- Redesign includes a dedicated Conservation Ambassador programme and a new Presidential Villa
Cousine Island will reopen in April 2016 and introduce a new Presidential Villa as well as a tailored Guest Ambassador programme to support the island’s ecosystem platform.
The first exclusive eco-luxury private island in the world to adopt a conservation based management structure, all revenue generated by the Cousine Island accommodation will be reinvested for long term sustainability, conservation and biodiversity.
Kirsten Keeley, granddaughter of the owner, says: “We are delighted to reopen Cousine Island and introduce so many bespoke touches to enhance the guest experience. The Guest Ambassador programme has been created to connect savvy travellers to the indigenous nature and wildlife of Cousine Island, recognised internationally as one of the most ecologically important private islands in the world.”
To ensure the highest levels of privacy and minimum human impact, Cousine Island offers four Luxury Villas designed in a French colonial style and one new, stately Presidential Villa nestled in lush endemic vegetation, just 30 metres from the beach. Each villa has been furnished with individually hand-crafted furniture, as well as the latest technology including high speed broadband and Wi-Fi.
The Presidential Villa is 625 square meters in size and offers two master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a study area, personal gym, spa, kitchen, dining room and outside bar and living space. Guests are also given private golf carts to use during their stay on the island and further in addition to a full time butler and chef as well as accommodation for an au pair or chamber lady.
The philosophy of Cousine Island and the new Guest Conservation Ambassador programme
Conservation is at the heart of the Cousine Island philosophy. Sustainable ecotourism should involve direct and tangible benefits to the environment and Cousine Island’s mission is to inspire and share our philosophy with the world and to promote and practice nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources and surroundings, by contributing directly to the region’s biodiversity.
Guests are encouraged to participate in the conservation work on the island, from planting indigenous trees from the nursery, to assisting island ecologists monitor critically endangered marine turtles and birds. The Island’s dedicated conservation team offer dedicated journeys of rare sustainable tourism experiences that will create lifelong and treasured memories.
Kirsten Keeley says: “Guests always leave Cousine Island with a deeper knowledge of the environment and a sense of belonging to Mother Nature. Even if guests choose not to get involved directly, they are still supporting the conservation and restoration programmes by simply visiting our tropical paradise.”
The main conservation projects on the island include:
- A Turtle monitoring programme. (Guests can help with monitoring and collecting valuable information or assist in releasing hatchlings.)
- The Magpie Robin recovery and monitoring programme. (Guests can assist in monitoring nesting success.)
- Seabird Count. (Guests can get involved in the seabird census conducted to estimate the numbers of breeding pairs of seabirds.)
- Restoration and rehabilitation projects. (Guests can be involved in planting endemic trees.)
The Guest Ambassador experience includes:
- On booking, guests will receive a personal email highlighting the Cousine Island nature reserve and how to maximise their forthcoming experience (details of the transfer, what to pack, key conservation projects linked to the specific season etc.)
- During their stay on the island, guests will receive further details of the specific conservation projects and given the opportunity to engage with each project during their stay.
- After their departure, Cousine Island will continue to update guests about the progression of conservation projects and particularly the projects in which they were most engaged.
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