A heritage hotel that grows its own organic vegetables and also has a slew of eco-friendly measures in place.

◊ By Pradipta Mohapatra

Visit ORGANIC SHOP by Pure & Eco India

MAYFAIR Palm Beach Resort, Gopalpur-On-Sea, with the distinction of being the first beach resort of the country, is a cherished heritage property of MAYFAIR Hotels and Resorts Ltd.

The Palm Beach Resort was built in 1914 by an Italian gentleman, Signor Maglioni, to cater to the requirements of merchants and businessmen. The property was later purchased by the Oberoi Group of Hotels in 1948 in what was then the group’s first venture into the hospitality business.

In 2011, when the Oberois intended to sell off their property owing to its economic infeasibility, MAYFAIR acquired the same and invested more than thrice the acquisition cost on its renovation.

Today, the property stands tall amid grandeur, justifying its legacy of being the first beach resort of the country while offering guests a one-of-its-kind indelible luxurious experience of the charming town of Gopalpur in Odisha.

ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES & ORGANIC FARMING AT MAYFAIR PALM BEACH RESORT

Apart from setting the benchmark in luxurious hospitality, MAYFAIR Palm Beach Resort, Gopalpur, has also been carefully designed in a way that conforms to the highest standards of eco-friendly practices.

As MAYFAIR is a name synonymous in hospitality with offering nature-themed luxury, the first eco-friendly attribute of the property is that it is adorned with abundant greenery in the form of thousands of trees.

ECO-FRIENDLY MEASURES

– Thousands of trees on the property.

– Organic farming, with the produce being used inhouse.

– Solar energy plant.

– AI-based LED lighting system.

– Smart water monitoring system to conserve water.

– Solid waste treatment plant.

– Waste water treatment plant.

– Collaborating with a local paper recycling company, which recycles used paper.

– Old bedsheets are reused to make pillow covers.

– Old bath towels are recycled to make hand towels, face towels and bath mats.

Furthermore, since the policy focus at the Central and State level has been increasingly oriented towards sourcing energy requirements from renewable sources, particularly solar energy, a very high-powered solar energy generation plant has been established at the property, through which, the maximum possible energy requirements of the property are met.

Similarly, to ensure optimum utilisation of energy and water, we have installed an artificial intelligence-based LED lighting system, along with a smart water monitoring system. Also, a state-of-the-art solid waste treatment plant and a waste water treatment plant have been commissioned at the property.

The treated water from the plant is reused for watering of plants and other purposes at the property. Likewise, as there has also been an increasing thrust on organic farming, at MAYFAIR Gopalpur, we have introduced it on a large scale.

Apart from the ecological benefits that it has to offer, it has helped us reduce our procurement costs by around 12%, not to mention the health benefits of consuming fresh farm products.

In any pursuit of sustainability, awareness plays the most critical role and, hence, we accordingly, have undertaken regular training and awareness campaigns for our staff, as well as, for guests.

Besides training the staff, we also encourage them to come up with innovative solutions to help augment our eco-friendly efforts. It was in this process, that one of our team members came up with the innovative idea of recycling used papers at our properties.

MAYFAIR Group is a chain of 11 luxury properties with many more projects in the pipeline. On average, the monthly paper usage at all our properties collectively is around 3,000 kg/month. Therefore, apart from reducing our paper usage wherever possible, in furtherance of the suggestion of our team member, we collaborate with a paper recycling company, which recycles used paper.

Over and above all these measures, we religiously implement the principle of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle at all our properties: All our old bedsheets are used to make pillow covers. All our old bath towels are recycled to make hand towels, face towels and bath mats.

Also, while assuring guests the highest standard of hygiene, we request them to reuse, if possible, the bed linens and towels. Many other sustainability initiatives of a similar nature are also undertaken at the property.

A wholesome experience of luxury in today’s fast-changing times is incomplete unless it incorporates the principle of sustainability, and we, at MAYFAIR, have been a pioneer in these concepts where our every operational activity is inspired by the principles of sustainability and nature.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author is Assistant Vice President, MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts.