Kiwi collection goes green

Luxury hotels group launches eco-friendly collection

Kiwi Collection – the world’s largest curated collection of luxury hotels – has unveiled their list of the world’s most eco-friendly luxury hotels and resorts, highlighting luxury properties from around the globe which demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable operations, conservation and preservation, both on-site and in their communities.

Together with the help of eco-expert, author and award-winning architect, Hitesh Mehta, Kiwi Collection has handpicked a selection of hotels and resorts that are forerunners in the eco-luxury sector worldwide. The selection currently features 20 properties, and Kiwi Collection hopes to see the list expand as hoteliers respond to the demand by travellers for environmentally friendly and sustainable travel worldwide.

"Most hotels today partake in some sort of environmentally friendly initiatives, said Jean Marie Healy, Chief Marketing Officer of Kiwi Collection, "but we want to applaud those who go above and beyond and this list is exactly that."  The selection is the result of extensive research undertaken by Kiwi Collection to identify those properties showing the most innovation in important areas such as alternative energy sources, including extracting biodiesel from coconuts and utilising hot water from natural springs, re-forestation and plantation programmes, reverse-osmosis irrigation systems, marine ecology, and sustainable initiatives to bolster local communities.  "We hope to continually add to this list, but as with all hotels in Kiwi Collection, if a property should fall below our set of standards, its eco-friendly status will be rescinded," said Healy.

Hitesh Mehta, newly appointed as Kiwi Collection’s Sustainable Tourism Advisor, commented: "Eco-friendly is the word on everyone’s lips, as we look to a future in tourism which is increasingly tipped towards environmentally and socially friendly travel. By acknowledging and promoting the sustainable efforts of these properties making headway in the sustainable tourism sector, Kiwi Collection hopes to educate and steer consumers towards making a conscious choice in the way they travel. We hope to see this evolution continue, as more luxury developers and operators recognize the long term economic savings and benefits of going green."

Following is the complete list of Kiwi Collection’s Eco Friendly hotels, alphabetised by region.  For more information on Kiwi Collection, their selection process, and Hitesh Mehta, please visit http://www.kiwicollection.com/luxury/eco.

The Americas

• The Breakers, Florida, USA
• Cavallo Point, California, USA
• Hotel Punta Islita, Costa Rica
• Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico
• Lapa Rios, Costa Rica
• Post Ranch Inn, California, USA  
• Wickaninnish Inn, Canada

Europe Middle East and Africa

• Adrere Amellal, Egypt
• Lake Manyara, Tanzania
• One Aldwych, London
• The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
• The Savoy, London

Asia/Pacific

• Banyan Tree Bintan, Singapore
• Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Thailand
• Gayana Ecoresort, Malaysia
• Nihiwatu, Indonesia
• Soneva Gili, Maldives
• Six Senses Nin Vanh Bay, Vietnam
• Soneva Kiri, Thailand
• Wolgan Valley, Australia

 More info at: http://www.kiwicollection.com/luxury/eco

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