Uncovering the unique sustainability initiatives at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

As the hospitality industry strives to become more sustainable, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is leading the way with unique initiatives that are setting new standards in sustainability. From earning Silver and Gold certifications by EarthCheck and Green Globe, to their commitment to non-single-use plastics, this resort has made a clear statement of how serious they are about preserving their natural environment.

But beyond just minimizing their environmental impact, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has also created a range of unique experiences that let guests explore and appreciate the area’s remote beauty in sustainable ways.

If you’re looking for ways to make your stay more eco-friendly or just curious about how hotels can make a positive impact on their surroundings, read on.

1.  Sustainable conception

The resort owners and architecture firms harmoniously collaborated to create sustainable architectural designs and materials that are environmentally conscious, operate with the utmost energy efficiency, and respect their natural surroundings.

From its inception, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has championed environmental and social sustainability in its everyday operations.

This largely untouched area offers some of Mother Nature’s finest spectacles: vibrant coral reefs, indigenous fish species, and remote islands where the traditional Maldivian way of life is centered on the sea and its resources.

“We acknowledge that with its accompanying infrastructure in the midst of an extremely isolated and pristine tropical atoll poses a risk to the surrounding area and its people. This has empowered us to dedicate our resources to protect this unique and fragile environment. Being environmentally conscious is critical and that is why great emphasis was given to the structure, design and type of materials used in building this significant villa. We were vigilant in ensuring that no corals or marine life were destroyed, no heavy machinery were used and all materials including timbers, cement, stone stabs were all transported by hand,” said Nikolaus Priesnitz, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa’s General Manager.

“Today, our mindful focus on the way the resort was built has resulted in our guests enjoying a 360-degree healthy and thriving house reef, still very much untouched by the harshness of ocean activities. Our story on our conception is shared with our guests through talks and through our resort-walks, and they in return respect and part-take in our initiatives for ocean and marine life conservation,” he added.

2. Sustainable guest experiences

Abiding by the ethical use of non-single-use plastics, meals during excursions are provided in bento boxes and drinking water is served in glass bottles.

Dedicated to protecting local marine life, only one catch may be kept when fishing using traditional Maldivian bait fishing. Any fish that does not meet approved fishing specifications or falls under protected species will be released back into the sea.

“We also request that our guests do not bring any plastic items with them and when they visit the resort as we will provide them with these amenities. We would send them a ‘What to pack for your trip’ handouts before their arrival so that they are aware of our sustainable practices. We also advise our guests to use only Coral-safe Protective Sunscreen as the micro beads in the sunscreen are plastic and are not biodegradable, and can cause harm to our house reef.”

 3. Helping the local community

The resort’s farm-to-table project offers a unique and sustainable dining experience for culinary travelers.

“Savor meals made with fruits, vegetables, edible flowers and herbs from the farm that are served to you—not just on your plate but also in their raw form so you can see how they were grown,” invited Nikolaus.

“Our sustainability efforts not only involve activities on our island resort; we are also promoting sustainability by contributing to the livelihood of the local community where we support the initiatives of the neighboring island, Kondey, only a 15-minutes boat ride away.”

Kondey is an agriculture-focused island with its specialty being smallhold vegetable and fruit plantations, fishing and farming. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has been a strong supporter of this community by acquiring the products and volunteering its time and expertise on nurturing the locals on responsible farming.

By joining forces with Kondey, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is doing its part to protect the environment and support local communities through its shared sustainable vision. Their commitment to producing organic products without any artificial chemicals reiterates how serious they are about creating a greener future for all.

“In line with this—to protect our ocean and to offer our guests a unique dining experience—we bought a composting machine where we recycle our kitchen scraps and use them to fertilize our Chef’s Garden. Our Chef’s Garden grows a variety of nutritious organic vegetables, and guests are most welcome to visit or even pick their own vegetables for an ‘all-plant based’ menu, served within the garden – The Treehouse, 5 meters above the island shores,” shared Nikolaus.

4. Solar energy

By recently installing solar energy panels through the resort’s back-of-house areas and dining outlets, the resort is paving its way to a more sustainable future. The second phase of installation commencing in April 2023 will cover Overwater Villa roofs specifically, helping them save an estimated 85,000 liters of diesel per year—allowing one generator to be shut off on hot days!

“Solar energy is overall 45% cheaper than diesel energy and this contributes to our sustainability impact of burning 50% less fuel,” said Nikolaus.

“Our aim is to continue with our efforts to conserve and preserve the ocean and the island we call home, and decrease the waste going to the landfills and the carbon footprint,” Nikolaus concluded.

Editor’s note: We love and admire hotels and resorts that have committed to sustainability. If you are aware of any eco-friendly properties, let us know at editor@travelasianow.net so we can showcase their remarkable dedication towards a greener future.