(Seychelles News Agency) - The three Hilton establishments in Seychelles haven't yet hit the century mark, but that didn't stop them from joining the global celebration marking 100 years of Hilton. 

The celebration ceremony of Hilton Seychelles Labriz, Hilton Northolme and Hilton DoubleTree was held last week at the Labriz jetty located in the northern Mahe district of Bel Ombre.  

The Hilton name started in 1919 when the founder Conrad Hilton bought his first property, the Mobley Hotel, in Cisco, Texas. Today, there are 570 Hilton hotels and resorts properties and territories spanning across 100 countries.

The first hotel under the brand in Seychelles was Hilton Northolme resort and spa in 2007 located at Glacis on the northern side of the main island of Mahe. A year later, Hilton Labriz opened on the third biggest island of Seychelles, Silhouette, followed in 2013 by the Hilton DoubleTree in the south of the main island. 

The celebration ceremony was held at the Labriz jetty at Bel Ombre. (Jude Morel) Photo License: CC-BY

Doreen D’Souza, the resort manager at DoubleTree Allamanda, said, “I am very honoured to have chosen this company to work with. The 100 years should not be taken lightly as it shows that it is a serious company with a focus.”

D’Souza added that what she likes the most about the company “is that its development is centred on the people. It is a hotel that has left its brand and mark around the world. In terms of sustainability, Hilton is a champion. We have a theme called travel with a purpose. Under this theme, we have to do everything with a sustainable approach.”

All the Hilton hotels in Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, are striving for sustainability by engaging with the local communities in their areas.

Last year, Hilton Double Tree partnered with a conservation group from Anse Forbans in the south of the main island and launched the first on-land coral nursery project. The main aim of the project is to educate the community and act as a backup plan in case of a major seawater warming effect in the island nation.  

Hilton Seychelles Labriz has made significant efforts to remove plastic completely from the island with the introduction of steel water bottles which guests can refill. The hotel is also pesticide-free and it limits food wastage whereby the organic waste is used as compost. The hotel has also implemented an aquaponics project. 

The Seychelles Hilton Northolme has a 650-metre snorkelling trail created by the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles team as part of the resort’s conservation project. The project is aimed at helping to protect and preserve the marine and reef life along the island’s north-west coast.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Francis, said that a 100 years is more than a reason to celebrate.

“Not everybody gets to live 100 years and not a lot of companies get to survive a hundred years. I believe the company has witnessed the test of time. It shows that the company had a strong vision driven by good principles and ideas,” she said.

Sony Delorie, 29, who works at Hilton Northolme as a technician manager, said that “working with the hotel is fun. As with every job it has it’s up and down and you must squeeze in time for your family. But for growth and career-wise the hotel is the place for anyone to gain experience.”