If you want to book a “staycation” at a hotel, try staying at a sustainable hotel once in a while. This type of accommodation is different from hotels in general, because they are designed with an environmentally friendly concept, from the facilities to the services. And the emergence of sustainable hotels is based on trying to overcome the environmental problems that so often arise from the hotel industry.
According to the records of the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), hotels are one of the main drivers in creating jobs and developing the economy, especially in more remote areas, but at the same time hotels are also among the most wasteful of energy, with hotels and other types of accommodation being estimated to contribute 2% to 5% of the CO2 emissions produced by the global tourism sector.
Facilities & Services
Referring to the Guidebook and Guidelines for Implementing Green Hotels in Indonesia, published by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, there are several factors that guests should look for when staying at a sustainable hotel. For example, the hotel’s energy efficiency efforts; does the hotel have facilities that support energy savings like magnetic door locks that automatically regulate the use of electricity by turning off the power when the guest leaves the room and water taps with a timer system which is necessary to reduce water use.
Full of Natural Lighting and Air
From the building design, sustainable hotels maximize the use of natural light in the building's lighting system and using specific tools to utilize and incorporate natural light for lighting needs in strategic rooms. And most likely we will not experience air conditioning (AC) in every part of sustainable hotels. On the other hand, we will get natural breezes where the space allows.
Criteria
According to the Asean Sustainable Hotel Standard guidelines, there are 11 conditions that must be met to implement the sustainable hotel concept:
Clear environmental policies and practices in hotel operations.
Optimisation of the use of environmentally friendly products.
Collaboration with local communities and organizations
Human resource development for environmental management
Efficient and earth-friendly waste management
Maximization of energy efficiency
Pursuit of water efficiency and water quality
Air quality management (indoor and outdoor)
Noise pollution control
Wastewater processing and management
Management of disposal of toxic and chemical materials.
The green hotel concept is directly in line with people's increasing concern for the environment. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, where understanding regarding sustainable tourism is started to grow.
In a survey of 29,000 travellers from 30 countries in the 2020 Sustainable Travel Report (Booking.com), 61% of travellers stated that the pandemic had made them want to practice environmentally friendly holidays.
Recommended Sustainable Hotels in Indonesia
In Indonesia there are a number of hotels that have achieved green hotel status, aka environmentally friendly. These hotels can also be an option for those of us who want to have a staycation, as quoted from the Indonesia.Travel page:
1. Apurva Kempinski Bali
Becoming the 1st hotel in Indonesia who qualified and received the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification, the Apurva Kempinski Bali is committed to adopt sustainability into its foundation and operation. The Apurva Kempinski continued to pursue sustainability by encompassing all aspects of ESG through their extensive programs, such as replacing single-use plastic with biodegradable products, initiating the Linen for Life and Soap for Life program, creating a hydroponic garden in the rooftop, adding sustainable wedding and sustainable agriculture into the operation, and partnering with a local foundation to do mangrove planting programme.
2. Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta
This hotel was recorded as having won the Asean Green Hotel Standard Award in 2018, so there is no need to doubt its implementation of environmentally friendly principles. This five-star hotel has a beautiful atmosphere, with golf course facilities and gardens covering an area of 22 hectares. One thing that makes it interesting is that this hotel has Mount Merapi as a backdrop.
3. Soori, Bali
There are two views offered by this resort. First, the view of the rice fields. Second, the view of Kelanting Beach. These two things are certainly the main attraction for this hotel which is located in the southwest of the island of Bali.
4. Greenhost Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta
In line with its name which carries green, this hotel also carries a development concept that prioritizes environmental sustainability. This can be seen from the various hydroponic plants that are designed vertically. As far as the eye can see guests are presented with hanging plants.
5. Alila Villa Uluwatu, Bali
When you want to have an ecotourism style staycation in Bali, this hotel needs to be on your list. Alila Villas Uluwatu is the first Indonesian resort to receive a certificate from Green Globe in the Environmentally Sustainable Design category.
This award was obtained because this inn implements Alila Zero Waste to Landfill, namely the concept of waste management so as not to damage the environment around the hotel. Not only that, this resort also maximizes natural lighting and ventilation for energy efficiency.
6. Kila Senggigi Beach, Lombok
We shift to Lombok where there is Kila Senggigi Beach. This hotel was nominated for the Green Hotel Award in 2017 from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. Unlike hotels in general which have multi-storey buildings, this hotel is only in the form of bungalows. Even so, the advantage of this hotel is the views it offers in the form of gardens and the open sea.
7. Alila Solo, Central Java
One of the unique features of this hotel is the roof filled with plants (green roof). In terms of design, this hotel carries a minimalist modern design, as well as the use of energy-saving electronic facilities.
8. Mercure Resort Sanur, Bali
Because it applies an environmentally friendly concept, when we are at this hotel we will often find green open spaces. Another unique thing is that the roof of this resort is made from AlangAlang Grass which makes the space inside cooler by day and warmer at night.
9. Nihi Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara
This luxury resort is located on 530 hectares of land, containing only 33 villas. When staying there we will feel the natural atmosphere. This cannot be separated from the fact that this resort was built on a cliff, with one three-bedroom villa in the shape of a tree house. The resort also supports the development of local people in the hotel industry through the Nihi Foundation.
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