Strides towards sustainability at Anantara and Avani Hotels & Resorts

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Over the past decade, the global tourism industry has conformed to being significantly eco-conscious. The initiative has evolved over the years to hotels abandoning operational methods and various products that harm the environment and replacing them with eco-friendly solutions.

With plastic being a massive contributor to the damage the environment sustains on a daily basis, the initiative to reduce the use of plastic products is being adopted by a considerable number of hotels worldwide.

Anantara and AVANI Hotels & Resorts, operated by Minor Hotel Group – hotel owner, operator and investor with an impressive collection of hotels, resorts, and serviced suites in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean – greeted 2018 with the resolution to end the use of plastic straws at their properties in Asia within the year and to expand the initiative to all their hotels worldwide.

“As industry leaders, it’s important for us to play an active role in reducing the consumption and wastage of plastic globally. The enormous benefits for the health of the oceans make this an obvious choice from both a business and environmental perspective. Across Asia, this will save 2.5 million plastic straws in the first year alone,” says William Heinecke, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Minor Hotels, which includes both Anantara and AVANI brands.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”18026″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Though the invention of plastic enabled numerous benefits for the economy in general, the adverse effect it has on the environment is undeniable. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally on an annual basis and close to 8.8 million tons of it end up in the ocean. Despite the convenience of the material, the impact it has on the ecosystem is hazardous and plastic straws are one of the top polluters of the ocean.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]These plastic straws that appear to be harmless and insignificant, take almost 500 years to disintegrate, causing harm to the ecosystem to unprecedented levels. Anantara and AVANI Hotels & Resorts aim to reduce their contribution to this considerable damage the ecosystem sustains at the expense of human convenience.

Anantara and AVANI Hotels & Resorts are replacing plastic straws with biodegradable paper straws that can easily be disposed with other organic waste and will not pollute the environment to any extent. This decision was a conscious choice made by the hotel chain and is one among their many sustainability initiatives.

Since its inception in 2001, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has been committed to creating luxury travel experiences that benefit local communities and at the same time, protect and preserve the environment.

All the properties of Anantara and AVANI Hotels & Resorts across Thailand, Cambodia, Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, Middle East, China and Africa immerse themselves in local initiatives that give back to the community and environment, thereby enhancing the social and environmental surroundings of each Anantara destination.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]At least one good deed takes place at one of their resorts every day of the year. The ‘365 Days of Good Deeds’ programme also invites guests to combine their five-star journey with the opportunity to participate in a range of good deeds that help the communities both socially and environmentally at each Anantara location.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”15207″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Anantara and AVANI Hotels & Resorts are also gold certified by Green Globe and have implemented major ecological practices throughout the years in their quest towards a more sustainable future and protecting the natural habitat of endangered species.

From rescuing street elephants in Thailand to coral rejuvenation in the Maldives to marine turtle protection in Phuket to supporting local farmers in Indonesia. With the decision to replace plastic straws with biodegradables, both Anantara and AVANI hope to persuade and inspire other hospitality operators to follow their lead and motivate their guests to carry their sustainability experiences back home and apply them to their daily lives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]