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Thursday 29 OcTOber 2020

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba:

First hotel in world to win Global United Nations 2020 Climate

Neutral Now Award

UN signals world hospitality plays significant role in combatting climate change

smallest villages. It is the most ur-
gent threat facing humanity today,
but we cannot forget that climate
change is the biggest threat facing
humanity over the long term.” “The
convergence of these two crises property and rallied the communi-
has opened a window of opportu- ty and actively engaged with the
nity to build forward—to build cit- government.
ies and communities that are safe,
healthy, green and sustainable,” He busied himself, just as he still
Ms. Espinosa added. “Nothing ex- does, with researching and imple-
emplifies this better than the efforts menting forward-thinking initia-
of our 2020 award-winning activi- tives. In a “think globally, act lo-
ties to address climate change.” cally” approach, a key driver for
Ewald was the 1992 Earth Summit
Sustainability is not an add-on in Rio. With Agenda 21 being ad-
“We are not in the tourism business; opted by more than 170 heads of
we are in the nature business.” state worldwide, momentum was
Bucuti & Tara Owner/CEO Ewald afoot. Years of initiatives followed
Biemans often shares this perspec- and with the sustainability suc-
EAGLE BEACH — The Caribbean’s dently owned Bucuti & Tara is not a tive whether he is talking with in- cess came invitations to share with
most eco-certified hotel is now set- stereotypical chain resort backed dustry colleagues or speaking from others how to achieve the same.
ting the world standard as Bucuti by corporate finances. On its own, a world stage. It is this difference Fast-forward to 2019 and Biemans
& Tara Beach Resort in Aruba is the Bucuti & Tara researched, sought in mindset combined with passion was accepting the World Travel
first-ever hotel in the world to win and implemented sustainability and the relentless pursuit of pro- & Tourism Council’s Tourism for To-
the prestigious Global United Na- initiatives that can be easily repli- viding a well-rounded, high-quali- morrow Climate Action Award. At
tions 2020 Climate Action Award cable and scalable, which drew ty vacation that has led Bucuti & the WTTC Global Summit, keynot-
for Climate Neutral Now. The Unit- the UN to the resort’s success. Due Tara to be Tripadvisor’s No. 1 Hotel ed by former U.S. President Barack
ed Nations made the announce- to this, Bucuti & Tara will also serve in the Caribbean while simultane- Obama, Biemans was asked to
ment 9 a.m. CET at the UNFCCC as a Lighthouse Activity among the ously being the Caribbean’s most present “The Path to Carbon Neu-
secretariat (UN Climate Change) UN’s collection of inspiring, action- eco-certified, and first and only trality/Net Zero” so the world could
in Bonn, Germany. oriented resources the organiza- carbon-neutral resort. learn.
tion invites others to reference for
For the first time in the award’s his- their own sustainability journeys. From the first step, to the world At the adults-only enclave, three
tory, a hotel is a winner. Past re- stage cornerstones prevail: romance,
cipients include global giants and “I congratulate the winners of the While Bucuti & Tara is on the largest wellness and sustainability. Each
household names such as Apple 2020 UN Global Climate Action swathe of Eagle Beach, with sea day guests hail from one of 25
and Infosys and projects backed Awards, who provide tangible level rise predictions, the turquoise countries worldwide and the re-
by major banks. With Bucuti & Tara proof that climate action is un- waters could be lapping at the sort hums at 97%+ occupancy
as the first hotel, the UN is signaling der way around the world,” said resort’s backdoors in 20-30 years. year-round. Bucuti & Tara proves a
to the world the significantly posi- UN Secretary-General António Ewald is known to soberly say, “If memorable vacation and sustain-
tive affect every member of the Guterres. “It is exciting to see these we do not stop global warming, ability are mutually inclusive.
hospitality sector – more than 10% climate solutions, which reinforce guests will need snorkels to see our
of the world’s GDP – can and must my call for decisive leadership on world-famous beach!” Relatability: scalable, replicable
have to combat climate change. climate change by governments, Having lived in Aruba the past initiatives
businesses and cities, and for a 50 years, Austrian-born Biemans Like every sustainability journey,
The UN’s Momentum for Change green recovery from the COVID-19 opened Bucuti in 1987. He soon no- Bucuti’s earliest days included its
program is a highlight of the annu- pandemic. Let us keep pressing ticed construction cranes touching tangible first step. A German guest
al United Nations Climate Change ahead to build a more sustainable the skyline further down the pow- was bewildered that Bucuti was
Conference. This year is the 10th and equitable future for all.” dery white sand beach and grew pouring cans and bottles of beer
anniversary of the awards and 510 concerned about the small island’s into disposable plastic cups. That
organizations and business world- “The last eight months have been natural resources. As Aruba quickly left a significant impression and
wide answered the call for submis- a nightmare for many through- grew into an international vaca- shortly after, Bucuti began with
sions. out the world,” said UN Climate tion spot (today, 90% of its GDP is banning single-use plastic and Sty-
Change Executive Secretary Pa- from tourism), Biemans knew the rofoam, long before it was ever dis-
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba: tricia Espinosa. “COVID-19 has al- vacation experience had to be cussed in mainstream media.
Excelling Beyond Carbon Neutral- tered lives, economies and the in harmony with the planet, oth-
ity is the winning case study sub- nature of business on every conti- erwise, the small island would be Continued on Page 9
mission. At just 104 rooms, indepen- nent—from the largest cities to the ruined. He looked within his own