Local Hotels Go Green

Edsa Shangri-La Manila (http://www.shangri-la.com)

Tourism has been one of the major industries that contribute to the Philippines’ local economy. With a business that relies heavily on premium destinations, it’s crucial that measures are taken to preserve our country’s natural resources.

“The (tourism) industry is the one that really benefits from the natural beauty of this country. We should be taking the lead in making sure that the prosperity of the industry will also lead to the preservation and restoration of the natural beauty of the country,” says Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

For the second time since 2008, DoT handed ten of the country’s top resorts and hotels with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Green Hotel Awards. This award is in recognition of ASEAN Green Hotels for their initiatives on worldwide environment and energy conservation.

The five of the ten resorts and hotels, namely Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Makati Shangri-La Manila, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, and Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Resort in El Nido, Palawan were already recipients of the same award back in 2008. The hotels added to the list this time are Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Nature’s Village Resort, Eden Nature Park and Resort and Marco Polo Davao.

“Our recipients have doubled this year, proving the commitment of stakeholders to uphold responsible travel,” Tourism Planning and Promotions Undersecretary Eduardo Juarque Jr. expressed.

The ten recipients went through tight evaluations set by the ASEAN awarding body. The standards include; Environmental policy and actions for hotel operation, use of green products, collaboration with the community and local organizations, human resource development, solid waste management, energy efficiency, water efficiency, air quality management (indoor and outdoor), noise pollution control, wastewater treatment and management and toxic and chemical substance disposal.

“It’s a no brainer for us. Our business is based on the beauty of the environment. We have to enhance it, protect it and make sure it’s still there for our future and the future of the people,” says Mr. Etienne La’ Brooy, General Manager of the El Nido Resorts.

These establishments have made a conscious effort to adopt new technologies and refurnish their amenities to suit an environment-friendly lifestyle. Likewise, they also made it a point to inculcate into each of their personnel, from maintenance to the managerial level, the values behind green living.

By doing so, they give people a chance to apply these same measures in their own homes. Hopefully, by planting a seed of consciousness, the trend will spread into the community and result to a greater good. With this step towards a positive direction, the chances look brighter for future generations to be given an opportunity to share the natural beauty of our country.

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