Environmental Leader

Luxury hotels in China and India are ramping up their “green” efforts by pursuing green international standards or the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The hospitality industry in India was partially driven by the government’s stepped-up sustainable initiatives with certification mandates over the past year.

As an example in China, the new Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel, in Dezhou, Shandong province, is touted as the world’s first environmentally-friendly theme park-style hotel, reports China Hospitality News. The hotel is built to international five-star standards and green five-star standards, and includes a range of solar technologies, according to the article.

The Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel uses thermal collectors to heat water and maintain heating and cooling systems, along with integrated photovoltaics to generate power and conserve energy, and solar cells on the roof of the lobby to light the hotel at night, according to China Hospitality News.

In India, I.T.C. Limited’s new luxury hotel in Bengaluru was awarded the USGBC’s LEED platinum rating, making it the first hotel in India to achieve the highest rating for green buildings, reports Eco Seed.

The Royal Gardenia hotel uses a host of green technologies that deliver energy efficiency, zero solid waste management and natural lighting, reports Eco Seed. It also uses wind to cool its main lobby and recycled water for its gardens, according to the article.

The UKM Group along with Concept Hospitality Private Ltd. has opened its first environmentally-friendly five-star hotel in Jaipur, India, reports Hospitality Biz India.

By participating in the Ecotel Certification Program, The Fern-An Ecotel Hotel expects to achieve a number of benefits including a decrease in operating expenses, higher employee morale, improved inter- and intra-community relationships and higher occupancy, according to the article.