Bougainvillea Beach big switch off save big

Big benefits for all from sustainable measures

The Travel Foundation’s water and energy programme ‘Switch off Save Big’ (SOSB) has been running in the Caribbean since March 2009. Many hotels have significantly decreased their water and energy usage as well as making a tremendous saving by implementing simple and easy conservation measures. 

The Managers and staff of Bougainvillea Beach Resort have been a part of the (SOSB) programme from the beginning and have shown their commitment to sustainability in so many ways.
Recently, Charmaine Sealey, Switch off Save Big Caribbean Project Manager was out and about interviewing some of the people who help to make the sustainable programme at Bougainvillea a huge success and she came across the 15 year long standing Housekeeping Manager, Avril Clarke. Of course these years are just a drop in the bucket compared to how long Avril's been on the hospitality scene.

Avril started the H/K dept at Sand Acres when there were only approximately 20 rooms! She was literally thrown in at the deep end and got right down to the challenge and immediately started putting housekeeping systems in place. Some of Avril's favourite words include solutions and communication. Avril’s motto is, “Doing it right the first time and every time after that!”

Avril has such a willingness to share all that she's learned along the years with others and has passed on a legacy of excellence to many of the staff that she now manages. Avril's a firm believer of sticking within the departmental budget which gives her the impetus to create some very unique environmentally friendly cleaning materials.

She's come up with some innovative and proven environmentally friendly products that can be made on property and used as multipurpose cleaners. There's the all purpose cleaning mix that includes vinegar, water and borax which can be used on surfaces, doors and guest rooms. Then there's the aromatherapy air fresheners using ingredients like orange, lemon and peppermint oils. One of the all time favourites is the product especially made to keep the mosquitoes away. It's completely environmentally friendly and Avril has some really good tips on how to apply it in guest rooms, seriously she's got recipes for baking soda scrubs to keep mildew away and recipes to keep those faucets mirror shining clean. Sheer genius!

Avril expressed that using these products are not only friendly to the environment but also extremely important for the protection of her staff and their health. She's also managed to cut down her departmental budget by 50% by using a bit of initiative and taking the time to train her staff how to use the products. When asked what drives her to ensure that the housekeeping department remains sustainable, she simply said, "Sustainability ensures that we save the environment and our children and grandchildren of tomorrow". Well said Avril!

And if that’s not enough to tickle your taste buds Natalie Dyall, Environmental Officer is very proud of the hotel’s initiatives that are taking place in the area of composting and recycling. The hotel has dedicated an entire storeroom for recycling cardboard and the trump card is the organic garden that is being nurtured opposite the hotel grounds. There you'll find an array of green peppers, lemon leaf and a host of other herbs which the guests will get to sample in some dish later prepared in the hotel restaurant.

Natalie has lots of tricks up her sleeve including a market day for the staff to purchase the produce at a reduced cost once the garden really takes off. Now that's what you call sustainability!  Natalie explained that the hotel's environmental practices have gone way beyond cutting water and energy costs but further lends itself to the upkeep and welfare of the local community. Without a shadow of a doubt this hotel is walking the walk as they talk the talk. All that’s left to say is BRAVO Bougainvillea.