EL NIDO Resorts, in the municipalities of El Nido and Taytay, Palawan, was recently named one of 12 finalists worldwide in the 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards (TTA), one of the most prestigious accolades in global travel and tourism.
It was chosen among 133 destinations and businesses from more than 46 countries on six continents. The group of four eco-resorts that carry the El Nido brand was nominated for the Community Benefit Award.
It is one of only three finalists in this category.
Other categories in the awards aimed at recognizing best practices in sustainable tourism are: Destination Stewardship Award, Conservation Award and Global Tourism Business Award. El Nido Resorts was also a TTA finalist in 2007.
Organized by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), a forum of business leaders, including multinationals, airlines, hotel chains, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards is deliberated on by 15 to 20 judges from a wide range of professional backgrounds and expertise in the industry.
Three finalists are shortlisted for each category. The final four will be announced in April at the WTTC’s 13th Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The municipality of El Nido is a small archipelago composed of 45 islands. In 1981, Miniloc Island Resort was established by Ten Knots Development Corp. A second resort with 51 rooms was constructed in 1998 in Lagen Island, while the third was opened in 2010 on Apulit island in the municipality of Taytay, with 50 rooms.
The fourth resort with 42 villas on Pangulasian Island opened last month.
Laurent Lamasuta, president of Ten Knots, explained the company’s commitment to environmental protection: “We safeguard the vital resources upon which our business is founded. In so doing, we create long-term value for our shareholders and our host communities.”
The group of resorts, operating for 30 years now, works toward sustainability. As a result, snorkeling in Miniloc Island, where its oldest property is located, remains a spectacular experience, given the biodiversity.
Mariglo Laririt, El Nido Resorts’ director for sustainability, says: “That can only have been made possible by the fact that we have a well-maintained sewage treatment plant and a solid waste program that is uncompromising.”
The harmonious relationship between the operators of the four eco-resorts and the locals, she says, “has enabled us to continue with business unhindered, purchasing, recruiting and promoting from among them.”
Ninety percent of employees are locals.
Employees go through a program on environmental conservation called Be GREEN (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido). This program has been adopted by some elementary and high schools.
El Nido Resorts supervisors are required to run programs for locals on food and beverage, kitchen and housekeeping skills.
El Nido Resorts offers a more sustainable menu to guests, using as many local organically grown ingredients as possible to contribute to the growth of the local economy. Today, as much as 58 percent of ingredients used by the resorts are sourced from locals.
For inquiries and bookings, visit www.elnidoresorts.com.