HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine
Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has received the 2022 Resort Investment decision Convention Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Resort Award for Weather Motion.
In addition to local weather action, there have been awards for developing preservation/adaptive reuse, good local community effects, and sustainable style and design. Submissions have been assessed by seven judges, the vast majority from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Group, the organiser of the HICAP event, introduced the winners on 12 Oct 2022.
The judges based mostly the weather motion decision on Cardamom Tented Camp’s capacity to get the job done with companions to protect 180 square kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor nationwide park in southwest Cambodia. On climate action, it is believed that the forest that the camp can help shield sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per calendar year, according to Wildlife Performs.
Since opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Keep Keeps the Forest Standing.” It makes the claim because gains from the camp support the regular salaries of ten Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers shield 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 improving thanks to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have forced poachers to the perimeters or out of the park completely.
“Despite setbacks for the duration of the two Covid a long time when tourism profits drastically 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 keeping ability and capability to do the job with associates to keep the forest standing, with all the rewards that carry.”
HICAP judges also viewed as the camp’s significant contribution to UN Sustainable Improvement Aims, these as life on land, thoroughly clean and affordable electricity, respectable work, financial expansion, local climate action, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Minor Lodge Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Basis, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.
Beyond sequestering an approximated 108,652 tons of CO2 annually, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s extra environmental efforts, which include getting powered by 100 p.c onsite solar electricity for its electricity, minimal-impression heating and cooking, and normal wastewater filtration procedures. The home recycles as significantly as achievable and utilizes 100 % natural private treatment products and solutions. Long term programs include things like:
- Powering its boat with an electric battery.
- Increasing community and onsite food sourcing.
- Enterprise group-based mostly conservation.
Aside from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental attempts, it also scores nicely on hospitality and all-spherical visitor practical experience metrics. The camp’s visitor pleasure levels are rated 5 stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for three decades.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will near in 2022 with about 80 per cent of 2019’s occupancy and will return to rewarding amounts in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will raise the forest rangers’ contributions.
