Dear Guests,

We feel it is essential to run a socially and environmentally responsible business. We pay our permanent and contract employees union wages and adhere to Kenyan labor law. Our permanent and contract employees receive standard wages, profit sharing, housing allowance and duty meals. Our employees also receive free out-patient medical care. We try to minimize the use of day workers as we believe the money is better spent on providing our employees full benefits.

Whenever possible we purchase produce from local farmers to support the community. The furniture, pictures and decorations in the hotels were all made by local artists as well.

Primary education is free of charge in Kenya. However, there is a lack of educational possibilities once young adults finish their secondary education. We have established a trainee program accredited by a Kenyan university that allows our trainees to earn a degree in hospitality management. Once the trainees complete the two year program, some of them continue to work here while others have a great stepping stone into other hotels.

In addition to operating a socially responsible business, we also believe that it is essential to protect the environment. We want to ensure that generations to come can enjoy this beautiful stretch of land. As in any hotel, the environmental impacts include the trash produced, energy wasted and water pollution and waste. Along the south coast as in most parts of Africa recycling is limited or not available at all. We therefore try to minimize trash but especially the use plastics. You therefore will see a reusable thermos filled with fresh drinking water instead of plastic bottles. We separate our kitchen and yard waste and compost as much as possible to further reduce our environmental footprint. We have switched to energy saving light bulbs whenever possible and have combined our resources for both hotels in the washing area to reduce water and energy consumption. We use environmentally friendly cleaning products whenever possible. We collect batteries and pay for the disposal of them in Europe at the appropriate facilities. Water is a very precious resource and there is not enough water to supply the towns of Ukunda and Diani Beach. We therefore use treated borehole water in addition to the freshwater supplied. Due to the proximity to the water you will find the borehole water in your shower might be a bit salty.

We try to minimize the use of plastic bottles as far as possible. Therefore, you will find a refillable flask in your room. This flask is filled with fresh mineral water (the same that you get at the bar). You can have the bottled filled at any time free of charge at the bars. Please ask the reception if you would like more bottles.

Water supply on the coast is also an issue. The fresh water supply in Ukunda only covers about 25% of the actual demand. We receive fresh water for showers, toilets etc to the extent that it is available from the waterworks. We mix this with treated well water to provide you with the comforts of home that your are accustomed to.

In addition, we use eco-friendly cleaning products when possible. Discarded sheets, towels etc, are not thrown away but passed on to employees or charitable institutions.

 

You can help us lessen our environmental impact:

• Please let us know when you want to have your bed sheets washed. Please leave the little green card on your bed and we will be happy to change the sheets.
• Towels in the shower mean: ”I need a new one”.  Towels on the rail mean: “ I will use the towel again”.

 

Travelife:

We are proud recipients of the Travelife Gold Award