Rosewood Little Dix Bay Embraces Circular Hospitality And Local Collaboration With Renewed Impacts Programming

Set across 500 acres of pristine private beachfront and the breathtaking flora and fauna of Virgin Gorda, the third-largest island of the British Virgin Islands, Rosewood Little Dix Bay has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest getaways. Originally founded by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller in 1964, Rosewood Little Dix Bay has long acted as a steward of sustainability throughout the British Virgin Islands, doing its part to preserve the delicate Caribbean ecosystem. Considered to be one of the first eco-resorts, the property has upheld this commitment throughout its 60-year legacy. Today, guided by Rosewood Impacts, Rosewood Hotel Group’s’ sustainability roadmap that aims to positively impact the planet and the communities it serves, the property continues to seek out new ways to lessen its impact and champion local initiatives,

Understanding how intimately people and planet are intertwined, Rosewood Hotel Group has placed a group-wide emphasis on supporting programs that elevate communities while ensuring their longevity through environmental protection. The resort recently partnered with Green VI, an environmental nonprofit organization working with businesses, schools, and the government for a greener, cleaner, and healthier British Virgin Islands (BVI’s). Green VI shares Rosewood’s values that community and sustainability can and should support one other, and focuses its work on education, waste, energy, and water, while demonstrating a viable balance between the conservation of natural resources and development. With a goal of protecting the BVI’s ecosystem in a way that increases the well-being of its people, Green VI educates and advises businesses in their use of resources, provides practical projects, ideas and solutions for waste management, and focuses on building infrastructure in schools for recycling, mosquito control, and water and energy conservation. Guests at Rosewood Little Dix Bay’s food and beverage outlets are welcomed to make a 1USD contribution to Green VI’s Green Fund to support sustainability work throughout the British Virgin Islands. In order to ensure the property’s own operations are designed with sustainability mind, Green VI is advising the resort’s team on waste separation and diversion, mosquito management, enhanced farm composting and more.

Located on the Island of Virgin Gorda, Rosewood Little Dix Bay is set against some of the world’s most pristine beaches, and this close relationship to the ocean only further underscores the importance of its protection. Rosewood Little Dix Bay understands that the resort shares its home with the many wonderful and captivating creatures that inhabit both the sea and shore and has taken action to ensure their protection. Alongside the Association of Reef Keepers (ARK), a nonprofit that works to preserve and sustain the marine environment in the British Virgin Islands, guests of Rosewood Little Dix Bay are invited to spend time with sea turtles as they gain knowledge on the protection of this endangered species within the BVI. Guest experiences hosted in partnership with ARK include monitoring hatchlings and tagging turtles to track their whereabouts and continued safety, as well as learning about coral restoration. By offering guests the opportunity to experience this amazing sea life up close, both ARK and Rosewood Little Dix Bay hope that they will leave with a new passion for their conservation.

In addition to its partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, Rosewood Little Dix Bay is proud to source a sizable amount of its produce from its onsite farm, therefore lessening the impact of its dining operations. This is especially impactful in the Caribbean, where many islands have relied largely on imports for years. By sourcing local, the resort not only offers a culinary experience that immerses guests in their destination but also helps decrease its carbon footprint. The resort also hosts a farmer’s market on the first Saturday of every month and hosts regular farm tours to educate guests on sustainable production practices. For produce that the resort does need to import, Rosewood Little Dix Bay focuses on sourcing organic, fair trade goods and ensures its suppliers adhere to a strict supplier code of conduct, enforcing fair and equitable business practices.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay proudly supports the local Virgin Gorda community through various initiatives, including an annual contribution to sponsor awards and scholarships for graduating seniors at the Ciboney Centre for Excellence. Its commitment extends to community sports, particularly through the sponsorship of club basketball teams, including those featuring its Associates as players. Basketball, a favorite sport in the British Virgin Islands, provides an opportunity to engage with and uplift our community while fostering teamwork and dedication. These efforts reflect the resort’s dedication to nurturing the next generation and supporting local schools.

Among Rosewood Little Dix Bay’s latest sustainability initiatives is the Community Chipper Project, developed in partnership with Green VI. This project introduces a chipping machine on property to recycle and repurpose organic landscaping waste, reducing landfill contributions while creating free mulch for use on-site and distribution to local schools and produce growers, fostering a sustainable exchange within the community.

As a leading example of eco luxury and a long-time arbiter of ecotourism the resort is honored to play a part in helping Virgin Gorda thrive through community and environmental initiatives. The resort has been named a Rosewood Impact Trailblazer, a distinction awarded to Rosewood Hotels and Resorts most socially and environmentally progressive properties. Rosewood Little Dix Bay is constantly evolving and growing its sustainability programming. In an effort to continue to serve the local community, ongoing efforts include the total elimination of single-use plastics on property, increased recycling efforts, ongoing support of local youth organizations, and regular beach cleanups.