HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine
Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has gained the 2022 Resort Investment decision Meeting Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Resort Award for Weather Motion.
In addition to local weather action, there were awards for developing preservation/adaptive reuse, positive community impact, and sustainable layout. Submissions were being assessed by 7 judges, the greater part from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Team, the organiser of the HICAP event, announced the winners on 12 October 2022.
The judges based the local weather motion final decision on Cardamom Tented Camp’s ability to function with associates to preserve 180 sq. kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor nationwide park in southwest Cambodia. On local weather action, it is approximated that the forest that the camp will help secure sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per year, according to Wildlife Is effective.
Considering the fact that opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Stay Retains the Forest Standing.” It makes the claim simply because earnings from the camp assist the month to month salaries of 10 Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers shield the habitat from illegal poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.
Populations of elephant, leopard, python, solar bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are bettering due to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have compelled poachers to the perimeters or out of the park completely.
“Despite setbacks in the course of the two Covid decades when tourism cash flow tremendously disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our keeping energy and potential to work with companions to maintain the forest standing, with all the advantages that provide.”
HICAP judges also viewed as the camp’s considerable contribution to UN Sustainable Advancement Plans, this kind of as lifetime on land, thoroughly clean and very affordable strength, good get the job done, financial advancement, climate motion, 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.
Past sequestering an believed 108,652 tons of CO2 every year, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s more environmental initiatives, together with becoming driven by 100 % onsite photo voltaic electrical power for its electric power, very low-impression heating and cooking, and all-natural wastewater filtration processes. The property recycles as a great deal as achievable and utilizes 100 per cent organic and natural personalized care merchandise. Potential ideas consist of:
- Powering its boat with an electric powered battery.
- Raising nearby and onsite foods sourcing.
- Enterprise group-dependent conservation.
Apart from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental efforts, it also scores properly on hospitality and all-spherical guest knowledge metrics. The camp’s guest satisfaction stages are rated 5 stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for a few decades.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will shut in 2022 with about 80 p.c of 2019’s occupancy and will return to profitable ranges in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will raise the forest rangers’ contributions.
