Cover As travellers grow increasingly mindful of their environmental footprint, properties are challenging the assumption that luxury must come at the planet’s expense. Here, properties share how they are putting sustainability at its core (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
As travellers grow increasingly mindful of their environmental footprint, properties are challenging the assumption that luxury must come at the planet’s expense. Here, properties share how they are putting sustainability at its core (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
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As travellers grow increasingly mindful of their environmental footprint, properties are challenging the assumption that luxury must come at the planet’s expense
In the hospitality landscape, sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, evolving from a value-add to a core expectation. Travellers today have increasingly become more mindful and educated about sustainability, actively seeking brands that align with their values.
Properties around Southeast Asia have also seen the importance of putting sustainability at its forefront, implementing sustainable and eco-friendly practices to challenge the outdated belief that luxury and environmental responsibility are incompatible.
In Singapore, we see properties like Pan Pacific Orchard taking strides in elevating guest experiences through purposeful design and operations.
Step into the property and you’ll instantly be transported from the city’s urban bustle to a tranquil oasis inspired by nature. Thoughtfully divided into four distinct zones, forest, beach, garden and cloud, the 23-storey property is designed to interpret the natural environment. For example, walk along the Forest level and you’ll be greeted with dense greenery that’s not only visually appealing but also provides an escape from the heat and noise of the city.
This immersive connection to nature is more than an aesthetic choice. It reflects the property’s commitment to sustainable hospitality.
Read more: How these luxury resorts in Southern Thailand are building sustainability into guest experiences
Above Pan Pacific Orchard (Photo: Facebook / Pan Pacific Orchard)
Pan Pacific Orchard (Photo: Facebook / Pan Pacific Orchard)
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By integrating natural elements throughout the hotel, the property reduces its environmental footprint while creating a restorative atmosphere for guests. With nearly 12,000 sqm of landscaped foliage, the property has achieved a green replacement ratio of over 300 per cent. Building a hotel immersed in nature is just one of the many sustainable practices that have been implemented by the luxury property.
Pan Pacific Orchard’s general manager Jason Leung shares: “As the industry evolves and traveller expectations shift, we continue to see increasing demand for conscious stays—one that don’t compromise on luxury or distinctiveness.” The Singapore property has responded to this consumer shift with its concept of graceful luxury, blending purposeful design, restorative experiences and service excellence as a natural part of the holistic guest journey.
Above Lanson Place Causeway Bay (Photo: Facebook / Lanson Place Causeway Bay)
Lanson Place Causeway Bay (Photo: Facebook / Lanson Place Causeway Bay)
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Blending luxury with sustainability
Hong Kong’s Lanson Place Causeway Bay’s director of design and technical services Eugenia Lai shares how the property is proving that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand through adopting thoughtful, eco-conscious practices that enhance guest experiences. “We work closely with local artisans and suppliers to source sustainable materials that reflect the character of the community, while incorporating energy-efficient technologies to reduce our environmental footprint,” she continues.
This year, the Hong Kong property received the internationally recognised Green Key certification for its environmental practices. The first Lanson Place property to achieve this prestigious recognition, the Green Key certificate represents a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry.
Over the years, the property has taken steps to integrate sustainability into its operations. On top of visible efforts such as eliminating single-use plastics, the property has also tackled significant challenges, including minimising carbon footprint and reducing energy consumption. “While we are proud of the progress we’ve made, we recognise that this is just the beginning of a much larger journey,” she continues.
Above Grand Hyatt Singapore's water bottling plant (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
Grand Hyatt Singapore's water bottling plant (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
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Beyond the surface
Like Lanson Place Causeway Bay, other properties have also begun improving on operational sustainability. Grand Hyatt Singapore recognises that impactful sustainability requires more than surface-level changes. The Singapore property’s director of engineering Clyric Ng shares: “While symbolic efforts have their place, our focus has always been on transforming the foundational systems that shape our environmental footprint.”
The property recently underwent a transformation of its 53-year-old building, notably revamping the space but also upgrading it with a new sustainable infrastructure. Ng explains how the transformation reimagines the entire guest journey through a sustainability lens, from rooms powered by 100 per cent renewable energy to a fully automated WasteMaster system which transforms food waste into nutrient-rich fish feed, completing a closed-loop aquaponics cycle.
“Our approach ensures sustainability is not a trend, but a core operating principle integrated throughout the guest journey and back-of-house operations,” he adds.
Setting the benchmark
Along with city hotels, properties like Desa Potato Head are setting the benchmark for regenerative hospitality. Stretching beyond commitments to sustainability, regenerative hospitality puts the well-being of communities, ecosystems and cultures at its core.
Dubbed a creative village, Desa Potato Head has made consistent efforts to reduce environmental waste. From furniture crafted from recycled plastics to its zero-waste restaurants, the creative village puts regeneration at its core. This year, Desa Potato Head announced that it has achieved just 0.5 per cent landfill waste, a near-zero waste status, down from 2.5 per cent in 2024.
For Desa Potato Head, sustainability has been part of the blueprint from day one. Desa Potato Head’s chief operating officer Marco Franck shares how luxury lifestyle and social responsibility can go hand in hand. “We believe they can evolve together, respecting both our planet and guest needs,” he explains. From the property’s architecture to supply chains, its systems are built to reduce impact without compromising on the experience. He continues: “For us, sustainability is about being smart and efficient with our natural resources, working with local talent and materials, and thinking long term.”
Above Grand Hyatt Singapore (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
Grand Hyatt Singapore (Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore)
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Ensuring accountability
As properties implement these sustainability initiatives, they’re also aware of avoiding greenwashing. Lai highlights the importance of transparency and accountability, setting measurable goals, tracking progress and reporting on outcomes. On top of internal accountability, initiatives are also benchmarked against internationally recognised standards set by credible organisations.
For Pan Pacific Orchard, the property measures the success of its sustainability initiatives through rigorous data tracking and guest feedback. “Qualitative insights [by guests] are a powerful reminder that real impact goes beyond numbers—it’s about how we make our guests feel and the memorable experiences we create,” Leung says.
As for Desa Potato Head, Franck explains how the property has built its own systems for measuring impact. “We open those systems to our guests and community. Nothing’s hidden. We don’t pretend to be perfect, but we’re transparent about where we are and where we are going,” he shares.
With these initiatives and accountability checks in place, these properties continue to ensure its efforts remain forward-looking and relevant, positively contributing to the environment without compromising on comfort or quality.
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Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
