Rosedon Hotel has invested in green energy as part of multi-pronged strategic plan for the Pembroke landmark.

Scott Kitson, a consultant for the Kitson Group of Companies and former president and chief executive officer of the organisation, along with Lee Petty, who is the creative director, and responsible for interior decorating and marketing the property, said the family operation took a long, hard look Rosedon to see how they could retain and enhance its unique ambience, and at the same time save money.

“The hospitality business is a labour of love,” Mr Kitson explained.

“The cost of doing business continues to go up, so we’re investing in renewable energy because — aside from the environmental benefits — it preserves jobs, and so we can stay in business.”

The siblings explained the small hotel on Pitts Bay Road was founded by their grandmother in 1950 after she and their grandfather bought the original five-bedroom house which had been built in 1906. Today, it has been expanded to 39 bedrooms.

“You don’t run a hotel to get rich,” said Mr Kitson. “It is a labour of love — it’s our family name and who we are. We plough everything we make back into the property.

“It’s boutique hotel and we’re careful about holding on to the things that define who we are — what is unique to Bermuda.”

Today, the hotel is a top-ranked property on Trip Advisor and primarily welcomes business people as guests, said Ms Petty. “Those guests have requirements and needs (that come with a modern hotel property) — but at the same time, when you’re in the lobby or on the front porch, you’re in Bermuda.”

After a strategic planning exercise that involved the Rosedon staff as well as the owners and managers, Mr Kitson said: “Our goal is now to invest heavily in the plant for ten years.

“It is necessary for us to do things so we can be more efficient, in order to protect jobs and for our prices continue to be reasonable.

“The costs of doing business is going up, and we are trying to address those expenses. Anything we can do to decrease the operating expenses we shall do, for job security and for the cost of our product.”

The two Kitson family members explained they explored the options offered by solar energy, and the installation of units was recently completed.

“The decision was taken by the board to invest in solar energy — to take a leading position (in using the technology) and fix our costs of energy.”

Ms Petty added: “The idea is to embrace renewable energy and conservation. The goal is to become a solar leader in Bermuda. Solar hot water is a natural.”

Heliodyne is a solar thermal heating system, and consists of a container with an absorbing surface that is placed outside, and holds 80 gallons of water. It is super-insulated and so it maintains a heat of 120 degrees. The water that is heated is fed into hot water heaters. Because the water is already heated, those heaters maintain their heat more efficiently.

It is estimated the system will provide Rosedon with 80 percent of its hot water.

Rosedon has made other energy changes as well.

Mr Kitson said: “For all our outdoor lighting we now use light emitting diodes (LED), and we’re in the process of converting the indoor lighting to LED.

“As far as capital costs are concerned, LED cuts costs perhaps five or six times. There’s an instant payback with electricity bills.

“We also make a concerted effort to recycle, on our water usage, and where our waste goes.

“There’s focus on buying locally — Bermuda bananas, for example, are grown on the property and served for breakfast. We use fruit and vegetables that are grown locally, and local fish is served.

“Our uncle Richard Kitson stared a kitchen garden at Rosedon, an organic garden, where herbs and other things are grown, and the kitchen uses those.”

The hotel offers room service as well as a pantry that is kept stocked with sandwiches and snacks.

There’s also a traditional English tea each day. Mr Kitson said: “The staff contribute family recipes which are baked and served.” Their soup recipes are also served on the room service menu.

Mr Kitsons aid: “The focus at Rosedon is on old Bermuda — we decided what it means to be Bermudian.”

Ms Petty added: “Visitors want to truly feel they are experiencing our culture.”