A Sustainable Tour Around the Globe
Summer is in full swing, so now is the ideal time to introduce you to sustainable tourism.
Sustainable travel, in its most basic form, refers to tourism that promotes a destination's natural and cultural heritage, as well as its economic viability.
According to Booking.com, as a result of the pandemic, people's awareness of their impact on the environment has increased and more than half of us want to travel in a more environmentally friendly manner in the future.
According to a landmark new report from the World Tourism Organisation and the International Transport Forum, tourism-related emissions will account for 5.3 percent of all man-made CO2 emissions by 2030, (up from 5 percent in 2016). So, it’s easy to see why sustainable tourism is gaining in popularity.
We’ve handpicked a selection of hotels, placing eco-tourism and sustainable travel at the forefront and reducing their carbon footprint, whether through energy-saving technologies, or eliminating single-use toiletries entirely.
Luxurious Sustainable Spaces
Although it’s difficult to enjoy a totally eco-friendly vacation, it’s worth opting for accommodation taking steps in the right direction.
Finolhu Villas in the Maldives is the world's first 100% solar-powered 5-star resort, bridging the gap between luxury and sustainability. Designed by the New York Based firm Yuji Yamazaki Architecture, you can stay in one of their eco-chic beach villas or an overwater villa.
While Finolhu Villas uses the sun to reduce carbon emissions, Pikaia Lodge in Ecuador uses lava stone, bamboo wood and fossil marbles. Pikaia Lodge's bathroom tiles are made from lava stone collected from local sites that have been approved by the National Park Service. Even their wall coverings are made of Peruvian Travertine and polished fossil marbles.
Setting similar standards is The Brando, situated in French Polynesia, an ultra-luxe, exclusive resort with a world-class reputation for its outstanding ecological credentials. In terms of energy consumption, The Brando truly is a cutting-edge example of sustainable luxury, sea water air conditioning uses the low temperatures of the sea bed to keep buildings cool. To conserve the teeming coral reefs that surround the atoll, no boats are permitted to approach Tetiaroa. Rather, guests arrive in The Brando’s private plane. Cinematic and completely private, it's no surprise that Barack Obama, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Barbara Streisand are frequent visitors.
The Little (Eco-Friendly) Details
It's easy to dismiss the small changes made by hotels, that can have a big impact on the environment. After all, we use small items like toothbrushes and shampoo on a daily basis, so why not make them as eco-friendly as possible? That is precisely what the Janeiro hotel, located in the heart of Brazil's seaside megacity, is doing. Step into the luxurious eco-space that transports you away from the city's hustle and bustle. Natural toiletries from the Brazilian beauty label Granado; brown glass lamps handcrafted in the south of Brazil from recycled glass bottles; and locally sourced décor and amenities such as organic cotton laundry bags, made by a community group of weavers.
Over in Europe, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Gardo is regarded as one of Italy’s foremost companies actively integrating business with sustainability. Lefay Resort handles every aspect of sustainable operations. Waste is recycled and guest educational materials like menus and notepaper are made from recycled, or environmentally friendly paper. The grounds are watered using rainwater and water discharged from swimming pools. Natural cotton fibre is used in the production of all textiles, including bed linen.
Another intriguing aspect of this hotel's construction is that, rather than being created as a single compact building, the resort has a number of discrete units that are fitted into the terraced slopes, to reduce energy and heat dispersion.
So where will your next sustainable stay be?