PHOTOGRAPHS: SAL SALIS AUSTRALIA, THE GREEN HOUSE ENGLAND, PARKROYAL ON PICKERING SINGAPORE, MAS SALAGROS ECORESORT & AIRE ANCIENT BATH SPAIN
WHAT IS THE OUTSTANDING GREEN
FACTOR? It has been quite a journey since its
opening but the boutique hotel prides itself in
what they believe in – sustainable tourism. The
Green Hotel operates on five core principles.
Firstly, locally sourced products should always
be chosen; be it for energy, transportation or
food, supporting local business is important.
Secondly, recycling should come naturally and
by observing the 4Rs, it will minimise energy
consumption, waste and landfill. Thirdly,
consider the life cycle of everything that comes
into the hotel and the adverse impact on theWHAT IS THE OUTSTANDING GREEN
FACTOR? Located in Chinatown at the gateway
of bustling Singapore’s Central Business District,
PARKROYAL on Pickering adopts a hotel-in-a-
garden concept and incorporates energy-saving
features throughout the property. Other
environmentally sustainable features include
rainwater harvesting and usage of NEWater,
automatic sensors to regulate energy and water
usage (30% energy savings) and solar cells for
powering landscape lighting. Lush foliage is also
a prominent feature throughout the hotel with
impressive sky gardens, green walls, waterfalls
and a wide variety of plants adding to the
biodiversity. PARKROYAL on Pickering also puts
their values into practicing philanthropy through
charitable missions, volunteer work and
donation drives. Their dedication to the
environment earned them ‘Asia’s Leading Green
Hotel’ at the World Travel Awards 2015.STYLE BONUS? Beautifully designed with
nature-inspired finishes and flushed with natural
light, each of the 367 appointed rooms and
suites within the 4-star establishment comes
with an unobstructed view of Chinatown and
Hong Lim Park. Abundant sunlight, lush
greenery and earthy tones provide travellers a
welcomed sanctuary away from home. On the
fifth floor, guests can also indulge in a relaxing
dip in the outdoor infinity pool, and then lie back- PARKROYAL
ON PICKERING
Singapore- THE GREEN
HOUSE
EnglandWHAT IS THE OUTSTANDING GREEN
FACTOR? Sal Salis is a remote, beachside safari
camp nestled in the dunes of Western Australia’s
Cape Range National Park on the shores of
Ningaloo Reef. This is one of Australia’s
best-kept secrets with only 16 eco-luxe
wilderness tents available on site. The size of the
camp allows minimal damage to the
environment as the rooms and main lodge
facility are constructed above ground level to
protect the indigenous fauna and flora.
Boardwalks also help prevent unnecessary soil
erosion and guests can only use designated
footpaths while walking round. Different
coloured tents help the camp blend into the
natural surroundings. Almost 100% of the
camp’s power is generated by the sun through
an array of solar panels to ensure a
predominately clean source of energy and
preservation of the quiet environment.STYLE BONUS? Sal Salis is a fine example of the
recent ‘glamping’ trend, which is defined as
glamorous camping. This is also part of
experiential travel, where travellers are able to
head off the beaten path and immerse in an
authentic local environment. Here, visitors will
wake up to the song of birds and catch glimpses
of kangaroos grazing among the dunes. There
may also be a spectacle of breaching whales as
one tucks into breakfast. Alternatively, visitors
can enjoy a morning swim in Ningaloo’s crystal
clear waters and discover marine wildlife up
close. The spacious, airy tents are an oasis of
comfort that allows travellers to take in the
sights and sounds of the natural surroundings
with the comforts of modern amenities.RATE: US$577++ per nightsalsalis.com.au2. SAL SALIS
AustraliaWHAT IS THE OUTSTANDING GREEN
FACTOR? It is not often you find a hotel that
proudly proclaims that they are 100% organic,
but Mas Salagros Ecoresort & Aire Ancient Bath
boasts such a feat with their high standards of
sustainability and eco-conscious projects. One
such example is the bioclimatic architecture;
they use“green roofs” with plants grown on it to
help save energy as it reduces the ambient
temperature and acts as a natural insulation. It
also stimulates biodiversity in the environment
and is especially beneficial to insects and other
animal life. The other dominant factor is the use
of locally sourced biofuels to provide heat. A
biomass boiler is fed wood chips from the
sustainable management of Catalonia’s woods,
and generates all the energy required for heating
and domestic hot water use. This ensures a
significant reduction in carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gass emissions compared to
traditional fuels.STYLE BONUS? This quaint hotel has 54 rooms
of different types, all fully equipped and
decorated with 100% natural and ecological
materials including wood, natural latex pillows,
organic cotton towels and bed linen. Don’t
forget to drop by Aire de Vallromanes – a
thermal bath inspired by ones used by the
Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Ottoman Turks.
Enveloped in true elegant décor and
accompanied by flickering candlelight, you will
feel your body begin to unwind as the beneficial
effects from the steam bath, or Hammam, start
to work on your physical and mental well-being.
There are also several outstanding leisure,
sporting and cultural activities available at the
resort for endless delight.RATE: US$141++ per nightmassalagros.com/en/ecoresort- MAS
SALAGROS
ECORESORT &
AIRE ANCIENT
BATH
Spainin the comfort of a cabana to take in the
spectacular lush landscaping and city views of
Singapore. Last but not least, wind down at St.
Gregory, an award-winning spa located on a
dedicated wellness floor.RATE: US$239++ per nightParkroyalhotels.com/Pickeringenvironment. Fourthly, insist on high welfare
standards, even for organisations that the resort
deals with. Lastly, be transparent to all staff and
customers to build a high level of trust.STYLE BONUS? This beautiful boutique hotel is
home to 32 bedrooms, complete with
contemporary décor, tactile fabrics and quality
natural materials that complement the bright
and airy period rooms. Each stunning bedroom
comes with an en suite bathroom outfitted with
natural stone basins, walk-in showers and luxury
toiletries. Organic goose-down duvets encased
in crisp organic bed linen promise a good night’s
rest. Look forward to the lovely welcome of
freshly baked homemade biscuits to pair with a
cup of afternoon tea or coffee. Relish in
imaginative seasonal cooking in Arbor, a two-AA
Rosette restaurant and winner of a Gold in the
Dorset Tourism Awards 2014 and 2015
(arbor-restaurant.co.uk).RATE: US$183++ per nightthegreenhousehotel.co.uk