Mauritius Hotel - Long Beach by name - green and sustainable by nature
Last updated 2/7/2012 11:12:42 AM
Long Beach Hotel Mauritius - green and sustainable
Long Beach, the latest addition to a long list of outstanding hotels in Mauritius, is also leading the way in environmental, green developments. The hotel, which only opened in the spring, has already made the top 100 in the Sunday Times survey and is being seen as a model for others wishing to follow the green trail to serenity.
It was not easy, for first the Sun International Group had to demolish the old and weary 333 room Coco Beach Hotel to clear the way – and that is hardly environmentally friendly however you look at it.
The neighbours, not just adjoining hotels, were under immediate consideration and during the demolition work geotextile membranes, plenty of good old fashioned water to damp down the dust and plaster and completing the work at specified times of day ensured that not only were the beach, all 700 metres of it, and the sea were well protected, but so were the local inhabitants.
The rubble was sifted and sorted to avoid risk of pollution, much of it recycled or sold while the concrete was crushed and part used to infill on the site itself.
From the start the development was discussed with the local communities not only to keep them informed but also to enable them to make their own input and feel part of the project, not just watching another "foreign" project being built behind dust shrouded high walls.
As a result there is plenty of fresh produce and seafood provided locally while becoming involved in local projects, especially the Duke and Duchess of York Community Centre in nearby Quatre Cocos, serving four villages and also being used in the early days as a training centre for the locals who were to be employed by the hotel.
Consequently the hotel has a spirit about it, harnessing the natural friendliness of the islanders and integrating them into what they truly believe is "their" hotel, something every visitor gains from and appreciates.
The new hotel is on a 59 acres site on the Belle Mare Peninsula with 255 rooms, all with a sea view. The rooms are built so that they are sheltered from the occasional winds which blow along the east coast and while the design is absolutely contemporary it is already being softened by the burgeoning plant life.
This is where the hotel is truly "Green" with more than half a million plants, including 26 endemic species, providing lush, tropical gardens with wonderful walks through the rapidly growing trees , shrubs and flowers, tended by an army of local gardeners.
There is also a plant nursery where thousands of plants are being nurtured, waiting to be moved to the grounds surrounding the Long Beach bedrooms and suites , joining the 4,530 trees and palms, 507,430 shrubs and, of course, the 26 endemic species already growing – but, sorry, no sign of a Dodo!
All this and beautiful lawns tended by plant-based herbicides and organic pesticides.
The watering system runs underground and is supplemented by rainwater which is collected and stored in tanks while the wastewater is UV treated, passed through filtration systems and used to keep the gardens pristine, as is the green waste and compostable waste from the kitchens, used as fertilisers.
Add to this 6,000 energy efficient light bulbs, spots and LED lighting with thought given to minimising the impact of lighting on the insects, animals, birds and plants. The saving in electricity usage at Long Beach is the equivalent to the ANNUAL consumption of 500 households.
Naturally the air conditioning is also up to the moment and the water from the cooling systems is recycled and thermal panels help in the production of hot water – backed up by a gas boiler.
The roofs of the buildings are also covered in plants, pebbles and special materials to reduce the impact of the sun which can be unforgiving in the middle of the Indian Ocean while the plants, fountains, ponds and swimming pools also help to cool the air temperature.
But rest easy. None of the above is shoved down your throat or thrust in your face. It all blends in with nature and the holidaymaker (after all this is what it is all about) are able to relax in sumptuous luxury, enjoy the nightly, unobtrusive modern entertainment in the Italian style central Piazza, which is surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars, not to mention smart little stalls selling the local products, all in the best of taste.
Talking of taste the main breakfast and dinner buffet is one of the best I have come across and if you want waiting upon then the Japanese, Italian, Chinese or Fish restaurant will be more than happy to oblige.
The crystal clear lagoon and the long (it's in the name) 40 metre wide beach offers the alternate world under the sea while beyond is marlin fishing territory or dolphin spotting boat rides.
It is a resort to enjoy on an island long known as Paradise and give it a couple of years and the gardens will be an Eden Project all on its own.