Tourism & CC Challenges & Opportunities - Global Commons Institute

Case Studies
Case Study 22
Mocking Bird Hill Hotel, Jamaica
Tourism Destination and Situation: Port Antonio, Jamaica.
Climate Change Mitigation Impact: Contributing to biodiversity improvements through carbon offsetting.
Mitigation Tools, Techniques, Policies or Measures: For those guests staying on the Heavenly Honeymoon package,
the hotel offsets their calculated carbon footprint by contributing to the Jamaican Conservation Development Trust. The
Trust uses satellite images to increase biodiversity through planting fast-growing trees in the National Park.
The hotel offsets their own carbon emissions and enables their guests to offset the emissions produced by their flights.
The hotel also contributes directly to the Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT) which aims to preserve the
environment. The NGO has a reforestation programme using native Jamaican forest trees.
In cooperation with JCDT, the hotel offers guests two different carbon offsetting projects. Honeymooning couples are given
a package, which includes a gift certificate and the planting of two trees by JCDT. In the second option guests can indicate
when they make their reservation, or at check-in or check-out, whether they would like to add a contribution to offsetting
the carbon emissions that they generated during their travel. For example, the contribution for long-haul flights is 3 trees at
a cost of US$ 30. This contribution goes towards JCDT’s tree planting programme.
To prevent wastage of natural resources through leaks and other faults, regular preventative maintenance checks are
conducted on equipment.
The hotel is investigating the installation of an alternative energy system but in the mean time there are other energy
reduction methods in operation. These include turning off the automatic doors on storerooms so they are not left open
when staff enter, using lower wattage bulbs in areas where bright light is not required and using energy saving fluorescent
bulbs in the kitchens.
Organisation(s) Implementing Tools, Techniques, Policies or Measures: The hotel has teamed up with Sustainable
Travel International (STI) who have an accredited carbon offsetting programme.
Case Study 23
Tiamo Resorts, Bahamas
Tourism Destination and Situation: Bahamas, Tiamo resort
Climate Change Mitigation Impact: Reducing the impact of the resort on the surrounding environment and reducing
the need for electricity generation on site.
Mitigation Tools, Techniques, Policies or Measures:
The site clearing for the resort was done by hand using machetes and chainsaws to preserve the existing vegetation. All
transport materials to the Tiamo site was done by hand, using small shallow draft boats to reduce the likelihood of the
dredging that a larger vessel might do.
Buildings were carefully designed so that each is elevated to reduce the impact on the site and for cooling purposes. The
buildings themselves have been used with wraparound porches which keep direct sunlight from the main living areas,
reflective roofs, and an open design to maximise airflow.
There are no recycling facilities in the Bahamas so the resort has had to be creative in how solid waste is dealt with. All
food waste is composted and paper products, if not reused, are burnt. The compost and ashes are used to fertilize the
gardens.
Tiamo has a large solar field which can generate over 130,000 watts each day. 100% of the electrical needs are meant by
renewable energy sources.
Organisation(s) Implementing Tools, Techniques, Policies or Measures: Tiamo Resort
71