Projects in China, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka Win HICAP 2016 Sustainable Hotel Awards

Burba Hotel Network, Horwath HTL and Stiles Capital Events, co-hosts and organizers of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), have announced the winners of the HICAP 2016 Sustainable Hotel Awards.

The 27th annual HICAP will be held 19-21 October 2016 at the InterContinental Hong Kong.

Sustainable Project Design: The Temple House in Chengdu, China

In the category of Sustainable Project Design, the winner is The Temple House in Chengdu, China.

The Temple House is the result of the potent combination when a creative architectural firm and an enlightened client combine sensitivity, social responsibility and an understanding of place making in the urban context, to a design problem.

The Temple House is a fine example of what is achievable on a tight culturally sensitive urban site. The ground floor, of what is increasingly becoming a secure zone, is turned into a selfless open public thoroughfare, linking to, and thus influencing, its surrounds.

By seamlessly combining the ground level public and private realms at a strategic corner to the adjacent Chengdu Daci Temple Cultural and Commercial Complex, the hotel has expanded the historic center while becoming an integral part of it. The retention of the existing historic buildings has blurred the boundaries between the hotel and its surroundings, ensuring these buildings breathe a new life for a new generation to enjoy.

Sustainable Communities: Nikoi Island in Riau Province, Indonesia

In the category of Sustainable Communities, the winner is the Nikoi Island in Riau Province, Indonesia.

Besides sourcing nearly all construction materials, labor (including 150 current staff) and operating supplies locally, the Nikoi's most enduring and significant community impact stems from the creation of The Island Foundation.

From an initial focus on establishing a network of learning centers for local children, the centers have expanded into programs for adults including health education, sanitation and arts and crafts.

The Foundation also provides training workshops for teachers that are recognized by the Ministry of Education and lead to obtaining higher salaries.

Additional initiatives include helping villagers sell and market arts and crafts, organizing a children's sports program and assisting an indigenous Orang Laut (sea nomads) village improve education access and open a dialogue with the government to address issues faced by this marginalized community.

Over 500 children have registered at the six learning centers established to-date, while an estimated 8,000 villagers have benefited directly from Foundation funded programs.

Sustainable Operations: ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, India and Jetwing Yala in Yala, Sri Lanka

In the category of Sustainable Operations, the winners are ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, India and Jetwing Yala in Yala, Sri Lanka.

ITC Grand Chola is a 600-key hotel with more than 1.6 million square feet of built area, one of the largest in the Indian subcontinent and the world's largest LEED Platinum-rated hotel.

Since opening in 2012, energy consumption and waste generation has been reduced annually via installation of all LED lighting, a condensate recovery system, an additional wind turbine, solar heating panels, and a heat pump to reduce diesel use.

66% of the property's energy is now sourced from renewables, 99% of waste is reused or recycled, and 100% of irrigation, flushing, and cooling tower water needs are met through treated effluent.

The roof has a combination green roof and reflective paints, while innovative HVAC technology has yielded 20% efficiency improvement.

Additional measures include a digital valet system for customized and efficient climate controls, onsite food waste composting and wastewater treatment, and use of native or low maintenance vegetation in landscaping.

Set on the outskirts of the Yala National Park, Jetwing Yala was a landmark opening in 2014, changing the face of the deep south of Sri Lanka.

One of the country's largest privately owned solar installations of 300 kilowatts meets 40% of the hotel's daily electricity needs. The plant supplies excess energy at peak back to the national grid, helping to cushion grid fluctuations experienced by local residents.

Its heating and cooling is operated by a vapour absorption chiller, run sustainably via steam generated from a biomass boiler using sustainable cinnamon wood procured locally. Hot water is provided entirely through renewable energy, and lighting is 100% LED.

The renewable energy applications and efficient operations reduce CO2 by about 60% compared to if comparable conventional technologies were used. All wastewater is collected, treated, and reused onsite. All waste generated at the hotel is separated at source and quantified prior to disposal.

The Sustainable Hotel Awards were launched at HICAP in 2007 to recognize hotels in the Asia Pacific region demonstrating exemplary sustainable best practices.

The institution of the Awards hopes to inspire industry wide commitment to embracing and proliferating sustainable development and operations as standard practice in contribution to the preservation of our global and local environments and cultures.

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