HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action Winner – Hotel Magazine

Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has received the 2022 Resort Investment decision Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Resort Award for Weather Motion.

In addition to weather motion, there ended up awards for setting up preservation/adaptive reuse, optimistic local community effects, and sustainable layout. Submissions have been assessed by seven judges, the the greater part from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Group, the organiser of the HICAP occasion, announced the winners on 12 October 2022.

The judges dependent the climate action choice on Cardamom Tented Camp’s potential to function with associates to maintain 180 sq. kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor national park in southwest Cambodia. On climate action, it is approximated that the forest that the camp assists shield sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon for each yr, in accordance to Wildlife Is effective.

Since opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Stay Retains the Forest Standing.” It makes the declare for the reason that revenue from the camp assistance the regular salaries of ten Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers defend 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 improving upon because of to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have compelled poachers to the perimeters or out of the park entirely.

“Despite setbacks through the two Covid many years when tourism cash flow 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 remaining energy and skill to get the job done with associates to hold the forest standing, with all the rewards that convey.”

HICAP judges also regarded the camp’s sizeable contribution to UN Sustainable Development Ambitions, these as lifestyle on land, thoroughly clean and reasonably priced vitality, respectable function, economic expansion, weather action, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Small Lodge Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.

Beyond sequestering an estimated 108,652 tons of CO2 per year, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s added environmental initiatives, including currently being driven by 100 % onsite solar vitality for its electricity, small-impression heating and cooking, and pure wastewater filtration processes. The house recycles as a lot as achievable and employs 100 % natural particular treatment goods. Long term options include:

• Powering its boat with an electric battery.
• Growing nearby and onsite food items sourcing.
• Enterprise neighborhood-based conservation.

Aside from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental initiatives, it also scores nicely on hospitality and all-spherical guest experience metrics. The camp’s visitor pleasure degrees are rated five stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for 3 many years.

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