HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine

Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has received the 2022 Hotel Financial commitment Meeting Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Hotel Award for Local weather Motion.

In addition to weather motion, there have been awards for developing preservation/adaptive reuse, constructive local community effect, and sustainable structure. Submissions were assessed by 7 judges, the bulk from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Group, the organiser of the HICAP function, announced the winners on 12 October 2022.

The judges primarily based the local weather action determination on Cardamom Tented Camp’s capability to perform with associates to protect 180 square kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor national park in southwest Cambodia. On weather motion, it is estimated that the forest that the camp aids defend sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon for every year, in accordance to Wildlife Operates.

Due to the fact opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Keep Keeps the Forest Standing.” It would make the declare because earnings from the camp assist the month-to-month salaries of 10 Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers safeguard the habitat from unlawful poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.

Populations of elephant, leopard, python, solar bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are bettering owing to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have compelled poachers to the perimeters or out of the park altogether.

“Despite setbacks during the two Covid years when tourism earnings greatly disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” claimed Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our staying power and capacity to perform with companions to retain the forest standing, with all the advantages that bring.”

HICAP judges also thought of the camp’s significant contribution to UN Sustainable Growth Plans, these types of as daily life on land, clean and economical energy, first rate work, financial advancement, weather motion, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Minimal Hotel Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.

Beyond sequestering an approximated 108,652 tons of CO2 each year, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s extra environmental attempts, together with being driven by 100 per cent onsite photo voltaic electrical power for its electrical power, very low-effect heating and cooking, and natural wastewater filtration procedures. The assets recycles as much as attainable and takes advantage of 100 p.c organic and natural private treatment products and solutions. Potential ideas include things like:

• Powering its boat with an electrical battery.
• Escalating community and onsite foods sourcing.
• Undertaking local community-centered conservation.

Aside from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental initiatives, it also scores very well on hospitality and all-spherical guest expertise metrics. The camp’s guest gratification stages are rated five stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for a few a long time.

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