PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS—This month, Kerzner International will conclude its $1 billion Phase III development here with the opening of its newest tower, The Reef Atlantis. The new 497-key tower will offer guests home-like accommodations and amenities—with the beach as a backyard—while instigating conservation and protection of the world’s oceans.
Through a partnership with Kerzner Marine Foundation (“KMF”), Kerzner’s nonprofit foundation that fosters the preservation and enhancement of global marine ecosystems through scientific research, education and community outreach, The Reef will be the main driver of an important new concept in travel called Blue Tourism. It will offer guests of The Reef an opportunity to both interact with and support the ocean through a combination of ocean-based experiences and conservation programs.
Through the combined efforts of The Kerzner Marine Foundation, The Bahamas National Trust, and The Nature Conservancy, The Blue Project at the Reef (BREEF) will offer the funding to create coral reef conservation efforts around New Providence and Paradise Island, as well as support the monitoring of sites that are in reach of visitation for guests at The Reef and all visitors to The Bahamas.
“We conceived the idea of Blue Tourism as a way of giving back to the ocean and the community in which we operate,” says Sol Kerzner, chairman and CEO of Kerzner International. ‘This development at Atlantis is a great representation of the ideals and goals at Kerzner. Scientists funded by the Kerzner Marine Foundation have uncovered two new species of coral living off the coast of Oman, and garnered valuable research about the reefs in the Daymaniyat Islands, which should help our understanding about the survival of reefs throughout the world. We are really proud to bring elements of this project to The Bahamas and feel that it is a natural extension of the conservation and education programs for which Atlantis is known. After all, it is quite logical for a destination resort that is built around the ocean to care about the ocean.”
Company Makes $1 Million Donation
Kerzner will kick off The Blue Project with an initial donation of $1 million. Other partners on The Blue Project initiative include American Express, JetBlue Airways, Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, Melissa & Doug toys, Red Flower and Shoshanna.
“The idea of corporate social responsibility is one that is both attractive to our partner companies and to our guests,” says Bob Cotter, president of Kerzner International. “Consumers are always seeking ways to give back and The Blue Project offers a new way to view tourism as a mechanism for doing so. We are really proud to be affiliated with names such as American Express and JetBlue and all of the other brands that speak to our guests, to create a groundswell for Blue Tourism. With all of us working together with guests of The Reef, we will make an indelible impact on the ocean environment.”
Atlantis is known for, most notably, the world’s largest open-air marine habitat, home to giant manta rays, sawfish, piranha, barracuda, rainbows of tiny tropical fish and, of course sharks, including some of the first species ever born in a man-made environment.
Guests at Atlantis have access to viewing and understanding more than 250 species that inhabit the resort’s open-system exhibits. The resort has also made great efforts to use a variety of educational programs and interactions with guests to promote ocean conservation.
Go to the Kerzner Marine Foundation.
