The ASEAN Tourism Forum(ATF) held in Bangkok in January 2008 saw the launch of the “Asean Green Hotels Recognition Awards”, with 10 Thai hotels being the award winners.
The winners are: Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort; Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa Hotel; Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok; Sofitel Centara Grand, Bangkok; Amari Atrium Hotel; Dusit Thani Pattaya; Siam Bayshore Resort and Spa, Pattaya; Siam Bayview Hotel, Pattaya; Laguna Beach Resort; and the Banyan Tree, Bangkok.
The awards for outstanding efforts in environmental conservation were presented by H.E. Dr. Suvit Yodmani, Thailand's former Minister of Tourism and Sports. Witnessing the event was ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.
The awards are based on 11 major criteria:
- Environmental policy and actions for hotel operations
- Use of Green products
- Collaboration with the community and local organisations
- Human resource development
- Solid waste management and recycling
- Energy efficiency
- Water efficiency
- Air quality management (indoor and outdoor)
- Noise pollution control
- Wastewater treatment and management
- Toxic and chemical substance disposal management
The awards are the result of an agreement among the ASEAN national tourism organisations to adopt the "Green Hotel" standard set by Thailand's own Green Leaf Foundation programme, started 16 years ago by Dr. Suvit himself.
With climate-change issues becoming critical, green hotels are becoming an important component of sustainable tourism.
Each of the hotels has an environmental committee that recommends, implements and monitors the level of "Green" practices at each hotel. The committee also organises training and awareness campaigns that involve staff, guests and the local community.
Among the many "Green" initiatives at the hotels are:
- Waste management and reduction through waste separation, recycling, bulk buying and using returnable and recyclable containers. Hazardous waste is diligently separated.
- Wastewater is properly administered through connection to city-monitored wastewater treatment plants and the use of environmentally safe detergents and cleansing agents, which prevent water contamination. Grease collectors are installed in kitchens and emptied at least three times every week.
- Efficient use of water is encouraged and promoted to the staff and guests. Hotels install low consumption bathroom fittings to save water, leakage is monitored and consumption sub-metres are installed in heavy-usage areas, such as kitchens and the laundry.
- Energy-saving measures are implemented as well as investment in technology and equipment that help reduce environmental impact and consumption. These range from the use of energy-saving light bulbs, and individual light and air-conditioning switches, to effective management of fuel and gas which involve installation of environmentally friendly air-conditioning systems that use ozone-friendly R134A agents only; hence,eliminating all use of ozone-damaging CFCs.
- Air pollution is further reduced by the installation of new boilers and heat pumps allowing the use of LPG gas instead of diesel.
- Cooling towers have been replaced at both properties to improve hot-air ventilation, reducing energy consumption.
Contact information:
International Public Relation Division
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
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