Name: Harith Wickrema
Title: Chief Visionary Officer
Property: Eco Serendib Villa and Spa
Years property open: Three
Primary responsibilities: “One of my most important responsibilities as chief visionary officer is to ensure the villa stays true to the original concept.”
Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Educating guests while using resources to give back to the St. John Community.”
Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge: “Recycling. On St. John we don’t have recycling. Garbage gets shipped to St. Thomas.”
ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS—As Chief Visionary Officer and owner of the eight-suite Eco Serendib Villa and Spa on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Harith Wickrema is adamant about providing luxury experiences for guests that “excite, educate, and entertain.” “Eco Serendib Villa and Spa is proof that you do not necessarily have to sacrifice luxury and modern conveniences to live a greener existence,” Wickrema says.
Wickrema, who grew up in Sri Lanka where “eco” efforts were standard out of necessity, readily admits that his property is not perfect when it comes to sustainability but he has gone far beyond what is standard to reduce the property’s environmental footprint. The list is very long and can be seen on Eco Serendib’s website but some of the property’s most significant initiatives include: 69 rooftop solar panels, kitchen appliances that use less energy than a 100-watt bulb and are made from as much as 75 percent recycled materials, a gray water system for irrigation, three separate 20,000-gallon cisterns to collect rainwater as well as over-sized gutters on the roof to collect additional rainwater, and a salt water pool that eliminates the need for chlorine and other harsh chemicals.
The property’s on-site organic garden features more than 50 fruits, vegetables and herbs including banana, mango, passion fruit, coconut, avocado, black-eyed peas, edamame, eggplant, green beans, kale, okra, pomegranates, pumpkin, mixed greens, peppers, tomatoes, watermelon and more. Unique to Eco Serendib is a “seed to plate” program that allows guests to customize a garden to their preferences so that garden items are harvest-ready upon their arrival to the property.
Strong Supporter of Beach Restoration
Not long after opening, Eco Serendib initiated the Eco Serendib Beach Restoration Project in partnership with Friends of the VI National Park. Eco Serendib provided the funding to launch the restoration effort that plants native trees at area beaches to lessen the carbon footprint while combating the devastating impact of erosion. To date, nearly $20,000 has been donated. Guests have the opportunity to become involved with the efforts through assisting with planting, cultivating and irrigation as well as tours and demonstrations.
While Eco Serendib is certainly a focus for Wickrema, it is just one of many ongoing projects. He is on the Dean’s Council at Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and has been an adjunct professor for more than a decade. He has taught a variety of hospitality and tourism classes including those related to hotel management, meeting management and incentives. “I am especially proud of the Sustainable/CSR Event Management curriculum I designed,” Wickrema says. “I also introduced the Green Initiatives Awards to recognize leaders in corporate responsibility.”
Wickrema is also President of Harith Productions, an event management company that also is Eco Serendib’s managing agent. He has led Harith Productions since 1987. Wickrema first got his start planning events and fundraising while a teenager in high school and while at Temple University as a member of the student senate. “My skills caught the eye of the chairman of the Board of Trustees, who also happened to be the Philadelphia 76ers owner, which led to me becoming Director of Events for the team,” he says.
“I have always been passionate about creating distinctive programs that maximize ROI while educating, entertaining and engaging event attendees and was instrumental in changing the way planners and attendees—as well as event industry suppliers—think about sustainability,” Wickrema adds.
Wickrema is a board member of the Green Meeting Industry Council Foundation, Island Green Living Assn., and past board member and chairman of the ISES Foundation.
Green Suppliers Showcased
Those visiting the Eco Serendib website will find a long list of green suppliers Wickrema has worked with, along with contact information for each supplier.
“We provide that list because it is my hope that once guests realize how little needs to be forfeited to live a more eco-friendly existence, they will incorporate elements into their own lives while educating and influencing others,” Wickrema says. “Ultimately, as more eco companies and products are supported, increased demand will reduce the cost of production, making them more accessible to all—reducing the carbon footprint in the process. In addition to inspiring guests, we also seek to influence others in the hospitality and tourism arena to incorporate more eco-friendly elements into their businesses while giving back to the local community.”
Wickrema holds a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University, Fox School of Business and Management and attended the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University for professional development in food and beverage.
Go to Eco Serendib Villa and Spa.
