As part of their effort to make a positive impact across the environmental, social and economic areas aspects of its business, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has made significant strides in sustainable best practices across its operating portfolio, setting an industry benchmark for hospitality excellence.

These include Green Key and ISO certifications, guest enrichment, employee training programmes and community engagement as part of its innovative Ascott Cares programme.

Ascott has augmented its operations through its innovative Ascott Cares, built on five core pillars: community, alliance, respect, environment, and supply chain, to eliminate 27% carbon emissions across its regional portfolio by Q4 2024, as part of the CapitaLand Sustainability Master Plan.

As the focus on sustainable hospitality increases, the lodging owner-operator has subsequently introduced community engagement, CSR events, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, sustainable training programmes for staff, and Green Key certifications, the international eco-label awarded to accommodations and other hospitality facilities that commit to sustainable business practices, across its regional properties.

Ascott’s managed properties in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain have also attained the ISO 14001 certification – the internationally recognised standard for efficient environmental management systems – and the ISO 45001 certification – the global benchmark for health and safety at the workplace.

The international lodging owner-operator aims to attain ISO certifications across its full operating portfolio in the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye (MEAT) by 2030. 

“At Ascott, we envision a future where every guest's journey is memorable and leaves a positive impact on our planet. Doing well and doing good has never been more important and our focus on sustainable practices across all our brands – from community engagement to operational excellence – reflects Ascott’s dedication to responsible travel.

“Through our ongoing efforts, we aim to inspire a collective shift towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious travel experience for all our guests,” said Vincent Miccolis, Managing Director for Middle East, Africa, India, and Turkiye.”

As part of the Ascott Cares programme, all properties in the MEAT region are equipped with advanced energy, water and waste monitoring systems.

These systems seamlessly integrate with the Greenview portal, which tracks each property’s conservation performance. This integration enables detailed comparisons against industry benchmarks, allowing each property to enhance its sustainable practices to meet or succeed in global standards.

The Group’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the core of operations. Ascott empowers its staff to volunteer in community CSR events, which benefits both the community and promotes environmental preservation.

Notably, the ‘Sustainability 101’ training programme addresses human rights and ethical recruitment, prioritising a respectful work environment and tackling global issues such as pollution and water conservation through education.

Furthermore, Ascott properties have also implemented refilling stations, resulting in a 25% recycling rate. The group also aims to fully eliminate single-use plastics and adopt cage-free eggs by 2026 and 2028 respectively.

Ascott also demonstrates a commitment to responsible travel through its Somerset brand and its Sustainability Passport Programme. The programme extends to educational initiatives for the next generation, reinforcing the ethos of collective sustainability efforts; delivering on responsible travel as a hospitality company, but also acknowledging the pivotal role that guests can play. – TradeArabia News Service