Five more sustainable stays

By Jenny Southan

February 1, 2023

From bio digesters in the kitchens to beehives on the rooftops, these properties are finding new ways to make luxury stays more sustainable.

Going solar

Thanks to its desert location, Mandarin Oriental, Doha gets more than 3,400 hours of sun per year. That means it’s perfectly placed to generate its own electricity, via 49 photovoltaic panels installed on the roof. Every year, they can create 16,560kWh of power, while 29 solar thermal panels heat 80 per cent of the hot water supplied to the guest rooms. Mindful of water consumption in such a dry climate, the hotel also harvests 351 cubic metres of rainwater from its rooftop every year, as well as 3,780 cubic metres of water from condensation created by the air-conditioning system.

Cleaning up the coast

In the Caribbean archipelago of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan is set on an island idyll, whose secluded white sand beaches shelve into turquoise shallows. To keep them pristine, the hotel organises quarterly clean-ups, picking up plastic and other washed-up debris. It mobilises its own team of litter-pickers to keep locations such as Grand Bay Beach, South Glossy Bay and Windward Bay rubbish-free – which means hatching turtles can scramble to the ocean without getting tangled in trash.

A smarter approach to water

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is an eco all-rounder, with a Green Key Award and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its construction. Perhaps most impressive, though, is its approach to water. A biological treatment system takes wastewater from the hotel and processes it for use in the gardens, while sea water is desalinated using reverse osmosis. This produces 2,800 tonnes of clean water a day, supplying guest rooms, public areas, residential apartments and villas, and all of the resort’s pools.

Eliminating leftovers

Sending food to landfill releases methane and carbon dioxide, so Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is taking a two-pronged approach to reducing this kind of waste. First, it has installed a bio-digester, to break down organic kitchen matter using microbes and enzymes. Second, it donates surplus cooked food to Food Bank Singapore and Food from the Heart, a charity that distributes meals to the community.

Giving bees a boost

In a bid to boost Florida’s bee populations, Mandarin Oriental, Miami has set up hives on the roof of the hotel, providing homes for 200,000 buzzing bees. As well as supporting seven colonies of bees, which are vital to Earth’s ecosystem, another benefit is the endless supply of honey. Don’t be surprised if it pops up on the breakfast or dessert menu, or possibly even in a body scrub in the spa. Mandarin Oriental, Paris also has beehives on its roof, which are managed by head beekeeper Audric de Campeau.

All offers and experiences available at time of publication. Please contact the relevant hotel team for more information.

About the Author

Jenny Southan

Jenny Southan is a travel trend forecaster and journalist who writes for The Telegraph, Condé Nast Traveller and Mr Porter.