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There is mounting pressure for hotels to become more sustainable going forward
Alex Chapman | Planet Attractions | 20 Aug 2021
Destination Capital has committed to the development of green hotels across Thailand and South-East Asia Credit: Canva
Bangkok-based real estate investment and asset management firm Destination Capital (DC) has signed an agreement with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to assist in rebuilding the hotel and tourism industry through green initiatives following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new agreement is based on DC’s adoption of best practices aimed at reducing carbon emissions and operating hotels, with UNWTO planning to transform existing hotels into green alternatives, with such developments intended to have a lower carbon footprint, as well as lower food, water, and energy wastage.
DC is best known for its acquisition of hotels, primarily in Thailand. The company also works throughout South-East Asia, working to renovate properties with sustainability in mind.
“In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, DC recognises the hotel industry not only has a responsibility to re-hire and re-train hotel staff,” said an UNWTO statement.
“It’s also increasingly under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate the impact of energy and water consumption as well as food waste and environmental degradation. DC is committed to retrofitting its hotels to be compliant as ‘green hotel’s as per the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) standards established by IFC.”
Tourism decline
According to recent data, international tourism arrivals dropped by a billion people in 2020 with this slide continuing into 2021.
While governments around the world have been working on vaccination programmes, UNWTO has turned to the private sector to encourage employers to play their part in the recovery of local communities through job creation and training programmes.
Worldwide, this has placed as many as 120 million tourism jobs directly at risk. Agreements such as the DC deal are hoped to reinvigorate the industry and encourage more business within the hotel and hospitality sectors.
Tourism
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