September, 2008 – Horwath HTL (Asia Pacific), in conjunction with destination design firm WATG, have drafted a set of base level sustainable hotel development guidelines to be included in all hotel project feasibility studies produced by Horwath. In addition, all studies will reference and attach a document entitled “Going Green, Minimum Standards Towards a Sustainable Hotel” prepared by the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) which focuses on planning and implementing sustainable measures for hotel operations.
The “Sustainable Hotel Development” report section evolved from a growing concern for sustainable tourism and development. It was created as a means of increasing awareness and interest of stakeholders for prioritizing and undertaking development that minimizes environmental impacts. The guidelines provide recommendations encouraging developers to create and operate a sustainable hotel through a variety of implementable measures in the planning stages of development. This includes site evaluation, architectural and interior design, energy and water conservation, waste management, procurement and guest participation. Through this initiative, the Horwath HTL, WATG, ITP partnership hopes to better educate and steer hotel owners, operators and developers in a more environmentally-conscious direction.
About Horwath HTL
Horwath HTL is the world’s largest hotel industry specialized consulting organization, currently with 50 offices in 30 countries. Since the set-up of Asia Pacific operations in 1987, the company has been involved with over 2,000 projects throughout the region in all phases of the property lifecycle for clients ranging from individually owned businesses to the world’s most prominent hotel companies, developers, lenders, investors and industrial corporations. Horwath HTL currently operates out of regional offices in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Sydney, Auckland and Honolulu.
About WATG
WATG specializes in hospitality, leisure and entertainment design from its offices in Irvine, Honolulu, Orlando, Seattle, Singapore and London. The firm is best known for such internationally-acclaimed projects as Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas; Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea; Hotel Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Walt Disney World Resort; and The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. WATG has been ranked the number one hospitality design firm in the world, according to surveys by Hotel Design and Hotel & Motel Management magazines. Hospitality Design magazine’s recent survey of architecture and interior design firms ranked WATG’s corporate culture among the top in the country: best career advancement, best firm philosophy, best client list, best list of projects, and most innovative. Since its founding in 1945, WATG has designed destinations in 157 countries from its offices in worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.watg.com.
About International Tourism Partnership
The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1992 to inspire global leaders in the travel and tourism industry on a non-competitive platform, to share knowledge and resources, develop policy and actively implement programmes and initiatives that have a positive impact on social, economic and environmental issues. ITP assists the industry to make a valuable contribution to this countries and cultures in which they operate, to their customers, their shareholders and future generations.