Design
A stunning view from the Sierra Mar restaurant on the grounds of the Post Ranch Inn.
but then at the end of their life, they can be melted down and remade.” Throughout the hotel, easily recycled materials such as plastic and metal are repurposed – as is natural cork. “It’s recyclable, it’s ecological, it’s really good at capturing carbon, much more so than wood,’ says Stratton. “It’s a renewable resource and it lasts a long time.” The longevity of a material is key for her. “A lot of hotels buy furniture that is not designed to last after three years, so it gets thrown out and they get new furniture. Then it all goes to be burnt in an incinerator. We don’t throw away furniture, we choose things that we can have recovered time and again before finally recycling them.” For Freed and the Post Ranch Inn, having products that stand the test of time is conducive to the luxury experience. “At Post Ranch, luxury equates to quality,” he explains. “We purchase products that were designed with intention, purpose and longevity.” This is also true for Stratton and her sisters, who had many conversations when founding Scarlet about what luxury meant for them. “We all agreed that it was about being nurtured and having time for connection with people who cared. It really isn’t about oversized fluffy towels, too many toiletries and a chocolate on your pillow. We decided that what we should do is try and redefine what luxury could mean: simplicity, being in harmony with nature and having time with each other without the distractions.”
Beyond rest and relaxation Currently, eco-tourism is booming, with many travellers now seeking out hotels with environmentally friendly credentials. “More and more, our guests are looking for options rooted in the local ecosystem,” says Valerie de Robillard, the senior vice-president of environment at the hotel group Accor, whose 5,400 hotels across the world welcome 600,000 guests every day. “According to a 2021 WTTC report, 83% of travellers think sustainable travel is vital and 69% of
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them expect the tourism industry to offer more sustainable travel options.” Indeed, Stratton has found that guests have been drawn to Scarlet because of its thoughtful approach to the environment. “We have a group of customers who come to us because they know we’re striving to do our best for the planet. But, we also have a very large group who are perhaps not as motivated by that as just wanting to come to a really good hotel.” Indeed, while it may not be a primary factor when deciding where to holiday at the moment, de Robillard explains that Accor is preparing for it to become one. “Today, it is impossible to say whether a guest will give up on a hotel because it does not have an ecolabel; but it is certain that not having it will be a problem in the future,” she states. Accordingly, Accor has made Green Key and Green Globe certification – which are both recognised by the UN World Tourism Organisation – mandatory for all of its properties across the world.
A decade ago, de Robillard says eco-design was only considered at the end of the development process, but today it is integrated into Accor’s design guidelines from the beginning. “We want to make sure that the concepts we create have a positive impact on the environment and society, and our ambition is to put sustainable development at the heart of our hotels,” she says. “It’s important to work with suppliers who are selected beforehand to design furniture with extendable lives and reusability in mind.” One of its brands, Greet, was launched in 2019 with a focus on sustainable materials and vintage furniture. “Through Greet, we position eco-design not as a constraint but as a real element of creative inspiration for our designers,” says de Robillard, explaining that, similarly to Post Ranch Inn and Scarlet, reusing materials in innovative ways is a crucial element to their design process. Certainly, if more hotels follow their lead, the future of eco- friendly travel looks bright. ●
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Post Ranch Inn
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