These days, sustainability is more than a buzzword. Preserving the beauty of popular destinations is necessary to maintain sustainable tourism. What’s more, many visitors prefer hotels that do their part to Go Green. After all, many people travel to enjoy stunning natural attractions. If these aren’t flourishing, or a property is clearly engaging in behaviours harmful to the environment, there’s little reason to invest time and money in travelling to a far-flung destination.

PROMOTING CONSERVATION IN SEYCHELLES

Many resorts know much of their appeal comes from their gorgeous surroundings. Therefore, they use eco-friendly policies as a selling point. The Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa website ensures guests the property’s remote island location is a protected area and promises one of the “richest biodiversity hot-spots in the western Indian Ocean.” By promoting conservation so directly, the resort connects with visitors desiring an authentic experience that agrees with a green lifestyle.

NATIONAL COOLING AT PARK ROYAL HOTEL, SINGAPORE

Other places are taking things a step further by using sustainable tourism features to stand out. And not just that, but even to save money and help the planet! At the Park Royal Hotel on Pickering Street in Singapore, lush greenery spreads across the property’s exterior. These tropical plants help cool guestrooms while decreasing energy use. The landscaped sections of the hotel are reliant on rainwater and require few resources to thrive. The creative use of living design elements enhances the hotel’s ambiance as well. This natural facade definitely helps it rise above the competition in a crowded marketplace.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AT NAUMI HOTEL, SINGAPORE

At Naumi Hotel on Singapore’s Seah Street, plants are also used to control the building’s temperature. This cuts AC use, reducing harmful emissions. Naumi encourages guests to re-use towels and linens before replacing them. Garbage is also carefully separated to prevent recyclable items from going to a landfill. These steps are helping Singapore meet its zero-waste goal. The brand’s other hotel in the city, Naumi Liora, is located in a historic 1920s building that includes original windows and flooring, as well as antique tiles. These vintage details look stunning and demonstrate a commitment to reusing and recycling instead of disposing of things that can be given a second life.

There are dozens of other ways hotels are going green and attracting eco-minded guests, including on-site gardens of organic food, reef preservation projects and custom-built recycling centres. In the years ahead, we expect these kinds of features will grow in popularity and become must-haves for successful resorts around the world.

21 June 2018