A Jamaican institution charged with responsibility to provide technical and vocational education to nationals of working age has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)‘s award for environmental excellence.
Ê
The Runaway Bay HEART Hotel and Training Institute walked away with the 2005 CTO Sustainable Tourism Award at the recent Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism and Development in Tobago. The institute won for its environmental management programme.
Ê
The Runaway Bay HEART Hotel and Training Institute operates 56 hotel rooms and a training facility that prepares persons for the hospitality industry. The hotel enjoys an annual average occupancy of 65 percent and the training institute trains about 315 students every year.
Ê
The management team introduced a property-wide Environmental Management System in 2001 aimed at improving operations, minimising its operations impacts on the physical and social environment and improving environmental conditions in the surrounding area.
Ê
The agency developed an environmental policy to demonstrate its seriousness in preserving the environment; appointed an environmental officer; created a “Green Team”; developed an EMS action plan; and formed partnerships with environmental agencies and recycling partners. It also involves the community in its environmental protection programmes.
Ê
“This award by the CTO is a significant achievement for the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel and Training Institute and recognition of our commitment to the preservation and protection of the environment,” Paula Rowe, the environmental manager, said at a special luncheon at which the award was presented.

“We thank everyone who has been working with us to achieve our goal.”
Ê
——-