US$5 million SIDF loan turns St Kitts hotel into sustainable tourism hotspot

A US$5 million loan from the St Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) has helped one hotel set a benchmark for sustainable tourism.

The Ocean Terrace Inn, southwest of the centre of Basseterre, was named runner-up for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Environment Sustainability Award.

A loan from the SIDF in 2013 helped boost their efforts.

Chris Ghita, general manager of the hotel, accepted the award on behalf of the property at CHTA’s CHIEF (Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum) opening ceremony in Miami, Florida.

“Ocean Terrace Inn is extremely proud to receive this top honour, as it reconfirms our positioning to not only be one of the most environmentally sustainable hotels in St Kitts, but throughout the entire Caribbean,” Ghita said.

“OTI is relentless in the pursuit of initiating and promoting eco-friendly and sustainability awareness amongst our guests, the staff and the community.

"Through a multi-faceted campaign that conserves energy and natural resources; reduces waste to minimise pollution and teaches eco-friendly policies in a local school, OTI uses environmental best practices to positively contribute to tourism’s sustainability and operate the resort in a fiscally responsible and economic manner.”

Loan reflected ‘confidence in tourism’

CHIEF is an premier educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals.

According to its promotion materials, it is “where the hospitality industry assembles to connect, learn best practices, share ideas, brainstorm creative solutions to current challenges and build relationships.”

The SIDF loan to the Ocean Terrace Inn – the federation’s oldest boutique hotel – was given to its parent company, the St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Trading and Development Company in 2013 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and Minister of Tourism Ricky Skerritt.

“The loan to the landmark hotel will include substantial improvements to the hotel plant, infrastructure and amenities and the use of state of the art green technology for energy conservation,” the SIDF said in a statement at the time.

“In making the loan, SIDF is executing one of its purposes of supporting, financing or undertaking the development of new and existing industries, projects or enterprises.”