Nestled on a breathtaking island in the South Male Atoll of the Indian Ocean, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives draws much of its allure and popularity from its stunning natural environment. From the vibrant coral reef near the resort to the warm ocean waters teeming with diverse marine life, sustainability and environmental preservation are at the heart of the resort's ethos.
To mitigate tourism's environmental impact while enhancing it, the resort's management and staff have implemented several initiatives. These include banning single-use plastics, adopting effective waste management practices, and focusing on regeneration efforts that have received praise from both local Maldivians and visitors.
Education plays a vital role in the resort's initiatives, captivating guests by sharing updates, accomplishments, and metrics through guest room televisions. The crew is constantly mindful of all aspects of sustainability, reviewing everything from organic and inorganic waste to fuel and energy consumption daily.
Partnership with Parley for the Ocean
In April 2023, the resort entered into a partnership with Parley for the Ocean to support the Maldives Tourism Industry's goal of implementing the Parley AIR Strategy, which highlights significant threats to the ocean. The resort has pledged to intercept plastic waste on the island, cooperate in transporting plastics from nearby islands using resort boats, and engage in clean-up efforts on uninhabited islands. The resort is also actively exploring further measures to reduce plastic usage in operations while encouraging visitors to form a deeper emotional connection with the ocean, ensuring its protection for future generations. Each staff member is empowered to champion ocean conservation and foster relationships with local communities and schools to cultivate a love for the ocean.
Harnessing Wave Energy
At the doorstep of Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives lies "Kandooma Right," one of the Maldives' top surf breaks and the site of the world’s first pilot project aimed at generating electricity from surf waves. Launched in mid-2018, this Wave Energy project is a collaboration between the Maldives Ministry of Environment, the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University (OIST), and Kokyo Tatemono Company Limited from Japan. The initial phase of this project aims to produce 1 megawatt of electricity through Wave Energy Converter Units, supplying about 30% to 40% of diesel fuel used for generators. This sustainable energy initiative will help the resort reduce carbon emissions, and if successful, the technology may be expanded and shared with other islands and hospitality providers to promote sustainable energy solutions—an essential endeavour in the Maldives, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first phase has been extended.
Plastic-Free Initiatives
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has taken significant steps to minimize single-use plastics throughout the property. A standout initiative has been the replacement of plastic water bottles, straws, and cups with glass alternatives, saving an estimated 1.2 million plastic bottles annually. While no single action is sufficient alone, moving away from plastic bottled water to glassware in villas, dining outlets, and even during boat transfers has greatly contributed to reducing our carbon footprint. The resort is actively working toward completely eliminating single-use plastics.
Community Engagement Efforts
As part of our commitment to community engagement, we have initiated various programs throughout the year. These include providing long-term support to the Home for People with Special Needs on Guraidhoo Island (our neighbours) and conducting a tree planting program twice a year. We also collaborate with vocational institutes to educate students interested in the tourism industry and provide insights into our resort operations. Our team organizes and participates in medical camps and blood donation drives to support local communities.
Waste, Water, and Electricity Management
To effectively recycle food waste, plastics, tin, metal, and other general waste, we have established separate bins and waste management processes. From harvesting rainwater—saving an estimated 50,000 tonnes of water per month in the laundry alone—to recycling excess water from air conditioning for gardening and foot baths, our focus is on optimizing resource usage. The resort saves approximately 18 cubic litres of fresh water daily by utilizing treated grey water for gardening and toilet flushing.
The on-site Desalination Water Plant produces an average of 15,500 litres of drinking water each month.
Additionally, the resort has reduced electricity consumption by employing garden and path lighting timers and switching to LED bulbs and inverter air conditioners. These efforts have collectively helped cut total electricity usage by 60% without compromising guest experience or service quality.
The heat generated by resort generators is also recycled to produce steam in generator coil exhaust pipes, which warms water in 22 staff rooms and the desalination plant.
Creating Regenerative Garden Areas
Since its opening, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has employed teams to maintain pathways. However, in 2022, the resort launched a new initiative inspired by Australian hotels to create regenerative spaces within the island grounds. Management identified specific areas suitable for a more natural approach, allowing leaves and garden waste to decompose naturally, fostering habitats for small animals, insects, reptiles, and birds, and promoting natural plant reseeding.
By reducing the frequency of sweeping sand pathways, we have significantly lowered labour costs and minimized heat generated by the sun reflecting off the white sands.
In 2022, we also began a trial of Frond Circles, where fallen palm tree fronds are arranged in a circular pattern—similar to a clock face—layered to a height of 150 cm. We aim to monitor the decomposition time of these fronds and utilize the resulting compost to enrich our gardens. If successful, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives will implement this initiative throughout the grounds and launch a guest education program.
Tech Driven Marketing
During the Covid-19 Pandemic spanning 2020 to mid 2022, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives removed all paper and unnecessary items from guest rooms and public areas, replacing them with new technology such as QR Codes for the efficient touch-less provision of information. This practice is being embraced and continued to minimise paper waste. Supporting this direction in October 2022 the resort launched its smart device App allowing guests to interact in real-time with a staff member, have the resort information at their fingertips and be able to order room service, and room amenities such as additional water or towels all from their phone.
Doing business responsibly is a core part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) culture, and that includes hotels and resorts bearing the Holiday Inn resorts brand. In 2021 the Journey to Tomorrow 2030 plan was launched by the group to further strengthen the positive impact on people, communities and the planet.
