Courtenay’s Old House Hotel’s efforts to create a culture of sustainability have finally paid off with a “Biosphere Sustainable Certification” from the Responsible Tourism Institute.
This means the hotel passed 17 sustainable development goals. They add these goals are under the principles of the United Nations and seek to end poverty and hunger, realize the human rights of all, achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources.
The hotel says some of its efforts include supporting recycling and reduction of plastic, empowerment of women, community projects, greener energy solutions and restoring the local estuary wetlands among others.
Hotel general manager David Rooper says their commitment started two years ago at the IMPACT Conference, which is held in Victoria each year.
“The learning and positive energy shared among the delegates and presenters were so motivating, I committed to the program and assigned a team to start the certification journey,” said Rooper.
“We found that through the biosphere program, we were not only able to track a phenomenal amount of work we were doing but also to see how we can do so much more.”
Rooper adds he hopes the effort can help get more tourism-related businesses on the Island to join the effort, and the hotel is working to create a 2024 Sustainable Business Plan with more ideas they want to implement.
