Travel Agent has been tracking the Caribbean's ongoing push in 2008 to compete with Latin America as a green destination by pumping out environmentally-friendly resorts with hopes of capitalizing on this increasingly popular niche. Representatives of Star Island resort in the Bahamas say the Caribbean’s green momentum will spill over to 2009.
Next fall, Star Island will officially open its hotel/condominium development, which is slated to have between 60 and 70 rooms. Half of the rooms will be strictly hotel rooms while the other half will be hotel/condos.
To weed out the green impostors, Travel Agent always like to get to the bottom of why a hotel considers itself green and was convinced after a discussion with David Sklar, president and lead designer of Star Island, that this resort qualifies. The resort will create all of its own energy, using solar and wind energy, solar heated water, reverse osmosis to desalinate salt water and roofs specifically designed to harvest an estimated five million gallons of rain water a year, Sklar says.
The resort can be pitched to any luxury client visiting the Caribbean, but mainly those who want a “test drive of the green lifestyle.” The resort’s best rooms will be its roughly 20 Bungalows, which will all have about 400 square feet of terrace space with lounge chairs and beds. There will also be a six-treatment-room spa, a fitness center, three restaurants and a 50-slip marina.
Visit www.starislandbahamas.com.