1of4
During the winter we set up a training academy to support all three of our Turkish centres in Phokaia, Ortakent and Teos. We employed 35 Turkish staff and spent two months training them up to work as part of the Beach teams in our resorts for this summer.
We provided free accommodation and food, taught them all to sail dinghies and windsurfers and then flew out RYA trainers to run an instructor course for them, of whom 85% passed. Those who passed now have an internationally recognised qualification. Then we trained them up to safety boat standard on powerboats, gave them daily English lessons, put them on a six week course to do all their Turkish captain’s license courses so they can drive powerboats and ski boats legally in Turkey. We also put them all through their emergency first response first aid course. And then we took seven of them and trained them to drive ski boats and take their first steps in teaching wakeboarding and skiing.
Community
Commissioning weekly English lessons from a fully trained English teacher for all Turkish staff (Active and Hospitality). Our Turkish staff are teaching English staff Turkish lessons. All our staff are given responsible tourism training at start of season.
Market bike rides (twice on Tuesday) and coffee shop cruises. We invite local businesses to set up shops on site to sell to guests. We only provide 4 evening meals in the resort giving them the opportunity to go into town and eat in the local restaurants. We also have a local cruise boat company come and do cruises into town on those evenings
Environment
We are involved with Orak Island beach clean up. This started on World Environment Day we have been going onto the island opposite our centre and doing weekly clean ups of the island. We respect local laws by telling guests to keep off Orak Island which is the home of the monk seals. Only 400 left in the world and no-one is allowed on the island without permission. We are commited to recycling all our old oil.
All tennis court lights are only turned on only when needed and air conditioning in the hotel is controlled by key card so cannot be left on when leaving the room. Air con turns off when doors and windows are opened
Finally. The beach club hotel is only one of 25 Hotels in Turkey that have been awarded a White Star Award for sustainable environmental efficiency covering:
- Waste management
- Water management
- Air pollution
- Energy efficiency
- Chemical pollution
- Architectural surroundings
- Environment awareness
- Harmony of the hotel and grounds.
The scheme was started by Turofed, the Turkish Hoteliers Federation, in 2008. This is the second year we have received the award.
You can trust responsibletravel.com reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays. In addition, we don't run these holidays ourselves - our only interest is giving you the best independent advice.
