Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2023: Atmosphere Core shares sustainability success story

Atmosphere Core, a leading hospitality group in the Indian Ocean, showcased its sustainability achievements and initiatives at the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, which was held at Bandos Maldives resort on October 19. Ashwin Handa, Senior Vice President of Operations at Atmosphere Core, delivered a keynote speech titled, ‘Why sustainability can go hand in hand with business success’, in which he explained how Atmosphere Core has adopted the Triple Bottom Line framework of sustainability, which considers the environmental, social and economic impacts of its operations. He also highlighted some of the innovative initiatives that Atmosphere Core has implemented to drive positive community impact, reduce carbon footprint and harness renewable energy.

Ashwin said that the Triple Bottom Line framework is a holistic approach to sustainability that measures the performance of an organisation not only by its financial results, but also by its environmental and social outcomes. He said that this framework aligns with Atmosphere Core’s vision of creating memorable experiences for its guests, while also caring for the planet and the people. He added that by adopting this framework, Atmosphere Core has been able to enhance its brand reputation, customer loyalty, employee engagement and operational efficiency.

Ashwin then shared how Atmosphere Core has integrated the Triple Bottom Line framework into its resort operations. He said that Atmosphere Core has established a dedicated sustainability team, which oversees the implementation of various policies and practices that aim to minimise the environmental impact of its resorts, such as waste management, water conservation, energy efficiency and biodiversity protection. He also said that Atmosphere Core has developed a comprehensive sustainability report, which tracks and discloses its performance on various environmental, social and economic indicators.

One of the key aspects of Atmosphere Core’s sustainability strategy is its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which is driven by its charitable arm, Atmosphere Foundation. Ashwin said that Atmosphere Foundation supports various causes and projects that benefit the local communities in the Maldives, such as education, health, women empowerment and disaster relief. He also said that Atmosphere Foundation encourages the participation and involvement of its guests and employees in its CSR activities, such as volunteering, fundraising and awareness campaigns.

Ashwin also highlighted some of the innovative initiatives that Atmosphere Core has undertaken to harness renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint. He said that Atmosphere Core has installed one of the largest renewable energy setups in the Maldives, which consists of solar panels that generate electricity for its resorts. He said that this initiative has helped Atmosphere Core to save on fuel costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the national goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030. He also said that Atmosphere Core has implemented various measures to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, such as using electric vehicles and boats, installing LED lights and low-flow faucets, and promoting eco-friendly transportation options for its guests.

Ashwin showcased some of the unique initiatives that Atmosphere Core has launched to enhance its sustainability efforts:

• Coral restoration projects
  • Growing and transplanting coral fragments
  • Restoring coral reefs’ health and diversity
  • Protecting marine ecosystem
  • Creating educational and recreational opportunities for guests
• Centralised sourcing model
  • Volume-based purchasing and innovative supply chain partnerships
  • Reducing millions of pieces of individual plastic packaging
  • Employing reusable pallets and containers for distribution
  • Supporting local suppliers and producers
• ELE|NA Spa products
  • Sourcing 70% locally from natural ingredients such as coconut oil, sea salt and seaweed
  • Driving economic and social impact for local communities
• Biogas plant
  • Converting organic waste into biogas for cooking or heating
  • Reducing waste disposal costs, methane emissions and firewood consumption
• Hydroponics system
  • Growing 16 types of green leaf produce and vegetables in indoor facility
  • Reducing food import costs, pesticide use and water consumption
  • Providing fresh and healthy food for guests and employees

The Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2023, which is the most anticipated event for hoteliers in the Maldives, was held at Bandos Maldives resort on October 19, 2023. The forum attracted over 100 hoteliers from various resorts and hotels in the Maldives. This year’s forum was sponsored by several leading companies in the hospitality sector, such as Ooredoo Maldives, Fuel Supplies Maldives, Far Horizon, Bestbuy Maldives, Manta Air, Coca-Cola Maldives, Alia Investments, Villa Hakatha, Swimsol, Souvenir Marine, and more.