Sustainable hotels
To mark Earth Day, which takes place on 22 April, we explore how seven luxury hotels across the world are taking action to improve their sustainability.
From an idyllic Indian Ocean island retreat to an iconic London landmark, these properties are committed to reducing their impact on their local environments and the planet and contributing to wildlife and marine conservation…
Constance Moofushi, Maldives
Set on its own secluded island, Constance Moofushi offers a perfect combination of luxury, simplicity, and as one of six Constance Hotels and Resorts that are now Green Globe Certified, sustainability.
From ecological thatch roofing to crystal clear water, this property is barefoot luxury at its best. The 24 beach villas, 56 water villas and 30 senior water villas that float above the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean are built and decorated with wondrous tones of nature and a hint of Constance chic.
Guests can feast on fresh seafood and savour the finest wines in the sand floored restaurant, explore one of the best diving sites in the world around the South Ari Atoll, or indulge in relaxing marine spa treatments.
Committed to delivering the best service while keeping the environment clean and sustainable, Constance started its Green Globe journey in 2013. It has integrated environmental leadership into all its operations and adopts best practices while complying with regulatory requirements. The group’s four key areas of focus are: Environmental, Socio-Cultural, Quality and Health & Safety.
At hotel level, this means initiatives such as promoting local food, entertainment and culture, offering guests souvenirs made locally and which are eco-friendly, encouraging and supporting clean-up of the marine and coastal environment, coral planting, favouring eco-friendly and power-efficient products and encouraging team members and guests to participate and support green actions.
The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel
Testament that sustainable tourism can extend to a five-star hotel in London, The Savoy has made a substantial investment in sustainable solutions and a carbon reduction strategy, which has significantly reduced its carbon footprint permanently, and in the long term by 3,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, with energy consumption reduced by at least 30%.
These solutions include the replacement of heating and cooling systems with high efficiency ones and the installation of intelligent energy building controls. A combined heat and power plant reduces the hotel’s reliance on the energy grid by approximately 50%.
Through developments and improvements in The Savoy’s waste management programme, the hotel has achieved its target of diverting 100% of all waste from landfill. All of The Savoy’s food waste is recycled into renewable energy and nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser; all of the hotel’s organic waste is reused in a positive way; in-house schemes have been introduced to collect more unusual recyclable items such as candles, corks, spectacles and stamps; and even old computer and kitchen equipment is donated to local community schemes and overseas charities.
With many offering stunning views across the River Thames and of London's most significant landmarks, The Savoy's 267 luxury guest rooms and suites provide a quintessentially British setting from which to make the most of the hotel's exceptional location.
Zulu Camp at Shambala Private Game Reserve
Shambala Private Game Reserve is actively involved in wildlife conservation and its main objective is to maintain the most favourable natural conditions for the wildlife to thrive. The world’s largest land animals - the African elephant – remain under severe threat from poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
In 2016, Shambala launched a rehabilitation programmes designed to help elephants used for elephant-back safaris return successfully to the wild. The process has involved careful monitoring of the elephants with doctors and experts who have ensured the success of the programme.
Shambala also gives guests the opportunity to experience Africa’s most spectacular wildlife while working on a team expedition to complete projects that are designed to improve life for all the species on the reserve.
The culinary team at Shambala pride themselves in providing guests with the best local dishes there are to offer and in doing so, Shambala uses self-sustained vegetables grown in the property’s vegetable garden.
Zulu Camp at Shambala Private Game Reserve offers guests the extraordinary experience of staying in traditional honeycomb-shaped chalets in the heart of the bushveld.
Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
Slated to be a showcase of environmental sustainability when it opens in 2022, Pan Pacific Orchard is Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s first zero-waste hotel with four levels of soaring gardens that will redefine vertical sky-rise typology.
The hotel is ideally located along Singapore’s famed Orchard Road with its distinctive luxury brands, high street shopping and dining options right at the doorstep, and the central business district just a 10-minute drive away.
Amongst other innovative elements, Pan Pacific Orchard will feature a rainwater harvesting system, a recyclable water system, and a compactor that turns food waste into compost – which will then be channelled into fertiliser for its sky gardens.
Offering 350 eco-friendly rooms, the latest sustainable hotel to debut in Asia comes complete with a gym, swimming pool, bars and restaurants, a club lounge, and a sky terrace ensconced within its gardens and cascading greenery.
White Pod Eco-luxury Hotel, Switzerland
Since its opening in 2004, Whitepod has aimed to prove that hospitality and environmental preservation can coexist to create a unique, positive and quality experience. Sustainability is high on the hotel's agenda. The use of energy and water is controlled, waste is recycled, and regional purchasing is favoured. Staff live nearby and walk to work and motorised transport in the camp is limited.
By choosing Whitepod, guests play an active role in this ecological mission. The property’s 18 eco-luxury pods nestled high up in Swiss Alps allow you get back to nature without forgoing any luxuries. Sleep in a pod heated by a pellet stove, facing a breath-taking view. Limited transportation within the camp means you have to walk from reception to your pod.
The pods blend into the landscape, their colour changing depending on the season: white in winter, green in summer. There are plenty of activities on offer for incentive groups and corporate retreats, from husky hiking and skiing and wine tours to forest bathing.
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
This luxury four-star property is part of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group, which is committed to more efficient management of energy and water resources and improving environmentally-friendly practices with regards to meetings and incentives
Situated on the Larvotto peninsula, the chic resort is surrounded by four hectares of gardens on the sea front and boasts sweeping views of the beach, four restaurants, a casino, a 900 m² spa and a lagoon with waterfalls and hot tubs.
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has reduced its energy expenditure by 30% in just eight years. The Group also differentiates itself by purchasing clean energy (98.5 % of the electricity certified as from renewable sources) and offsetting its gas consumption.
The property boasts its own organic kitchen garden, working in close partnership with the start-up Terre de Monaco which creates urban organic gardens.
It has also signed the Mr Goodfish commitment to respect marine resources with an emphasis on fish from sustainable sources.
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Perched on a ridge in northern Thailand overlooking the border with Myanmar and Laos, Anantara Golden Triangle immerses guests in once-in-a-lifetime experiences, while contributing to important scientific research and conservation programmes.
With 40 rooms and 15 suites, this unique property is located in a tranquil jungle setting with three-country views. Guests can spend an unforgettable night observing Thailand’s majestic elephants in their natural habitat from the comfort of fully furnished, transparent Jungle Bubbles.
The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation was set up to improve the plight of Thailand’s elephants, and has rescued over 30 elephants from Thailand’s city streets, accompanied by their entire mahout family. English lessons are arranged for the mahouts and their wives, education is made available for their children, and a silk worm business provides the wives with 100% of the profits made from the sales of their wares at resort boutiques.
In addition to performing street rescues, the GTAEF cooperates with the Thai government and other organisations in projects including: supporting research and clinics using elephants in therapy sessions for children living with autism and helping equip the first elephant hospital in Krabi in the south of Thailand.
