Sustainability Forward Hotels That Are Making Our Planet A Greener Place

Sustainability has become more important than ever. When it comes to travelling, according to a WWF research, “a typical package holiday” account for up to 50% of a person’s annual share of the Earth resources. In celebration of the annual Earth Day on April 22, take a look at these sustainability forward hotels and resorts that are thoughtfully designed to making our planet greener.

Mandarin Oriental, Doha
Mandarin Oriental, Doha is located in the center of Msheireb Downtown Doha, overlooking Barahat Msheireb town square, the newest landmark for the city. The hotel’s entire development was designed to consume fewer resources, generate less waste, lower costs and achieve a reduced carbon footprint. The building is light colored to reduce cooling requirements, while photovoltaic panels and solar thermal hot water panels were installed on the rooftop to generate the building’s electricity and hot water. From a water conservation perspective, efficient irrigation systems were installed, and mostly adaptive species were planted as some native species can survive well in dry conditions and therefore reduce landscape irrigation.

Mandarin Oriental, Paris
Since opening in 2011, Mandarin Oriental, Paris has been recognised as an eco-responsible hotel and is the first hotel in France to obtain the High Quality Environment certification (HQE). The hotel’s day-to-day operations is committed to saving 20 to 30% of energy consumption compared to a non HQE building. On-site beekeeping is also practiced at Mandarin Oriental, Paris, who has been serving guests honey harvested from the rooftop beehive. With the global bee population decreasing at an alarming and unprecedented rate in the past decade, the beekeeping programme was initiated with the objective to expand opportunities for guests to invest and support the population growth of honeybee, through beehives housed on-site at the hotel or with a local beekeeper. The hotel’s goal is to help protect biodiversity by hosting 100,000 bees and inject the eco-friendly element into guest experiences.

Six Senses Laamu
For many, diving at Six Senses Laamu is a special experience, filled with encounters with manta rays, sharks and turtles – just a few common finds in the abundant dive sites of Laamu Atoll. The Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), the marine team at Six Senses Laamu and Blue Marine Foundation launched the #ProtectMaldivesSeagrass campaign to protect seagrass at all resorts in the Maldives. The campaign will bring together resorts, international organizations, film makers and scientists all in partnership and all advocating for its protection. Apart from that, the hotel also launches Junior Marine Biology program, allowing guests aged 6-16 to foster deeper engagement and understanding of marine biology. The program allows junior guests to design their own personalized marine protection program. For example, they can get out of the classroom and into the field collecting data and conduct a turtle survey at Six Senses Laamu house reef.

Six Senses Con Dao
The hotel has been described as one of the best secret beach destinations on earth, according to Travel+Leisure magazine. Minutes away from the national and marine park inhabited by many rare sea turtles. Guests at Six Senses Con Dao have the unique opportunity to operate turtle sanctuary for guests. For example, guests can participate in the conservation efforts, including early morning releases of turtles, right on the resort’s beach. Six Senses Con Dao also partnered with the local national park to protect the coral reef and the ocean, and is committed to its sustainability efforts as well as the improvement of Con Dao’s ecosystem through the programme.

Shishi-Iwa House
Nestled in the woodlands of Karuizawa, a mountain resort area in Nagano, Japan, Shishi-Iwa House is a restorative retreat designed by Japanese master architect Shigeru Ban. This 10-room resort celebrates exceptional architectural design and craftsmanship with natural materials and a biophilic emphasis, and aims to reduce excess by creating a sustainable environment that promotes the fundamental connection between design, human and nature. With the goal of conserving as many trees as possible, Shigeru Ban has designed the property in a smooth, curvilinear form that flows around the trees on site, rather than cutting them down. Blending the interior and exterior spaces, all guest rooms and social areas were designed to showcase the vibrant Karuizawa nature alongside the hotel’s natural, sustainable designs.