Rooted in Community: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa Unveils Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project
The first phase - completed on April 17, 2025 - saw the planting of 50 Casuarina trees along a 260-metre (850 foot) stretch of public land on Bodu Huraa, with a total of 100 trees set to be planted over the second quarter of the year. Conducted with the support and approval of the Bodu Huraa Island Council, the project brings together the Resort's Green Team and Grounds & Landscaping department with members of the Bodu Huraa community in a shared act of contribution.
Chosen for their drought tolerance and hardiness in coastal conditions, the Casuarina trees will form a resilient greenbelt that enhances the local environment with minimal water needs - an intentional move that balances ecological benefit with practical care.
Beyond its environmental value, the Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project signals a strategic step in the Resort's approach to climate responsibility: focusing on hyper-local action that generates measurable impact while reinforcing inter-island relationships. It follows the successful 100-coconut-tree planting project at Kuda Huraa and marks a shift toward carbon offsetting strategies that prioritise community relevance and cross-generational benefit.
Our relationship with Bodu Huraa goes far beyond geography. This project is a reflection of our shared values, mutual respect, and commitment to nurturing the place we both call home - together. Didier Jardin, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
As part of its broader environmental and social responsibility goals, the Resort will continue to explore localised solutions that contribute to climate action while strengthening the ties that bind land, people, and purpose.
To find out more about our conservation efforts at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, including the Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project and other impactful initiatives, click here.
About Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts opened its first hotel in 1961, and since that time has been dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 119 hotels and resorts, and 44 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.
View source
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hospitality Net
19-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
Niyama Private Islands Maldives Unveils THIS IS NIYAMA – Evolved and More Tantalising than Ever
Niyama Private Islands Maldives is proud to reveal its THIS IS NIYAMA transformation with fully refurbished villas and facilities, heightened levels of luxury, new experiences that immerse guests in all the beauty of the Maldives, and a newfound sense of freedom - an invitation for guests to live life on their own terms, unscripted and unbound. Since its unveiling in 2012, Niyama has made its mark on the Maldives with its bold playfulness. Now, it ups the ante, as effortless luxury is draped with the avant-garde, the surreal, the one-of-a-kind. The new Niyama showcases the stylish and thoughtful evolution of the resort's villas, restaurants, and leisure facilities across the twin islands of Play and Chill, infusing each with an energy uniquely Niyama. Evolved accommodations: a new aesthetic The resort's accommodations are now enhanced with a lightened palette, all-new furnishings, high-design comfort and sleek technology. Expanded interiors offer more room to relax and reconnect. The beach villas, spacious playgrounds where guests are free to simply be, now glow with the colours of the sunset, while high-tech toys include espresso, popcorn, and entertainment, all at the touch of a button. Overwater villas, meanwhile, swirl in shades of blue and turquoise as the sky and ocean merge into one. Days drift with the tide, bringing sightings of makanaa, reef sharks and the sea turtle that calls the lagoon below home. Each villa blends seamlessly with its surroundings, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening directly onto the beach or a private sundeck, and outdoor bathing quintessential to the Maldives, allowing guests to flit from one setting to another, free to roam at will. Evolved culinary journeys: from the treetops to the ocean depths Dining in the treetops reaches new heights at Nest, the resort's avant-garde restaurant with the sizzle of teppanyaki and spice of Southeast Asia. Redesigned and relandscaped to fully immerse guests in the wild, lush jungle comes alive at dusk with the faint glow of lights and the call of birds. Six metres below the ocean's surface, Subsix unveils the world's first underwater Nikkei tasting experience, each of five courses as surreal as the setting, corals dappled by sunlight and reef sharks and sea turtles circling above. There is also Dune, the ultimate beach chill, with chic lounging by the pool by day, a new menu with the fire of the Maldives a highlight, and cocktails and shisha until sunset. Then there is sunset at the Surf Shack, a hideaway on the very western tip of Play now expanded, where the roar of the surf, the beats of the DJ, the warmth of rum, and fellow free spirits all come together to create pure magic. An active lifestyle: on guests' own terms At Niyama, guests are free to follow their desires, each moment as energised or laid back as they feel in the moment. With world-class waves breaking right on shore (a left-hander), a pro in residence, and epic surf safaris unlike anywhere else, Niyama offers the Maldives' most luxurious way to surf. The new marine centre, meanwhile, features hands-on conservation activities for guests, a way to leave their mark on one of the most beautiful places in the world, led by the resident marine biologist. The kids' club has also evolved, featuring a splash park in a clearing of the jungle, a climbing wall, slides, and trampolines. Daily schedules are packed with snorkelling and sailing with dolphins, with gourmet lunches and mini-spa treatments in between. CHILL. PLAY. THIS IS NIYAMA. Hotel website
Hospitality Net
03-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
Javier Polanco has been appointed Corporate Director of Sales at Sandos Hotels & Resorts
Leading all-inclusive hospitality brand Sandos Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the appointment of Javier Polanco as its new corporate director of sales. As the brand's newest executive addition, Polanco brings with him over two decades of leadership experience and industry insight to the Sandos family, which he will leverage to further the company's mission of providing exceptional guest experiences rooted in sustainability, authenticity and customer value. With an outstanding background specializing in hospitality, sales strategy and digital distribution, Polanco's impressive career ranges from working with internationally acclaimed brands, like Expedia, to holding leadership roles at properties throughout Riviera Maya, diversifying his industry understanding and expertise. Most recently, he served as Palladium Hotel Group's country sales & marketing director, where he spearheaded the company's commercial strategies for their Mexico portfolio. Prior to that, he successfully led the e-commerce division and OTA operations at Haven Riviera Cancun. Over the course of his 13 years with the brand, Polanco also notably played a pivotal role at Expedia, Inc., managing key hotel partnerships with top international chains, specifically in the Mexican and Caribbean, for the leading influential tech platform. He spent his early career working with Meliá Hotels International, where he quickly grew to hold multiple senior roles, such as director of e-commerce & distribution for Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, and commercial director for group sales & leisure travel.
Hospitality Net
30-06-2025
- Hospitality Net
Behind the Façade: Why Greenwashing Threatens Hospitality Brands
The hospitality industry has continuously evolved in response to changing guest expectations. Over the last decade, the shift has been both visible and profound. Today, travellers increasingly look beyond the thread count of linens or gourmet menus. They want transparency, values, and accountability. They want to know how a hotel treats its waste, conserves water, supports the community, and manages its carbon footprint. This shift has driven a visible surge in sustainability messaging across the sector. From eco-labels on websites to tent cards in rooms encouraging guests to reuse towels, sustainability is now a key part of brand storytelling. But behind this movement lies a growing concern: 'Greenwashing.' In hospitality, it is alarmingly easy for brands to slip into it. Greenwashing, by definition, involves overstating or falsely representing one's environmental efforts. In hospitality, it can be as simple as removing plastic straws at the bar while using plastic bottled water throughout the property, or showcasing a CSR partnership in brochures. At the same time, core operations remain energy inefficient and resource-intensive. What's more troubling is that greenwashing is often unintentional, as many operators believe they are being sustainable but fall short on execution, measurement, and transparency. The consequence is more than reputational, especially in an industry built on perception and trust; a mismatch between messaging and reality erodes credibility. Guests are increasingly informed and discerning. Many read sustainability reports before booking and compare third-party ratings. They ask questions at check-in. And when they discover a lack of follow-through, it reflects in reviews, loyalty, and even brand advocacy. In a recent experience during my visit to Bhutan, a country widely admired for its carbon-negative stance and conservation-led tourism model, I noticed a disconnect. Luxury hotels, including global brands, did not have sewage treatment plants or in-house bottling facilities. Plastic bottled water was commonly used, and carbon footprint measurement was absent. These brands likely had sustainability guidelines at the group level, but implementation was patchy on the ground. Conversations revealed an intent to be sustainable,e but challenges with policy enforcement, infrastructure support, and local compliance created gaps that undermined the message. This isn't unique to Bhutan but reflects a global issue where sustainability becomes a branding theme rather than a business function. Without proper checks, third-party certifications, or transparent ESG reporting, it is difficult for guests, investors, or even staff to differentiate between a genuine green brand and one simply performing Greenwashing. The urgency to act is growing. A 2023 report noted that 76% of travellers want to travel more sustainably, yet nearly half feel there aren't enough reliable options. This perception gap is the danger zone where greenwashing thrives. In India, where hospitality is rebounding post-COVID with a stronger focus on experience and purpose, this is an opportunity for introspection and course correction. The way forward is not more messaging but more operational integrity. Hotels must invest in sustainability infrastructure, establish clear internal targets, engage third-party audits, and train employees at every level. More importantly, they must communicate these efforts transparently, with humility and clarity, not as slogans but as shared progress with their guests. The future of hospitality will not be defined by brands that speak the most about sustainability but by those that act the most on it. For hotels, real competitive advantage now lies in the credibility of their ESG practices, not just the visibility of their green claims.
