Eco-tourism is back, and this time it’s serious
Right around the world, hotels are going green. Chandeliers and plastic wrapping are out, while reusable bottles, recycled water and plenty of plant life are in.
Words by Ute Junker
Originally published in Traveller
Take Singapore’s scene-stealing Parkroyal on Pickering. It has no fewer than 15,000 square metres of hanging gardens spread across 16 storeys with its rooms accessed by open corridors. The hotel harvests rainwater and uses automatic sensors to regulate energy and water, has a plastic-free policy, and is designed to maximise natural light.
“We want to offer accommodation that is tranquil, that alleviates the stresses of travel,” explains Matthew Tan, vice-president, technical services with Singapore’s Pan Pacific Hotels Group, which operates the Parkroyal on Pickering.
“[But] we also want to speak to the hearts and minds of our guests, to engage with them about preserving and protecting the environment. It is the most energy-efficient hotel we have, and it is also one of our best-performing hotels in terms of occupancy.
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