New Westin St. Lucia To Be Caribbean's First Fossil Fuel Independent Resort
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New Westin St. Lucia To Be Caribbean's First Fossil Fuel Independent Resort
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - St. Lucia - Industry economy -
Hotel projects
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-09-10
The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia is working with on-site environmentalists ahead of its scheduled opening in June of 2009
The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia aims to be the Caribbean’s first fossil fuel independent resort when it opens in June 2009. The sophisticated 554-acre resort is being developed with special consideration to social and environmental impacts, with the goal of improving the community in St. Lucia. Situated along the island’s breathtaking east coast, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia will feature 192 rooms, as well as an 18-hold Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and the Westin brand’s full range of refreshing services and amenities.
“Protecting and preserving the local environment is our biggest goal for the project,” said Kierron Dolby, managing director of DCG Properties, LLC, developer of the Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia. “We are committed to improving the quality of life for residents of St. Lucia and that’s one of the reasons we are striving to rely solely on renewable fuel sources.”
The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort hired native St. Lucian Peter Ernest, an on-site environmental scientist with international training and experience in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, to help direct the resort’s environmental strategy throughout the development. He is currently mapping and building nature trails throughout the 554 acres for guests to explore, while saving the mangroves and beaches from disruption.
“Sustainable development can only be achieved if social and environmental impacts are in balance with economic goals,” said Earnest. “A number of studies have been conducted on the site before and during the construction and all measures have been taken to minimize impacts in the area.”
More than 800 St. Lucian engineers, electricians, entertainers and environmentalists will be employed when the first phase is completed in 2009. The project is making a number of contributions to the infrastructure, social welfare and environment that promise long- term benefits. The efforts being undertaken include, but are not limited to the following:
Social Welfare Benefits
* Creation of deep, underground potable drinking water wells with the capacity to service the island’s Eastern seaboard region and provide fresh water for thousands of St. Lucians
* Support for the newly developed East Coast Farmers Cooperative and its hands-on training program to assist in training members in adopting newer and more efficient techniques of delivering and maintaining quality food supplies
* Support for scholarship programs and youth development through sport and academic sponsorships for qualified individuals with financial need
* Development of the first wellness and medical clinic in the Caribbean
Environmental Benefits
* Investigations underway of geothermal systems to provide electricity to the resort. Geothermal systems harvest energy from the earth and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
* Development of a nursery for the growth of local flora and fauna to meet the needs of all landscaping for the resort
* Solar hot water generation
* Deep bore wells for potable drinking water
* A computerized controlled irrigation system to help conserve water
* Treated waste water and collected storm water used for resort irrigation
* High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes used in lieu of standard polyvinyl chloride PVC on Greg Norman's golf course. (The manufacturing, use and disposal of PVC produces numerous environmental toxins.)
Expecting to be the world’s first fossil fuel independent resort, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia, has earned praise form local government and community officials for its earnest efforts to improve the community, while building the development into an upscale tourist and residential destination.
The resort’s luxuriously appointed guest rooms offer beautiful views of Praslin Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Designed to maximize the indoor and outdoor living experience while encompassing every modern amenity, all guestrooms will include the renowned Westin Heavenly Bed® and Heavenly Bath,®.
Soaring 600 feet above sea level, the 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course will feature breathtaking ocean views from each hole. Golfers of all levels will have an opportunity to play through a dramatic cliff side covering 135 acres. The golf course will use a computer-controlled irrigation system to conserve water and minimize impact on the environment.
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