The group's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

The first project supported by the group was the installation of a fixed mooring buoy in the Grand Baie lagoon, which is an area very popular with boaters. These mooring buoys developed by Reef were intended for the protection of corals and are installed in strict compliance with best practices to protect the seabed. They allow boats to tie up without having to use sea anchors that destroy the corals.

Veranda Group has been funding the Marine Environmental Education Programme for Primary Schools for the last year, by allocating 0.5% of its PAT (profit after tax) to this programme. Alternating theory and practical workshops are held annually in a club type environment, and the programme aims to raise awareness, by entertaining and educating children in an enjoyable way about the protection of biodiversity and lagoons. During these two school years the NGO has taught 2900 children and 240 teachers about the issues surrounding the marine environment.

Between 2009 and 2010, a campaign based on Reef Conservation's educational program will be offered to all the group's personnel with the support of the Veranda Training Institute. At the end of this campaign, we intend to hold a large inter-hotels quiz in order to involve and engage with all the group's employees in a fun way.

The Veranda Group - now on the Domaine de Bel Ombre with Heritage Resorts (HR), Villas Valriche Experience by Heritage Resorts (VVE) and the Golf du Chateau golf course- has, since 2009, been a partner of the Bel Ombre Foundation for Empowerment.

This foundation has taken the emancipation of the rural community in the South West under its wing. It is a community which for too long remained a passive witness to the development of the rest of the island. A huge amount work has been accomplished during this year, including social inclusion initiatives, literacy and adult education programmes, early learning programmes, support of artisans doing hand crafts, the struggle against social evils...

Veranda Resorts hotels located in the coastal villages of the North and East of Mauritius, are involved in providing financial support to three ZEP schools (ZEP stands for priority education zone in French) and ANFEN (Adolescent Non-Formal Education Network), which works through associated schools to re-educate youths who have fallen out of the academic system. Besides this essential contribution to their functioning, these schools receive support and access to the listening ear of the group's hotels which collaborate with these institutions.

The group's hotels are also involved in regional and national actions with the members of the AHRIM, the association of hoteliers and restaurateurs of Mauritius. AHRIMaction, a joint plan for citizens' action was started a year ago. The plan intervenes primarily in the coastal rural region, in the areas of education (support of schools, sharing expertise, internships ...) and environment (beautification, cleaning, awareness ...)

The group invests heavily in its internal CSR in human resources, with plans in place in the areas of health, safety, training and skills development or welfare. Further, initiatives are undertaken in hotels to better manage their environment and resources (reduction of consumption, waste management, recycling). A major pilot project for energy consumption was implemented at Veranda Paul & Virginie in May 09 and immediately led to a substantial and continuing reduction of 20% in power consumption.