SE Asian hotels going green

Driven by continuing unrest in the Middle East and by the rising price of crude oil, three major hotels in south-east Asia have set their sights on an eco-friendly future.

In Cambodia, the newly opened Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra has adopted ‘green’ initiatives which will see the hotel turn 80 per cent of its garbage into bio gas, as well as recycle its wastewater."You can't open a hotel in 2011 without significant investment in green technologies,” Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra general manager Didier Lamoot said.

"No one can afford to have soot all over their footprints."In Vietnam, the installation of a wastewater treatment facility at the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City will see the property recycle 40 per cent of its water each month.

As well as switching to eco-friendly light bulbs and more efficient air conditioning, the hotel has plans in place for a high efficiency heat pump."At the Caravelle, we want to put our money where our mouth is,” Caravelle general manager John Gardner said.

“Nothing could be more important than the future of our planet, which is why our commitment to environmental best practices is non-negotiable."This sentiment is echoed by Sheraton Nha Trang general manager Scott Hodgetts, whose hotel uses solar power to run its hot water system and participated in Earth Hour 2010.

"In Nha Trang we have one of the most beautiful settings in Asia," Mr Hodgetts said.
"We only have to look out of our window to see the importance of preserving the planet for the enjoyment of future generations."

Source = etravelblackboardasia