January 6th, 2012
While they may be far from any hockey rink, Anantara Resorts has still managed to score a “hat trick” in the Maldives! They have proudly achieved Green Globe Certification for three of its resorts – Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, and Anantara Kihavah Villas. This recognition highlights Anantara’s sincere commitment to operating in an environmentally, socially and culturally responsible manner through a broad spectrum of initiatives in the Maldives, and is proudly the first operator in the Maldives to have all of its resorts Green Globe Certified.
Anantara’s Maldives resorts incorporate all aspects of Green Globe standards in their daily operation, primarily in environmental conservation such as water, energy, and waste management efficiency. The resorts also support their local communities and environments and promote the islands’ social and cultural heritage through resort and local island experiences.
Baa Atoll, the capital of the Maldives, is also recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO for its conservation, research, and development of their rich coral reef systems. With this, UNESCO acknowledges Baa Atoll’s “great potential for demonstrating sustainable development throughout the Maldives and the region, while relying on a green economy.”
For more information on Anantara and its environmental, social and cultural sustainability policies, please click here.
November 16th, 2011
The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is hosting an exclusive event tonight (from 6:00 to 8:00 PM) in honor of Rima Fujita’s latest book, Save the Himalayas, which focuses on the importance of the Himalayan region and the various threats it faces.
Guest speakers will include Sharon Gannon (founder of Jivamukti Yoga Method), Lobsang Nyandak (representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama), and Tendor Dorjee (Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet). This is one event you don’t want to miss, so get to the Rubin Museum of Art (located at 150 West 17th Street) in time to get a good seat and enjoy!
November 10th, 2011
When most people think of the Maldives, they think of powdery beaches, deserted pearl-strung islands, and world-famous diving, but that’s not all – the pristine and virtually untouched open water is home to some extraordinary big game fish. From now through November 13, the Maldives Game Fishing Association (MGFA) is holding the first ever Maldives Game Fishing Challenge. In this “tag and release” tournament, competitors bait their lines in hopes of landing Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin, Big Eye, and Dog Tooth Tuna. In addition to supporting sustainable recreational fishing methods, scientists are present at the tournament to tag the caught fish for research and conservation purposes.
October 13th, 2011
Big news from Bhutan – it’s another royal wedding! Today, the nation’s ultra-popular “Dragon King” married Jetsun Pema, a 21-year-old student and the daughter of an airline pilot. The marriage, first announced in May, was televised live across the country, resulting in widespread celebration. The colorful ceremony took place in a sacred monastery surrounded by the elated people of Bhutan. Find out more here!
June 8th, 2011
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas founder and CEO Bill Heinecke knows it’s better to give than to receive. Every year for his birthday, Anantara properties around the world give back to their local communities through a number of charitable outreach programs. This year, the annual Minor Founder’s Day celebrations during the first week in June included the release of 50 sea turtles into the wild at Anantara Seminyak in Bali, an elephant meet-and-greet and tree planting event at Anantara Golden Triangle in Thailand, and an Eye Camp for local residents at Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives (including donations of glasses for those in need).
Kind of puts that pony we asked for in perspective!
June 3rd, 2011
The little dudes are just eggs, we leave ‘em on a beach to hatch, and then, coo-coo-cachoo, they find their way back to the big ol’ blue. – Crush the Sea Turtle, Finding Nemo
While Crush may be right, sometimes the turtles need a little bit of help. Tomorrow, the recently Green Globe Certified Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa in Bali will release one adult and 50 baby turtles into the wild as part of the resort’s ongoing wildlife conservation initiatives. While they may live for up to 80 years, these creatures are endangered and at high risk for extinction. By protecting the vulnerable eggs from predators until the baby turtles are ready to be released, Anantara is doing their part to make sure the sea turtle will still be surfing the ocean for many years to come.
May 24th, 2011
The beautiful, yet rugged, terrain of the mountains surrounding the Paro Valley of Bhutan was no match for the COMO Approach Team at Uma Paro.
Last week, the team delivered 60 pairs of shoes to the orphans at the Neyphug Monastary. Though the trip was indeed an extensive operation, all was worthwhile when the team saw the children’s smiling faces.
They also traveled to Kela Goemba to deliver toiletries to the nuns living in the monastery as part of the Master Card “Purchase with a Purpose” project. This project supplies an essentials package containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and more to this and other remote locations around the world.
What’s next for the COMO Approach Team? Help pay for a recent loan to buy a car the nuns of Kela Goemba desperately need for emergencies. The efforts of the team are in line with COMO’s commitment to the local communities, culture and environment.
May 23rd, 2011
Congratulations to Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, which has become the first hotel in all of Bali to achieve Green Globe Certification. They are the second Anantara property to be awarded this distinction, after Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives.
Green Globe Certification recognizes those businesses in the travel and tourism industries who comply with the highest standards of sustainability practices. Anantara Seminyak goes above and beyond in the realm of water, energy and waste management efficiency. Check it out for yourself, and take a vacation Captain Planet would be proud of!
March 4th, 2011
Bali residents celebrate New Year Day, or Nyepi, in total silence as a way to start afresh, contemplate, and reassess one’s values in life. On this day, Baliense abstain from traveling, working, and all forms of entertainment. No flights depart from or arrive at the airport, the streets are closed to pedestrians and vehicles, and even street lights are turned off for the evening. Guests and travelers are expected to follow the same rules.
Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa is a tempting silent haven. It will be easy to win the quiet game while relaxing in your Anantara Suite’s signature deep terrazzo tub or looking out at the Indian Ocean from the deck of an Ocean Suite. Don’t miss Anantara’s Thai Culinary Journey with a cooking class guided by Wild Orchid’s experienced Thai chefs, followed by a lunch of the students’ own creations. Spend a peaceful afternoon at the Anantara Spa with an expert therapist who will tailor a package according to guests’ needs, to be enjoyed in a single or couple’s treatment suites, each complete with private terrazzo showers or bathtubs, a personal iPod connection, and views of verdant tree tops and Mount Batukaru. Now that’s something to shout about.
Celebrate the “Day of Silence” at Uma Ubud with the Nyepi Package. To honor the tradition, the hotel asks guests to remain on the grounds of the resort where complimentary yoga is offered, the Kemiri restaurant is serving a traditional Balinese Rijstaffel dinner, and guests can experience quiet seclusion with a one-hour COMO Shambhala treatment. The package includes two nights’ accommodation and a daily a la carte breakfast, one two-course set lunch at Kemiri restaurant (excluding beverages), one thre-course dinner at Kemiri restaurant (excluding beverages), a 60-minutes COMO Shambhala or Indonesian massage treatment per person, a three-hour guided tour of Ubud, and private return airport transfers. Rates start at $756
March 3rd, 2011
Chefs from six of Phuket’s top resorts will battle it out in a Top Chef meets Iron Chef showdown on March 25. The result will be a six-course dinner showcasing culinary talents of all the top toques, with one chef preparing each of the courses. For added pressure, the chef must also choose the wine pairing.
Participating chefs are Justin Maiklem and Jimmy Karl of Anantara Phuket, Paresa Resort’s James Stanton, Thomas Smith of Sheraton Grande Laguna, Amanpuri’s Stefano Artosin, Silvano Amolini of Dusit Thani Laguna, and David Hamilton of Banyan Tree Phuket. The dinner will be held along the beach at Paresa Resort and tickets are $130. All the proceeds will go to The Good Shepherd Sisters to assist underprivileged women and girls in both Phuket and around Thailand. We’ll eat a second helping to that!