The organizers of the annual Hotel Investment
Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), are pleased to announce the winners for the
HICAP 2019 Sustainable Hotel Awards. The 30th annual HICAP will be held 23-25 October
2019 at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong.
The annual HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards are
designed to recognize hotels in the Asia Pacific region creating innovative new
methods, strategies and technologies to face today’s sustainable development
challenge, while providing tangible examples of sustainable best practices
that can be replicated and adapted across the region.
In the category of Building
Preservation/Adaptive Reuse, the winner is Tai O Heritage Hotel in
Hong Kong. Operated by HCF as a non-profit social enterprise, the Tai O
Heritage Hotel is an adaptive reuse project recognized by the UNESCO with an
Award of Merit. The conservation objective was to preserve the existing
building and safeguard it against further deterioration. The original elements
were restored, additions removed. The history of the place was researched
extensively by HCF with two years spent conducting interviews of officers
stationed at Tai O Police Station. An inclinator from the street to the ground
floor of the main building was installed avoiding excessive cutting of existing
mature trees and natural species. For the past seven years, the hotel has
offered free guided-tours every day for guests to better understand the
building construction, history, and preservation. The hotel strives to
collaborate with the Tai 0 villagers and preserve the local history and culture
with the participation and support of local events.
In the category of Climate Action, the
winner is Grand Park City Hall in Singapore. The Grand Park City Hall is
a 343-room hotel situated in the heart of Singapore. Its approach to climate
action encompasses a myriad of initiatives collectively addressing reductions
in carbon emissions across several facets of design, furnishing, operation, and
supply chain. In its recent renovation, meticulous analysis was undertaken to
maximize efficiency for equipment including an in-room smart energy saving
system via thermal sensors and other building automation. 70% of the building’s
existing structure was maintained, and 95% of the construction waste was
diverted from landfill. The hotel continued its efficiency efforts in other
areas such as installing ceiling fans, enabling guests to order smaller portions,
doing away with prepped buffet setup, removing single use disposable items,
procuring FSC-certified paper, and choosing more recyclable types of plastic
when non-plastic alternatives are not available. Solar panels were installed on
the roof to build awareness of this possibility in Singapore.
In the category of Positive Community Impact,
the winner is Eaton Hotel Hong Kong in Hong Kong. The 465-room Eaton
Hotel Hong Kong is positioned as a truly unique, purpose-driven hospitality
brand progressing social values across five pillars: Hotel, House, Media,
Wellness, and Impact. The hotel has made specific strides in social equity and
inclusivity, in particular the topics of LGBTQ+ and minority rights, becoming
the first IGLTA licensed hotel in Hong Kong. It has gender-neutral washrooms
and includes these groups’ artists in the 300+ cause-based events the hotel
hosts pro bono. As extensions, Eaton provides complimentary office space to a
humanitarian NGO, an artist in residency program, and an “activist in residency
program”. The overall concept provides more direct tie-ins to community and
social impact activities, including an open food court focused on local
vendors, supporting low-income local families through NGO partnerships,
commissioning work of local minority artists, serving as a Water-for-Free
source and Hong Kong’s first ever women’s festival geared toward diversity,
inclusion, and empowerment.
In the category of Sustainable Design,
the winner is Six Senses, Krabey Island in Cambodia. This resort with 40
luxury pool villas set on a 30-acre island in Southern Cambodia took a holistic
sustainable approach to design and development in a sensitive ecosystem. An EIA
was carried out early to guide the resort's construction. Views are maximized, while
natural daylight is filtered by the tree canopy. Digital controls balance guest
comfort with energy efficiency. Local and sustainable materials were used in
the construction, while Cambodian woven rattan and ceramics were used for the
interiors. The Kids Club pavilion uses leftover construction materials. A
3-stage wastewater treatment system processes all liquid waste and recycles
water for irrigation. Photovoltaic solar panels generate renewable energy. Air
conditioning units are equipped with heat recovery systems. An organic garden
located on the main land supplements local food production, while companion
plants for the canopy trees were chosen for fruit and herb production on the
island, supporting kitchen and spa operations.
Please visit the HICAP website for additional
information, www.HICAPconference.com.