HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine

Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has gained the 2022 Hotel Investment Meeting Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Resort Award for Climate Action.

In addition to local weather motion, there had been awards for constructing preservation/adaptive reuse, optimistic group affect, and sustainable structure. Submissions were being assessed by 7 judges, the greater part from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Group, the organiser of the HICAP celebration, introduced the winners on 12 Oct 2022.

The judges based the weather action determination on Cardamom Tented Camp’s capability to perform with associates to maintain 180 sq. kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor nationwide park in southwest Cambodia. On climate motion, it is approximated that the forest that the camp will help guard sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon for each yr, in accordance to Wildlife Performs.

Considering the fact that opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Continue to be Retains the Forest Standing.” It will make the assert simply because revenue from the camp guidance the regular monthly salaries of ten Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers safeguard the habitat from unlawful poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.

Populations of elephant, leopard, python, sun bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are improving upon owing to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have pressured poachers to the perimeters or out of the park entirely.

“Despite setbacks throughout the two Covid many years when tourism cash flow enormously disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” reported Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our being ability and capacity to get the job done with companions to keep the forest standing, with all the gains that bring.”

HICAP judges also regarded as the camp’s significant contribution to UN Sustainable Advancement Ambitions, this kind of as daily life on land, cleanse and economical energy, first rate work, financial advancement, climate action, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Insignificant Lodge Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Basis, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.

Further than sequestering an approximated 108,652 tons of CO2 yearly, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s more environmental endeavours, like staying driven by 100 percent onsite photo voltaic vitality for its electric power, lower-influence heating and cooking, and purely natural wastewater filtration processes. The house recycles as substantially as doable and makes use of 100 per cent natural particular treatment products. Future designs include things like:

• Powering its boat with an electric battery.
• Growing community and onsite meals sourcing.
• Endeavor community-primarily based conservation.

Apart from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental attempts, it also scores perfectly on hospitality and all-round guest knowledge metrics. The camp’s guest fulfillment amounts are rated five stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for a few many years.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will close in 2022 with about 80 percent of 2019’s occupancy and will return to profitable ranges in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will increase the forest rangers’ contributions.