What do you imagine when you hear the word sustainability, particularly sustainability in tourism? In recent times, this word has been used in countless ways, evoking various emotions. I must admit that, for me, it often stirs negative feelings. Not because I don’t care about nature or what happens to our planet, but because I dislike how, especially in Europe, the term sustainability is often misused. It sometimes feels like empty rhetoric, or even worse, words driven by financial incentives and the pursuit of profit. It looks great when a company presents itself as sustainable, right? But in reality, our planet often comes in second place, if not lower. I struggle to see the practical impact of sustainability efforts, and I am becoming increasingly frustrated by constant carbon footprint measurements and directives about what I should or should not do in order to reduce it.
Mauritius and Sustainability in Practice
That is why I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply the topic of sustainability resonated with me in Mauritius, where I was invited this year by the hotel chain Attitude. The trip was organized in cooperation with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and several local DMC agencies as a familiarization trip for selected Czech travel agencies.
As I visited various Attitude resorts, I gradually began to understand what sustainability truly means and why it actually makes sense. But this realization wasn’t limited to the Attitude resorts—it extended throughout my travels across this beautiful island. In the most natural way possible (without anyone measuring my carbon footprint during my stay), I started to see how everything functioned harmoniously, fitting together seamlessly. Mauritians are proud of their island and deeply aware of the need to protect it.
One of the first things you notice is the strong emphasis on supporting local businesses—from hiring local staff to sourcing as many local products as possible, despite the fact that Mauritius cannot produce everything necessary for hotel operations. Attitude prioritizes using local food, locally sourced cosmetics, and working with companies that employ Mauritian residents. Each hotel features a shop selling local products. A wonderful initiative is the Otentik Dinner, where guests are invited into the home of a hotel employee participating in the program. The family hosts an authentic Mauritian dinner, and women are offered the chance to try on traditional attire and even dance with their hosts.
What Sets Attitude Apart?
The details speak for themselves—natural materials used in hotel construction, refillable containers for soap and shampoo, natural cosmetics in hotel spas, waste sorting, and plastic-free policies. But here, everything is implemented organically, without unnecessary gimmicks. There are no paper straws that disintegrate in your drink, ruining the experience. Water is only available in glass bottles, and guests receive a reusable bottle upon arrival, which they can use throughout their stay and even take home as a souvenir.
Attitude has been operating sustainably for over 15 years. Their efforts have been recognized with the prestigious B Corp certification, a highly challenging international standard that assesses a company’s environmental impact. Attitude is rightfully proud of this achievement.
Each hotel has a dedicated sustainability corner (identical in all properties), where guests can read about the key sustainability principles followed by Attitude resorts. You can read them—or not—there is no pressure. However, even if you don’t pay attention to these guidelines, you might find yourself adopting a more sustainable mindset over the course of your stay. The key difference is that in Mauritius, sustainability is not enforced with meaningless rules, as is often the case in Europe—it is simply part of life.
In Mauritius, and specifically in Attitude resorts, sustainability is practiced, not just theorized. This philosophy is beautifully summarized by Attitude’s CEO, Vincent Desvaux de Marigny:
“Our mission is to create sustainable experiences, rooted in the local area and accentuated by encounters… Holidays that do good for those who experience them and for those who make them happen.”
Markéta Šustrová