support small-scale craftworkers in creating and marketing their products and the Vulnerable Lives Matter initiative, launched in partnership with the European Union in 2021 to promote women’s entrepreneurship, youth employability and the vocational inclusion of people with disabilities. The 25th anniversary of the Foundation marks not only a moment of celebration, but also an opportunity to chart new goals for the future.
Key figures about FED
- Rs 165 million invested in social initiatives over 25 years
- 20 000+ beneficiaries reached since 1999
- 3 700+ young people trained in hospitality through PEJ
- 50+ craftworkers supported through the Beautiful Localhands programme
- 150 youth mentored under the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- 700 individuals supported through the Vulnerable Lives Matter initiative, conducted in partnership with the European Union
Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels achieves EarthCheck Gold Certification
Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels has earned the prestigious EarthCheck Gold Certification for its Head Office and eight resorts in Mauritius. This milestone reflects a long-standing commitment to of sustainable development, impactful action and continuous improvement.
As a pioneer in Mauritian hospitality, Beachcomber is the island’s first hotel group to attain Gold Certification across its entire collection. This accolade is one of the highest honours conferred by EarthCheck, the world’s leading environmental and social certification programme for the tourism industry.
The certification is based on over 350 criteria, covering key areas such as sustainability policy implementation, water, paper and energy consumption, waste management, pesticide use, cleaning and hygiene products, and community engagement. Gold status is reserved for hotels that maintain these key performance indicators for at least five consecutive years.
Beachcomber embarked on its EarthCheck accreditation journey in 2017, seeking independent external validation of its sustainability practices. That year, the Group’s Head Office, along with Paradis Beachcomber and Dinarobin Beachcomber, earned Bronze Certification, followed by the remaining six hotels in 2018.
Through rigorous auditing, the Head Office, Paradis Beachcomber and Dinarobin Beachcomber advanced to Silver Certification in 2018, with the other properties following in 2019. After five years of consistent evaluation, these three properties achieved Gold Certification in 2023. This year, Beachcomber has reached a new milestone with all its hotels now bearing the EarthCheck Gold label.
Numbers that make a difference
- 100% of garden irrigation needs met through onsite treatment plants
- 400,000 m3 of recycled water used for garden irrigation
- 5 desalination plants in operation
- 60%+ of waste recycled
- Targeting zero single-use plastics
- 3,090 solar panels installed across hotel rooftops
- 20%+ of garden plants are endemic species
- 45 beehives within hotel gardens
- 5,542 tonnes of compost produced from green waste at Paradis Beachcomber and Dinarobin Beachcomber during the financial year 2024