JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort has been being re-accredited with a certification from the Blue Flag Programme for its continued implementation and development of sustainable initiatives to make its beaches and marinas eco- friendly.

The Blue Flag Programme is operated under the auspices of the ‘Foundation for Environmental Education’ and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a world-renowned eco-label trusted by millions around the globe, and awarded to beaches and marinas in 46 countries. In order to qualify for this prestigious award, JA Resorts & Hotels has met and maintained a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria.

JA Resorts & Hotels prides itself on ensuring that its actions have a positive impact not just on guests and stakeholders of its properties, but also on the wider environment in the areas it inhabits. The brand has delivered on its agenda for sustainability at the JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort through a chain of activities geared toward educating both resort associates and in-house guests on various aspects of environmental outreach.

The JA resort team has developed regular training sessions for its associates on environmental hot topics to ensure that there is an enlightened understanding and drive towards progressive activations such as recycling. Furthering awareness among its associates and guests, the resort displays information on-site and online about the sea life and bird species present on the property and offers guests a visit to the Bio-Garden, which generates 100 per cent organic produce to satisfy the resorts herb needs and vegetable needs for White Orchid and Signatures.

The Children’s Club at JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort also has a range of eco-friendly activities targeted toward younger guests. Fishing is a popular recreational activity at the resort and JA Resorts & Hotels has a companywide policy to exercise “Catch and Release” fishing only. Furthering this, JA undertakes responsibility to educate all resort guests on fishing quota regulations in an increased effort to preserve the natural ecosystem surrounding its property.

Jorg Dittrich, director sports and leisure takes great pride in the hospitality group’s overall achievements and advancements towards going green. “At JA Resorts & Hotels we place a premium on the sustainability and enhancement of the environment we inhabit; taking care to foster cleanliness, awareness and care for the marina and beaches on our properties. It is rewarding to see our constant effort toward green initiatives being recognised and we are thrilled to be able to carry the Blue Flag at JA Jebel Ali Golf Resorts for yet another year.”

JA Resorts & Hotels commitment to the environment has also resulted in Green Globe certification for sustainable tourism being awarded to both JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort and JA Ocean View Hotel, due to the properties’ positive contributions to people and the planet. Green Globe is known worldwide to be the travel industry’s leading certification programme for sustainable tourism. The certification process is based on a total of 337 compliance indicators that cover 41 criteria for sustainability.

David Thomson, chief operating officer, said: “At JA Resorts & Hotels, we are committed to environmental protection and we try our best to find environmentally friendly initiatives that can be implemented group wide. Looking after our guests is as essential to us as looking after the environment and especially the community they enter and experience. Our efforts to save energy, increase recycling, manage resources, reduce our carbon footprint, be involved in charitable projects and enhance marine life are just a few examples of the company’s steps towards making a difference and we are proud of how far we have come with each scheme.” – TradeArabia News Service