"...the resort has coupled its economic success with an exemplary demonstration of social responsibility, and an unwavering philosophy of giving back to the community and the country, which has facilitated its great success."
Jamaica
"...the resort has coupled its economic success with an exemplary demonstration of social responsibility, and an unwavering philosophy of giving back to the community and the country, which has facilitated its great success."
Jamaica
MORE INFORMATION
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT
In 2008 Rockhouse achieved the prestigious Green Globe Benchmarked status under the globally recognized Benchmarking program. This program recognizes Rockhouse's commitment to operating to the world's highest environmental standard.
In achieving Benchmarked status, Rockhouse has achieved above Best Practice results in their Community Commitment, Water Consumption, Cleaning Products, and Energy Consumption. The monetary contributions to the Community and our Staff Training Program for environmental awareness were highlighted as very positive commitments and exemplary. Additionally the hotel achieved above baseline performance in the use of paper and pesticide products. These measures certify highly efficient practices and ensure Rockhouse is on the path to securing a sustainable future for the environment.
In December 1999, Rockhouse Hotel began developing a property-wide Environmental Management System (EMS) to improve the organization, execution and evaluation of their efforts to minimize the impact of their operations on both the physical and social environment. This EMS User Manual was prepared to conform to the Green Globe Standard. In addition, "Best Practices" for each department in the hotel were developed.
We encourage staff to present our commitment to environmental and social sustainability and our status under the Green Globe program to our guests, suppliers, contractors, agents and wholesalers.
Some steps taken to implement superior environmental practices across the entire operational spectrum are:
Guests can also play their part. During room orientation guests are walked through the steps they can take to be environmentally active during their stay; such as using the linen and towel reuse program and closing doors, louvers and windows when using the air conditioning units. This information is also posted in each room as a friendly reminder. They are given an introduction to the Environmental Policy which is also on display at the Front Desk.
In order to formalize this commitment the Rockhouse Hotel has contracted PA Consulting, a global expert in Environmental Management, to help create an exemplary program at Rockhouse, one that owners, staff and guests can be proud of. As part of this process they have established a green team consisting primarily of senior management who meet weekly to discuss progress. Each member of staff is being trained to understand that in order for the hotel's operations to remain sustainable; the hotel must not only satisfy and exceed guests' expectations but also implement practices that have a positive impact on the environment. They are also being given training on how sound environmental practice can help them in their own homes.
Rockhouse Hotel takes seriously its obligation to protect and enhance the environment and is committed to being environmentally conscious, responsible and active. Since its inception the Rockhouse has been committed to touching the Earth lightly. This is immediately evident in the design, which is based on the principle of harmony with its natural surroundings the choice of building materials such as local timber, thatch and stone were also chosen to merge with the fully grown gardens and volcanic rock landscape.
The Rockhouse Hotel understands that in order to continue to enjoy the lush beauty of this land we need to act responsibly.
THE ROCKHOUSE HOTEL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Rockhouse Hotel has continuously implemented environmental management, social and cultural development activities since it opened in 1994. We are committed to achieving sound environmental practices across our entire operation while fully complying with all environmental laws and regulations. We strive to reduce our use of natural resources, to minimize air emissions and the use of hazardous materials, seek to employ and empower local staff, and to give preference to sourcing products and services locally.
Rockhouse will implement and regularly update its Environmental Management System. We monitor and record environmental performance relative to policies, objectives and guidelines. We maintain a continuous commitment to improved environmental and social sustainability performance. We seek to improve the organization, execution and evaluation of our efforts to minimize the impact of the operations on both the physical and social environment, and where possible, improve the environmental conditions in the surrounding Negril area.
Rockhouse is a boutique hotel located on a Pristine Cove in the resort town of Negril Jamaica. We have appointed Charlotte Wallace as the Green Globe Coordinator who has the responsibility of ensuring ongoing environmental performance, identification of environmental risks, recording and monitoring of impacts and implementing environmental and social sustainability measures.
We encourage staff to present our commitment to environmental and social sustainability and our status under the Green Globe program to our guests, suppliers, contractors, agents and wholesalers.
"EC3 Global's Certification Manager Ms. Shey Pary, attended the launch of the new Negril Library, funded by EC3 member Rockhouse Hotel. Paul Salmon, Chairman of the ROckhouse Foundation and owner of the Rockhouse Hotel addressed delegates on their commitment to social and environmental sustainability, acknowledging their recent Benchmarking achievement and journey towards the certification following the weeks mock audit conducted as part of the Green Globe auditor training workshop. EC3 Global has commited to sponsoring a Green corner in the library through the provision of educational tools and materials for the community.
On Thursday, July 30th the Ribbon Cutting event celebrated the refurbishing and expansion of the Negril Library Branch by the Rockhouse Foundation. There was standing room only at the event hosted by the Director General of Jamaica Library Services, Patricia Roberts, and featuring a keynote speech from the Jamaican Minister of Education, the Honorable Andrew Holness. Other speakers included the Chairman of the Jamaica Library Board, Paul Lalor, Member of Parliament Wykeham McNeil and Peter Rose, President of the Rockhouse Foundation and Paul Salmon, Chairman of the Rockhouse Foundation.
The library is Negril's oldest extant building and housed the original police station. It is located next door to the Negril All Age School and the Negril Basic School, two of the Rockhouse Foundation's previous projects, whose students are amongst the Library's most frequent users. For decades the library has had too little space and resources to meet the growing needs of students and community residents alike. The newly modernized, expanded facility will be almost four times larger, equipped with 15-20 new computers and thousands of new books, a spacious reading room and book stack section, as well as a colorful and engaging junior library. When the Rockhouse Foundation teamed with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) and the Negril community some 18 months ago to discuss the proposed library renovation it never imagined what a radically successful process was about to unfold. Armed with an inspired vision jointly crafted with JLS, a committee of local residents, and architects Chris Stone and David Douglass of Cornerstone Design, we broke ground last July and have now handed over a signature addition to the Negril community. The new, improved library space will be a much needed resource and reflects the Foundation's ambition to support learning for children of all ages. With the completion of the library, the Rockhouse Hotel and Foundation has invested approximately J$100 million in community projects benefiting children since 2004 "
"The Negril Chamber of COmmerce and other stakeholders on Monday, September 14, 2009 broke ground for the reconstruction of the Whitehall lBridge which gave way during the 2008 passage of Hurricane Gustav. Work on the bridge - the main access point to the Negril Recycling Centre - and the roadway will be funded through a donation of $50,000 from the Rockhouse Hotel along with other donations.
The recycling centre, located in the Whitehall section of Negril, was funded by the Environmental Foundaion, the Japanese Government and the USAID's Coastal Water Quality Improvement Project in collaboration with the Negril Chamber of Commerce nearly a decade ago. The centre has been seen as a model for responsible waste management and recycables, while fostering an atmosphere for environmental education and promotion."