"Let's make a Deal"
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Project Description
Diamond Resorts Europe, which was recently acquired by Hilton Grand Vacations in August 2021, partnered with We Are Water in 2019 to launch an initiative that encourages guests at its 24 European Resorts to make a rational and sustainable use of water.
These programmes are aimed at informing people of their water usage and encouraging them to make simple changes, such as reusing bath towels, and do so in an exciting and unobtrusive way. These informed actions will help promote good practices a
Geographical Scope
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Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
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Description of the project
Summary
The European resorts, in partnership with We Are Water (WAW), are working toward a cleaner future by asking their members and guests to adopt a green way of using resources.
In addition to establishing best practices to save water and reduce single-use plastic and helping to raise awareness amongst guests and team members, the “Let’s Make a Deal” campaign also works to help communities in countries where water is scarce through targeted donations.
“Let’s Make a Deal” has three primary goals: Education, Entertainment and Fundraising.
EDUCATION. Encourage as many guests as possible to be rational and sustainable in their use of water through fun, informative activities and programs, as well as educational collateral that informs guests of the importance of water and encourages sustainable practices, like reusing linens and towels or avoiding plastic bottles.
Sixteen resorts in Spain, France and Italy have installed water filters (1,554 in total) by the main kitchen sink along with reusable water jugs, eliminating the need for over 65,000 plastic bottles that guests were previously provided upon arrival.
The team branded 5,000 aluminum water bottles, providing over 1,450 of them to team members to lessen the use of plastic bottles. Resorts sell the remaining bottles, with €/£1 from each sale going to WAW.
ENTERTAINMENT. The AQUANAUTS (or water keepers) program was created to help teach adults and children about the importance of clean water worldwide. Activities for guests include water-hunt gymkhana races, a water lab where guests learn how to clean dirty water, and health cards that show water related situations that guests use to create a story.
FUNDRAISING. Teams set a goal of helping WAW to bring clean and safe water to communities in need across Guatemala, India and Indonesia. Contributions from 2019/2020 added up to more than 40 thousand euros. These funds have helped WAW’s efforts to purify existing water systems and rehabilitate broken systems in the
Key objectives for sustainability
The primary objective was to save water and reduce single-use plastic and to revamp operations practices to be more environmentally sound.
Since 2013, all accommodation refurbishment projects included the installation of environmental features such as LED lights, efficient appliances, double flush toilets, shower aerators and light motion sensors in common areas, among others.
Currently:
- 16 resorts have 100% water filters installed
- 84% of toilets in resorts have double flush toilets (17 resorts have over 90%)
- 16 resorts have 100% low flow showers and low flow taps
- 11 resorts have high efficiency pool heating
- 20 resorts have swimming pool showers with timers
- 15 resorts use drip irrigation
The team has pledged to make its resorts single-use plastic free by 2025.
Additionally:
- 100% reduction of plates, cups, cutlery
- 95% reduction of plastic water bottles
- 95% reduction of plastic bags
- 77% reduction of plastic coffee stirrers
- 57% reduction of plastic body lotion bottles
- 54% reduction of plastic bin liners
- 44% reduction of individual milk cartons
- 42% reduction of dishwasher tablets wrapped in plastic
Overall, it is estimated that these initiatives will save nearly 2 million litres of water in one year, due to a reduction in the number of towels and linens laundered and over 500 kg of plastic, due to the installation of 1,554 water filters.
The second key objective was to raise funds for We Are Water Foundation projects.
- Continental EU resorts raised funds to rehabilitate the existing water system in the community of Siquinalá in Guatemala which was damaged by the “Fuego” volcano eruption.
- Canary Islands resorts raised funds to construct water structures for water preservation and environmental rehabilitation in the villages of Settipalli and D.K. Thanda in India.
- UK and Côte d'Azur resorts raised funds to purify water for the communities of Talaga Dalam and Cinto Mandi in Indonesia.
Resorts raised a total of 40k euros by September 2020
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
In addition to improving the guest experience, the “Let’s Make a Deal” partnership with We Are Water fundamentally improved the water infrastructures for the three We Are Water projects the team targeted.
GUATEMALA
After the emergency caused by the Fuego volcanic eruption in June 2018, the closest communities to the foothills of the volcano were affected by the destruction or partial damage of the water systems, resulting in considerable and prolonged shortages.
2,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters while many families lacked access to this vital resource for long periods of time without guaranteed access to an alternate supply.
The European resorts teams were able to help meet the following objectives:
- Rehabilitation of the water system affected by the disaster.
- Installation of two rainwater collection systems.
- Training of communities in hydrologic and climate change matters.
INDIA
This project included the construction of two structures for water collection and distribution, as well as the revitalisation of underground aquifers and wells in the villages of Settipalli and D.K.Thanda. This not only ensures water access in the area but also increases the harvesting area, guaranteeing water preservation in the region and environmental protection.
The construction of these reservoirs impacted 80% of the families that rely on agriculture and livestock in the area.
INDONESIA
South Bengkulu district is one of the poorest in the Province, lacking infrastructure for adequate education, healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene.
Talaga Dalam and Cinto Mandi communities depend solely on river water flow and wells. The availability and quality of water from these sources varies, especially depending on time of the year.
The project WV South Bengkulu AP helped to implement the installation of water filters in each village to provide the community with access to clean and safe water (approximately 75 litres per day), benefitting around 350 community
Key objectives for inclusion
The collaboration with WAW has marked a cornerstone for choices the European resorts can offer to all guests.
The company and its European team are leading the way with its resorts’ environmental initiatives. The team has the support of guests who have demonstrated to be supporting its sustainability efforts and helping to make a difference, regardless of how big or small. The team is lucky to also have committed team members that have positively engaged their green practice at work as well as with their personal lives. Team members are always willing to participate and make sure to promote the activities and initiatives to help raise funds for the We Are Water projects.
Additionally, the resorts donations and the resulting projects have impacted whole communities in Guatemala, Indonesia and rural India as per figures below.
GUATEMALA
Direct beneficiaries: 8.336 people out of which 4,281 are women and 3,926 children under the age of 15.
Indirect beneficiaries: 3.445 people out of which 1,711 are women and 180 children under the age of 15.
INDIA
The project guaranteed access to water resources to 26 farming families in the area, having an indirect impact on 598 families in both villages.
Village of Settipali , Penukonda area:
Direct beneficiaries: 5 farming families (24 people)
Indirect beneficiaries: 394 families (1,603 people)
Village of D.K. Thanda, Atmakur area:
Direct beneficiaries: 21 farming families (87 people)
Indirect beneficiaries: 199 families (703 people)
INDONESIA
Direct beneficiaries: 200 community members of Talaga Dalam and 150 community members of Cinto Mandi
Indirect beneficiaries: the whole population of both villages
Results in relation to category
From January to the end December 2019, European resorts raised over 24 thousand euros from different sorts of activities such as raffles, charity bingos, kids activities, donation boxes in receptions, donations at check-out, canister races for NW4W, and many more. During 2020, resorts had to close due to COVID-19, but also managed to raise over 16 thousand euros. The total amount has helped WAW with an important percentage of the funds needed to achieve the main goal of each project as previously explained. Here are the final reports per project.
The project in INDIA has contributed to significantly improving the living conditions of five farming families in the rural communities of the village of Settipalli and 21 families in the village of D.K. Thanda through the construction/reconstruction of a reservoir.
In addition to helping to recharge the aquifers and 26 wells in the area, the new structures allow storage of 33,000 m3 of water in the village of Settipalli, and 48,300 m3 of water in the village of D.K.Thanda. They also allow irrigation of areas of 11.13 hectares in Settipalli and 49.37 hectares in D.K.Thanda.
Settipalli has a population of 1,627 inhabitants and D.K. Thanda has 724 inhabitants. The 26 total families that ceded the land for the construction of the two reservoirs are considered the direct beneficiaries of the project. The indirect beneficiaries of both projects are 394 families in Settipalli and 178 families in D.K.Thanda.
GUATEMALA
The water system was rehabilitated and made more efficient by building two conduction lines within the underground system in the Ceniza River and directly benefiting 22,968 people in the municipality of Siquinalá. A total of five rainwater harvesting systems (SCALL) were installed. Two in Siquinalá of 15K litres each and three in the peripheral territories of 5K litres each.
Rest of reports within last section of this application
How Citizens benefit
At each resort, clear standard operating procedures were prepared for team members at the start of the “Let’s Make a Deal” campaign. All departments, including reception, housekeeping, and maintenance were given a clear direction as to the campaign and new best practices were established as to what to do, how to do it and the expected end goal.
As for the projects themselves, We Are Water conducted awareness-raising and training activities for the beneficiary population, sessions, in which the importance of water conservation has been conveyed in their area.
For each project a team is built from the pool of main beneficiaries who are trained and are made responsible for monitoring the progress of the construction work, resolving possible conflicts during the process and placed in charge of basic maintenance of the structures in the medium and long term.
The collaboration of the beneficiary population is essential. Their active participation in the different phases of the process provides added value to the project which will be reflected in the good maintenance of the water structures.
Local management of water sources is extremely positive for these rural communities, which are traditionally excluded from the decision-making processes. With this program, they can demonstrate their management capacity and exercise their rights.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The collaboration with We Are Water is one of a kind. The European resorts are absolutely committed toward achieving the goal of helping the environment as a whole, in addition to the key projects they are responsible for supporting in Guatemala, Indonesia and India.
The European resorts are working with local hotel associations as well as the hotel bodies on the national level in many countries, and as a result, the European resorts have become well known for their sustainability efforts and achievements. Various properties have been acknowledged in the industry, winning awards and recognition for their sustainability efforts.
Learning transferred to other parties
As of 2021, the company continues its collaboration with We Are Water with two new projects in Morocco and Madagascar. For these, the funds raised by the European resorts as a whole will be split in half for each project.
The goal remains to raise funds to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene education. The team expects to reach 9,000 children, 2,080 women and their communities with these new efforts. In Morocco, the goal is to instill handwashing and hygiene education in schools and in Madagascar, to improve overall access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
A partnership of this model, especially with We Are Water, can easily be implemented by other organizations.
