The Kingdom of Bahrain is making strides towards eco-tourism with the announcement of the Mantis Bahrain Hawar Island Hotel & Resort. Set to open by 2024, the eco-resort will be surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary and is promised to be one of the most environmentally-focused hospitality destinations in the Middle East.
Mantis – which Accor acquired a 50 percent stake of in 2018 – is already one of the industry’s most sustainable brands. It was founded in 2000 by entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner, and features a growing portfolio of hotels across the globe. Mantis hotels often boast eco-lodges and priorities the protection of natural environments.
The Mantis in Bahrain will be no different, offering overwater villas which give guests direct access to the sea. The island is one of the most biodiverse parts of Bahrain, home to sand Gazelles, Arabian Oryx, multicolored coral reefs, endangered Dugong and various migratory birds, particularly Socotra Cormorants.
Initiatives and systems will be implemented to sort waste, reuse biodegradable food waste, and reduce the use of water and energy through the latest technologies to minimize the environmental impact.
Eco-resort meets adventure destination
Facilities-wise, the eco-resort will be split into two parts. It will have 72 keys, five dining outlets, an Adventure Park, a tennis court, a bike track and a water park. One component of the resort will be its accommodation and dining outlets and a second component for “adventure and sports enthusiasts.”
Accor also revealed the resort will have its own helipad.
A response to over-tourism
“We are looking forward to partnering with Accor to open the first Mantis brand in Bahrain on Hawar Island and welcoming visitors from across the region with the traditional warm hospitality that Bahrain is known for”, said Edamah CEO Amin Alarrayed. “The island’s pristine environment has been virtually undisturbed, resulting in a vibrant ecosystem which will appeal to nature lovers. Our aim is to showcase this natural beauty while focusing on sustainability to preserve it for future generations.”
“We are noticing that travellers are now more than ever looking for authentic experiences when travelling while remaining conscious of the environment” added Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey. “In fact, they are becoming even more aware of the impact that an increase in tourism has on the environment and heritage sites, which puts sustainability at the centre of seasoned traveller’s decision making, Mantis is the ideal brand to address these concerns”.
Willis has previously expressed concerns about over-tourism. Speaking at this year’s Arabian Travel Market, he said his group’s projects in Saudi Arabia are also conscious of the environment.
He said: “Saudi Arabia has the experience of the globe and 20 to 30 years of real globalisation in terms of travel. The country is really making an effort to look at all the things have been done really well, but also learn from some of the mistakes where environments have clearly been impacted from over-tourism.”
Also this year, Red Sea Development Company’s CEO John Pagano said just being sustainable “is no longer good enough,” and that destinations must also be regenerative for their environments.
He told Arabian Business: “Travellers are now looking for responsible travel policies with sustainability being a key priority to help protect and promote a healthy environment. They want to pursue quality experiences, immerse themselves in the beauty of the local environment and engage with new cultures. With this desire to travel greener, it’s no longer good enough for destinations to just be sustainable. Locations and the industry at large must provide experiences with real meaning and have policies geared towards regenerative tourism that continue to deliver exceptional luxury.”