HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine

Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has gained the 2022 Hotel Expense Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Hotel Award for Local weather Motion.

In addition to weather motion, there ended up awards for building preservation/adaptive reuse, constructive local community effects, and sustainable layout. Submissions ended up assessed by seven judges, the bulk from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Team, the organiser of the HICAP function, declared the winners on 12 October 2022.

The judges based mostly the local climate action choice on Cardamom Tented Camp’s potential to operate with associates to preserve 180 sq. kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor countrywide park in southwest Cambodia. On local weather motion, it is approximated that the forest that the camp helps protect sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per yr, in accordance to Wildlife Functions.

Since opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Stay Retains the Forest Standing.” It would make the assert since income from the camp aid the every month salaries of 10 Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers protect the habitat from illegal poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.

Populations of elephant, leopard, python, solar bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are improving upon thanks to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have pressured poachers to the perimeters or out of the park altogether.

“Despite setbacks during the two Covid yrs when tourism revenue significantly disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our staying ability and potential to perform with partners to hold the forest standing, with all the gains that deliver.”

HICAP judges also considered the camp’s sizeable contribution to UN Sustainable Growth Ambitions, this sort of as existence on land, clear and affordable vitality, respectable function, financial advancement, local climate action, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Small Lodge Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.

Further than sequestering an approximated 108,652 tons of CO2 each year, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s extra environmental efforts, including being driven by 100 per cent onsite photo voltaic vitality for its electrical energy, low-effect heating and cooking, and pure wastewater filtration procedures. The property recycles as much as attainable and utilizes 100 per cent organic personalized care goods. Long run plans contain:

• Powering its boat with an electric battery.
• Rising local and onsite foodstuff sourcing.
• Undertaking community-centered conservation.

Apart from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental efforts, it also scores effectively on hospitality and all-spherical visitor working experience metrics. The camp’s guest gratification amounts are rated five stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for three years.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will near in 2022 with about 80 percent of 2019’s occupancy and will return to successful concentrations in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will improve the forest rangers’ contributions.