In photo: A view of Nuwa Manila, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt Regency at City of Dreams (Courtesy of City of Dreams Manila)
City of Dreams Manila’s crown jewels and three Forbes-rated hotels – Nüwa Manila, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt Regency Manila – bagged the 2022 Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Green Hotel Award at the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Cambodia. An accolade ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards that started in 2008 under the auspices of the region’s national tourism organizations, the ASEAN Green Hotel Award recognizes hotel industry players whose operations are based on the achievement of sustainable tourism through environment-friendly principles, resource consumption reduction and local community involvement.
In acknowledging the ASEAN Tourism Awards bestowed on the hotels and other tourism stakeholders in the Philippines, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said that the recognition of the Philippine hotels and cities are a reflection of the industry’s commitment to maintain the highest standards of tourism despite the pandemic.
“It is an honor to our commitment to the highest standards of sustainable operations and CSR initiatives that our three hotels are recognized with this prestigious award. Practicing sustainable tourism even during these unprecedented times echoes the ‘Above and Beyond’ vision of our parent company, Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Melco) on our long-term and comprehensive sustainability strategy. We will continue to be a force of good not only within the Philippines and regional tourism industry but also for the planet and the people, as espoused by the ASEAN Tourism Awards,” City of Dreams Manila Property President Geoff Andres said.
The hotels, situated in City of Dreams Manila, undertake various environmental and CSR projects geared towards contributing to a more sustainable future and the upliftment of communities they serve. The luxury integrated resort’s numerous green initiatives are focused on renewable energy and other initiatives on energy efficiency, being the first integrated resort in the country to install solar panels. Water conservation projects including reuse of treated grey water, plastic waste reduction with the replacement of single-use plastic bottles in hotel rooms with reusable and refillable, convenient pump bottles, and sustainable sourcing in its supply chain, are among the many sustainable initiatives that contribute to its goal of being a carbon-neutral and zero waste resort by 2030. A strong spirit of volunteerism fuels the hotel staff along with other colleagues, in various CSR, environmental, health and education programs
Besides the ASEAN Green Hotel Award, other Philippine winners were presented the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award, ASEAN MICE Venue Award (Meeting Room), and ASEAN MICE Venue Award (Exhibition Hall) to recognize and honor outstanding ASEAN tourism businesses and destinations that comply with ASEAN Tourism Standards. Apart from the Philippines, the other ASEAN member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Recipients of the ASEAN Green Hotel Award are recognized for adherence to ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, a certification process that aims to meet a set of 11 criteria that promote sustainable tourism practices, which hotel businesses “should aspire to reach to protect and sustain ASEAN’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation”. The criteria consist of: environmental policy and action 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 & outdoor); noise pollution control; wastewater treatment and management; and toxic and chemical substance disposal management.
