Rockhouse Hotel Jamaica Marks Over Five Remarkable Years of Green Globe Gold Recognition with an Unwavering Dedication to Sustainable Travel

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Rockhouse Hotel in Jamaica has once again earned recertification from Green Globe, maintaining its prestigious Gold status after more than five consecutive years of recognition. Founded in 1974, this celebrated boutique hotel is beautifully situated above the stunning Pristine Cove along Negril’s western coastline. For the past three decades, Rockhouse has been a beloved retreat for travelers seeking exceptional experiences, proudly upholding a deep-rooted commitment to regenerative travel practices.

Paul Salmon, Chairman of Rockhouse Hotel, said “As a Caribbean nation, Jamaica acutely feels the environmental challenges of a warming planet. At Rockhouse, we strive to give more than we take, in service of our team, guests, community and the environment. Now, more than ever, we’re doubling down on our efforts with plans for new technologies that reduce our carbon footprint and ones that bring us closer to net positive, including technologies that harness the power of the sun and aid in regenerating the oceans. It is our hope that our conservation initiatives will be used as tools to teach guests and the community about the threats facing our land and seas and our collective role in recovery. It’s also imperative that we continue to be responsible to our team members and the surrounding community by creating opportunities for growth and leadership, and by supporting the education system because our people are also our greatest resource.”

Rockhouse Foundation and Sav Inclusive Academy: Transforming Education in Jamaica

As the philanthropic arm of the Rockhouse Hotel, the Rockhouse Foundation has spent the past two decades dedicated to reshaping the learning environments for Jamaican children and uplifting the educators who guide them. Since its establishment, the Foundation has poured more than $10 million USD into educational projects, successfully revitalizing and modernizing six schools across the island and overseeing a full-scale renovation and expansion of the Negril Community Library.

Aiming to foster inclusivity and equality, the Foundation’s first full-scale independent project was the creation of the Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Academy (Sav Inclusive). Sparked by a heartfelt conversation with a hotel team member whose son had autism, the Foundation was inspired to establish a school welcoming both children with disabilities and those without, offering a truly integrated learning environment. Launched in 2017 with thirty three-year-olds in Grade 1, Sav Inclusive has since flourished, now accommodating over 250 students from Grade 1 through Grade 5 as of 2025. Future expansion plans are underway, with the school adding one grade level each year to eventually cover the entire educational journey from primary through secondary school.

Rockhouse Hydroponic Greenhouse Farm: Cultivating a Greener Future

In 2022, Rockhouse Hotel unveiled a groundbreaking hydroponic greenhouse adjacent to its gardens, covering over 5,000 square feet of growing space both horizontally and vertically. Built in collaboration with Gro N Green Organic Farms, the project aims to reimagine the future of Jamaican agriculture by addressing common island challenges such as droughts, soil erosion, and heavy rains. The hydroponic farm produces up to 300 pounds of lettuce weekly, alongside tomatoes and aromatic herbs.

Staying true to its community-first ethos, Rockhouse extends its hydroponic innovation to young learners, hosting school visits to showcase the latest in farming technology. Sustainability remains a core focus: garden waste is composted or reused, and over 30,000 gallons of harvested rainwater are collected across the property to nourish gardens and handle laundry operations.

Strengthening Sustainability and Empowering Local Artisans

Committed to eco-conscious hospitality, Rockhouse actively nurtures local partnerships while minimizing its environmental footprint. At its own woodworking shop, a skilled team of local artisans handcrafts every piece of timber furniture used at Rockhouse and its sister property, Skylark Negril Beach Resort—from beds and desks to restaurant tables—bolstering employment and skill development in the community.

Next to the workshop, the Caribbean Essential Spa team produces natural spa products for the hotels’ wholesale and retail operations. Meanwhile, the Negril Candle Company, located nearby, gives restaurant candles a second life, crafting retail products in upcycled glass vessels that grace guest rooms.

As part of a major push to eliminate single-use plastics, Rockhouse has partnered with Discovery Spring Water, a local Negril-based eco-conscious company sourcing pure water from the Dolphin Head Mountains, just thirty minutes away. Through this partnership, the Rockhouse and Skylark hotels have prevented more than 30,000 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills each year. This successful collaboration has since inspired a broader recycled bottle movement across other hotels in the region.