Six Senses Laamu has won the Marine & Coastal category of the 2022 Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards for the third time since 2018. The winners were announced during 81st Skål World Congress held in Kvarner, Croatia, on October 14.
Founded in 1934, Skål International is one of the world’s largest international networks of tourism professionals. It is an Affiliated Member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), promoting sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. This year, the independent sustainability experts judged 50 entries from 23 countries.
Marteyne van Well, the Regional General Manager, expressed that being recognized a third time was a big honour. “It is an achievement for our teams at Six Senses Laamu and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI),” van Well said.  He further noted that their efforts have given a voice and influential space in the global community.
Six Senses Laamu has implemented projects on energy and water conservation, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint reduction, waste management, and recycling or repurposing materials. MUI incorporates resident resort marine biologists. It also partners with the Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Olive Ridley Project.
MUI’s mission is to lead the tourism industry in the Maldives through meaningful marine conservation efforts. These efforts are based on research, education, and community outreach.
Since winning its first Skål award in 2018, Six Senses Laamu and MUI have conducted 47,882 educational sessions with guests and certified 205 children through their Junior Marine Biology Program.