Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba, the leading sustainable and top-rated romantic destination, announces the achievement of a flawless score in its recent Green Globe audit. The Caribbean’s first and only certified carbon-neutral hotel demonstrates an unwavering commitment to environmental and social responsibility, earning decades-long accolades for its dedication to sustainability, which recently included an appearance at the United Nations’ global climate change conference, COP28.

Heeding a global plea, taking action

Green Globe was born out of the UN’s pivotal 1992 Earth Summit in Riode Janeiro. Bucuti & Tara quickly became a charter member as Owner/CEO Ewald Biemans was profoundly inspired by the conference’s convening of 182 countries resulting in a unified promise endorsing Agenda 21 principles of sustainable development.

Three decades later, the Green Globe International Standard for Sustainable Tourism is dedicated to the travel and tourism industry, its communities and stakeholders. The Standard is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which frequently calls upon Bucuti & Tara, a Green Globe Platinum member, as a beacon for its “highly replicable and scalable” sustainability program.

History maker with eye on the future

The Green Globe certification is a globally recognized program that assesses the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses. Its holistic approach honors people, place and prosperity for all. Bucuti & Tara's perfect score of 100% reflects its comprehensive initiatives and ongoing efforts to minimize its environmental impact while fostering positive social contributions.

In 2020, Bucuti & Tara made history by earning the first perfect score of 100% for an onsite visit ever awarded by Green Globe and was named the “World’s Most Sustainable Hotel/Resort.” With this perfect score, Bucuti & Tara continues solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable tourism. The resort achieved this remarkable feat by demonstrating excellence in all 56 Sustainability, Social/Economic, Cultural Heritage, and Environmental indicators, as outlined.

Preserving and celebrating its natural beauty and cultural heritage while contributing to its local community, Bucuti & Tara engaged in its sustainability plan targeting more than 400 activities performed at all levels of the resort. In earning the most recent perfect score, notable achievements over the past year include:

●      Nature preservation. The establishment of The Bucuti & Tara - GMC Nature Preserve and the planting of 650 endemic trees showcase the resort's dedication to environmental conservation.

●      Employee wellbeing and green loans. Bucuti & Tara provided a substantial raise to its employees to cover inflation, ensuring their well-being and financial stability. Offering solar systems for associates' homes at a discounted rate and providing optional low-interest green loans for items such as electric vehicles further extends the commitment to sustainability beyond the resort.

●      Expansion of the on-grid solar system. The resort increased its on-grid solar system capacity by 30kWp and is actively working towards taking part of the Bucuti building off the grid.

●      Promoting sustainable commuting. The installation of free-to-use EV chargers on the property and offering low-interest loans for electric vehicles to associates aim to encourage sustainable commuting and reduce the overall cost of living for employees.

●      Efficiency improvements. Bucuti & Tara improved measurements on electricity and water usage, gaining valuable insights to enhance efficiency. It installed 12 solar water heaters lowering gas usage by 50 to 60%. To then eradicate the remaining gas usage, it installed two heat pump water heaters replacing standard propane water heaters. This innovative solution is unique on island to Bucuti & Tara. Compared to electrical water heaters, the heat pump water heating system is four to five times more efficient.

●      Fossil fuel phase-out. Significant steps were taken to phase out fossil fuels, including eliminating fossil fuels in 60% of the resort's rooms, replacing parking lot lights with solar LED lights, and achieving recertification for LEED and Travelife.

Looking ahead to 2024, Bucuti & Tara continues pursuing its goal of Net Zero with more initiatives already underway:

●      Become Net Zero in Scope 1 and 2. The resort is phasing out fossil fuels in remaining resort areas, including restaurants and laundry facilities.

●      Off-grid expansion Take part of the Bucuti building completely off the grid with solar and battery systems.

"We are incredibly honored to receive another perfect score from Green Globe reflecting our unwavering commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort’s achievements over the past year and our ambitious plans for 2024 underscore our dedication to making a positive impact on both the local community and the environment," says Ewald Biemans, Owner/CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

Aruba media inquiries:
Crescenzia Biemans
cresi@bucuti.com
+297 593 6303

International media inquiries:
Amy Kerr
amykerr@revelconcepts.com

Learn more by visiting Bucuti.com

About Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort

No. 1 Hotel in the Caribbean and No. 18 Hotel in the World according to Tripadvisor. Aruba’s premier adults-only boutique resort is led by celebrated hotelier and environmentalist, Ewald Biemans, named by Caribbean Journal as the 2017 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year. The resort is nestled on the powdery white sands of Eagle Beach, home to protected sea turtles and named one of the “Dream Beaches of the World.”

Home to the Caribbean’s Safest, Healthiest Vacation Experience and Aruba’s Health & Happiness Code seal, Bucuti has 104 well-appointed guestrooms, suites and penthouses. It offers sunbeds and shade for every guest; freshwater infinity pool; spa; WiFi; and complimentary iPad for use during stay. Award-winning healthy dining is enjoyed at oceanfront Elements, Tara Lounge and private beach dining. Reserved exclusively for guests and their friends, the open-air SandBar offers top-shelf cocktails and live music daily along with the Caribbean’s first Healthy Hour. The resort is IGLTA and TAG Approved® as an LGBTQ-friendly hotel. Bucuti & Tara, a worldwide sustainable tourism leader, holds eco-certifications of CarbonNeutral®, LEED Gold, Green Globe Platinum and Travelife Gold and was named the World’s Most Sustainable Hotel/Resort in 2016 by Green Globe. New in 2023, the resort is the newest member of Regenerative Travel.