Heritage Resorts reaffirms its commitment towards sustainability and inclusiveness

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Confucius
The sanitary crisis may have shaken our world and daily routine and yet, has allowed a full reassessment of our way of living and its impact. More than ever, we should think about Tomorrow by acting Now.

At Heritage Resorts, we strive to turn this crisis into an opportunity, and make this opportunity a turning point. For many years, we have been actively committed to wildlife and environment preservation.

At our small level and with the collaboration of our team, clients and partners, we firmly believe that we can play our part in this noble cause.

Heritage Resorts, leader of sustainable development at Bel Ombre, is fully aware of the situation’s urgency. Indeed, Bel Ombre is the unique sanctuary of Mauritius with a preserved and precious biodiversity. We have been gifted with an amazing and mesmerizing nature in the wild south of Mauritius, and our responsibility is to protect this legacy which has been lent to us.. Therefore, we believe above all in our People and our capacity to achieve great actions.

Last June 5th was the International Environment Day. On this occasion, we wish to share our recent environmental initiatives with you:

  • Last December, we have opted for Christmas trees made of reusable wood.100% of our team members at the Boat House at Heritage le Telfair have received an extensive and complete training on sustainability matters related to the lagoon conservation. · Finally, in 2018, we collaborated with Reef Conservation in the installation of artificial reefs made from coral fragments in the Bel Ombre Lagoon. This collaboration has improved corals health and allowed the migration of about 20 fish species in the lagoon.
  • In our rooms, classic bins have been replaced by recycling bins to create awareness and further encourage our guests to participate in our recycling program.
  • Part of our green digital transformation program, we have developed a new digital Guest Directory at Heritage Awali that guests can access with a QR code avoiding paper use.
  • We are growing our own vegetables and fruits at Bel Ombre through to avoid product transportation, reduce our carbon footprint and ensure an excellent product quality. For that matter, we have designed a “BO” logo on our menus at le Telfair to inform our guests when local ingredients from Bel Ombre are being used in recipes.
  • We have also launched THE PLEDGE program, a certification that fights against food waste in partnership with NGO Foodwise.
  • At Heritage Le Telfair, all oils used are collected and recycled for bio-carburate purposes.
  • At Heritage Awali, the “Yellow Submarine” at Timomo Kids Club welcomes kids from the hotel and from surrounding schools in a playful setting to make them discover marine life while explaining the importance of preserving it. Moreover, eco-friendly amenities are favoured in the Kids Club. · Finally, we have signed the SigneNatir Pact by Business Mauritius committing us to follow the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recommended by the United Nations.

This International Day celebrating mother nature was followed closely by the World Ocean Day on June 8th. Each year, this day reminds us how much the marine life is affected due to human activities and its carelessness towards nature. To preserve our beautiful Bel Ombre beach and its biodiversity, Heritage Resorts is involved in several projects:

  • 4 breakwaters have been installed to reduce the impact of waves on the beach, thus limiting the risks of erosion. As we believe that this can only be done by teaming up with all stakeholders, this project was conducted in collaboration with neighbouring hotels, villagers, fishermen, boaters, and local authorities. This constant dialogue with the stakeholders of Bel Ombre, testifies at our sustainable commitment in thriving people and inclusiveness. It is also important to note that the preservation of the beach and the lagoon does not alter the beach quality and, of course, is part of the long-term vision of Heritage Resorts.
  • We have recently developed a Lagoon Directory, available in rooms to the attention of our guests. This educational and teaching tool describes the fauna and flora of Bel Ombre and is a way to make them discover and explore the richness of the local biodiversity.
  • We are aware of the harm caused by plastic to the ocean and we have at heart the preservation of our own lagoon in Bel Ombre. As such, since 2017, we have banned all plastic straws on the Resorts and replaced them with straws made of natural materials. Aiming at reducing the use of plastic bottles on our resorts, we also have our own bottling plant system, whereby glass bottles are used on the Domaine.
  • 100% of our team members at the Boat House at Heritage le Telfair have received an extensive and complete training on sustainability matters related to the lagoon conservation. · Finally, in 2018, we collaborated with Reef Conservation in the installation of artificial reefs made from coral fragments in the Bel Ombre Lagoon. This collaboration has improved corals health and allowed the migration of about 20 fish species in the lagoon.

Through these actions, we are turning our vulnerability into a strength. Protecting mother nature is a priority and a daily struggle which does not limit itself to these 2 days. It is a day-to-day teamwork that drives and allows us to push our limits more and more every day.

As we celebrated these special days, we remember that each one of us can initiate wonderful things and make a difference. Click here to know more about our sustainability charter.

We strongly believe that each small step matters and is in fact a great victory. Together, we can build a better future for Mauritius and its future generations by carrying the small stones. Let’s Act Now For Tomorrow.

#HeritageResorts #Mauritius #OurEcoActions #Sustainability

The lagoon in Bel Ombre, a well kept secret

The Bel Ombre lagoon is a model of marine conservation for the country, and heritage resorts is committed to safeguarding this vulnerable and invaluable heritage treasure. the group has teamed up with reef conservation, an NGO which has been monitoring the bel ombre marine ecosystem and making recommendations in the light of surveys undertaken since 2015. let’s take a discovery tour and learn tips to help protect this amazing lagoon!
A wealth of information through observation.

Reef conservation focuses on protecting and restoring the marine and coastal environment of Mauritius through implementing conservation programmes, research, education and awareness.
The NGO completed a first survey in 2015 and a subsequent environmental monitoring report in 2018. The message is clear: despite being in good condition, the Bel Ombre lagoon is vulnerable and requires active protection. there is a total of 55 hectares of reef habitat and 20 hectares of seagrass in the four areas of the lagoon. These two types of seabed are vital to a healthy ecosystem. There are differences between seaweed and seagrass, the latter consists of flowering plants forming underwater meadows in bays and coastal areas. Their leaves slow down currents, allowing sedimentation, and their roots keep sand in place and prevent the dispersion of sediments, which can smother corals.

Seagrass meadows play an important role in slowing down beach erosion and also provide cover for young fish.
Coral habitats also help slow down beach erosion by protecting the shoreline against waves. They harbour various species of plants and animals, and are a major food source for marine wildlife and humans. Finally, they contribute significantly to medical
advances. The Bel Ombre lagoon is home to brain corals – which are easy to identify! – as well as massive corals, delicate branched and soft corals.

A refuge for unique species in the world

A light breeze blows over the wild south of the island, on this Saturday morning. Heritage Nature Reserve sports a resplendent range of summer colors. Our guide, Jean Claude Sevathian, is a talkative and fun botanist who knows the fauna and flora of Mauritius. Accessible to all, this new hike in the heart of the Black River Gorges National Park – an area managed by the national Parks and Conservation Services (NPCS) – is already one of the domain’s not-to-be-missed experiences.
Follow us as we discover the Bel Ombre Biosphere, one of the best-protected primary forests on the island!

OUR ADVENTURE IN THE HEART OF NATURE

A 4×4 type safari leads us to the entrance of the reserve. This zone of transition to the biosphere is, against all expectations, populated by Florida pines – a secondary (or commercial) forest planted to generate employment in the 1970s.

Our group crosses a small bridge to reach the central conservation area and faces a landscape of great beauty. A stream in the shade of the canopy evokes the passage of the torrent of Paul et Virginie, and its soft and rhythmic clapping the song of birds and the rustle of the leaves. On the way to “Bon Courage”, a trail formerly used by hunters, Jean Claude enthusiastically introduces us to many endemic plant species such as the patte de lézard (literally: lizard’s foot) fern, the vacoas and the majestic bois de natte. We stop in front of a bicentennial ebony tree, astonished by its splendour, and we take turns to wrap our arms around it, while our guide looks on, amused.

“Did you know? Of the 691 plant species present in Mauritius, 273 are endemic to the island and 150 are endemic to the Mascarenes.”

THE ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE ISLAND

Formed 8 million years ago by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, Mauritius was not
exactly a tropical paradise at its genesis. Plants and animals came to the island in different ways. While some species “actively” found their way by swimming or flying, others allowed themselves to be carried by the wind or clung to fragments of floating vegetation. Isolated from the rest of their family, they have adapted to their new environment to such an extent that we now speak of them as “endemic” species, since they do not exist anywhere else.

THE BIOSPHERE, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH AREA

“But our goal is not to make them dependent,” says Jean Claude. Forest phenology – in other words the study of seasonal events such as flowering, leafing and fruiting – allows site researchers to assess the availability of naturally accessible food resources, and to close the feeders when birds can, somehow, fend for themselves!

The biosphere is therefore under continuous surveillance, but the team must also regularly
weed invasive plants such as the strawberry guava. Indeed, some endemic plants such as ox tree or Hibiscus genevii are currently critically endangered – not to mention all those that the island has already lost following the invasion of exotic species or overexploitation.

The Worlds of Seashells

It’s with these words that visitors are greeted on entering the Shell Museum, which was recently transferred to its new site in the Place du Moulin, Heritage Bel Ombre. Apart from their intrinsic function,
Seashells, natural objects but also cultural ones, have been astonishing, intriguing and inspiring collectors, scientists and artists for centuries. Seashells have an aesthetic appeal and have attracted many myths, some of our own and some from distant countries, as well as fascination with their form and how they function biologically. Housing 8,000 specimens from the collection of the conchologist, Eric Le Court de Billot, World of Seashells is a revelation and more than worth a visit.

Deceptive appearance

Incredibly, there are more than 75,000 seashell species around the world. The museum has classified the specimens by family in accordance with the indexing system of the World Register of Marine Species 2018. But what is a seashell? It is the spiral or cone-shaped external skeleton of a mollusk. With a ribbed surface or covered in spines, decked with pearly or shimmering colors and a geometric form that only nature could have created, seashells come in an amazing variety of shapes. However, above and beyond their stunning beauty, they provide an excellent form of defense against predators.
Seashells, natural objects but also cultural ones, have been astonishing, intriguing and inspiring collectors, scientists and artists for centuries.

A visit reveals some fascinating anecdotes. For example, the divine proportion of seashells has attracted mathematicians and scholars since Antiquity and the museum gives a very clear explanation of the link between shells and the golden ratio. Gods such as Venus and Aphrodite in Greco-Roman mythology or Yemoja (the Yorubas’ goddess of the sea) and Vishnu amongst Hindus are depicted with a shell, a scallop or a conch. One of the museum’s texts reads, “In all cultures and civilizations, shells are part of the way water is depicted as a symbol of fertility, purification and rebirth.”

Beauty in danger

As well as the marvelous displays, the museum also informs visitors about the risks arising from the overexploitation of seashells. Marine pollution also accelerates the loss of species such as bivalves (two-valved hinged-shell mollusks) which are filter feeders, absorbing heavy metals and organic pollutants. Moreover, ocean acidification has a direct impact on the lives of mollusks. If we wish to continue to be able to appreciate the treasured presence of seashells on our beaches and in our oceans, now more than ever we have to rethink our lifestyles and how we interact with our environment.

Your immersive barefoot holidays at veranda resorts mauritius

With a free spirit and a generous heart, the five hotels Veranda Resorts have unleashed the very essence of what a holiday in Mauritius is all about…

It is above all, an invitation through the journey to let go, to disconnect from everyday life, to reconnect to yourself and to what is essential…family, friends, life… It is that long awaited moment when time becomes long, finally. It even stops and invites you to focus on yourself, and reconnect to your senses through life experiences, in the greatest simplicity.

It is taking a break to marvel at the small pleasures of life. The sun on the skin, the play of light and shadow on the body, the warmth of the sand, the sweet flavors and scents of the tropics. Bare feet in the fine sand, looking out over the blue lagoon, face dazzled by the glistening sun of Mauritius…

Sunshine is my favorite accessory!

Imagine a soothing escape, in close encounter with nature: salty waters, filled with energy of the Indian Ocean, calm and relaxing crystal waters of a swimming pool in-between sunbaths; lush tropical gardens, peaceful green havens in the heart of our hotels, or simply delicate and white sand warming your feet… this time is yours to enjoy, a time to reconnect to nature’s gifts and your inner self.

Enjoy the fruity side of Life

Holidays under the tropics are a treat for the senses…taste the sweet flavours of tropical fruits, smell the exotic aromas…Our island is full of culinary wonders to discover and experience: take a refreshing break on the sandy beach, sipping a fresh juice cocktail, or boost up your energy with a vitamin break by the pool. Pick one, pick two, the choice is yours. No compromise on pleasure!

Family moments to remember forever!

The most beautiful holidays are the simplest, where families reunite for a privileged moment…. Whether playful or relaxed, the most beautiful memories are crafted onthe beach: sand castles and crab hunting, swimming or exploring; the only thing served on this menu : happiness!

It’s only about You and Me

Cherish each and every moment, feel the privilege of living shared experiences. Being together, on such a special island, just the two of you. You have been waiting for this moment for a long time so make the most of it… Enjoy these moments of sheer happiness on the beach at sunset, or moments of pure bliss, gently swaying together in a hammock. Picture laughters and complicity when you get to share some of our specially crafted experiences during your stay.

Full immersion

Your holidays in Mauritius are made of moments of deep immersion in the local culture and traditions. We craft for you the most authentic local experiences. Vibrate to the rhythm of the ravanne and the percussions; go barefoot and feel the freedom; warm up to the crackling bonfire…taste the local flavours, explore our colorful cuisine and exotic food, and connect to our beautiful local nature. Come as a visitor, leave as an islander.

Discover the soul of Mauritius…Deep, touching, generous, truthful and experience the subtle blend of traditional exotic and modern dynamism. With the Indian Ocean lapping at the tips of your toes, replenish yourself in a fresh and dazzling decor.

Every holiday has a story, start dreaming yours…

#DeepIntoMauritius #VerandaResorts #Mauritius