Jetwing Hotels receives PATA Gold Award for Climate Change Initiative

Jetwing Hotels Marketing and  Development Director Hashan  Cooray with the award 

Jetwing Hotels has been honoured with the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award for Sustainability and Social Responsibility, under the ‘Climate Change Initiative’ category. 

The award recognises the company’s groundbreaking efforts in expanding its solar photovoltaic (PV) installations across its hotel portfolio.

Jetwing Hotels Marketing and Development Director Hashan Cooray accepted the award at a ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand. This esteemed recognition underscores Jetwing Hotels’ unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and its role as a leader in sustainable tourism.

“We are deeply honoured to receive the PATA Gold Award for our commitment to sustainability,” said Cooray. “This recognition inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of environmental innovation and to contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s nationally determined contributions in line with the Paris Agreement.” 

Jetwing Hotels has invested over $ 1 million to increase its solar PV capacity by 1.6 megawatts (MW) in 2024. Since introducing its first 20-kilowatt (kW) solar PV system in 2010, Jetwing Hotels has steadily grown its renewable energy footprint to 925 kW across its properties and corporate office. In 2023 alone, the company generated 1,069 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean energy, equivalent to powering 13,490 households and offsetting 608 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The upcoming expansion will boost the company’s solar PV capacity to 2.6 MW, tripling its current solar energy contribution to 24% of total electricity consumption. This significant achievement brings Jetwing Hotels closer to its goal of reducing its carbon footprint and aligning with Sri Lanka’s ambitious renewable energy targets.

Beyond solar power, Jetwing Hotels has embraced a holistic approach to sustainability, incorporating biomass boilers, innovative steam-powered vapour absorption chillers, solar thermal systems, and biogas digesters into its operations. This multi-faceted strategy has enabled the company to generate 66% of its energy demand from renewable sources.

Since its inception in 1984, the PATA Gold Awards represent the true spirit of innovation, sustainability, and the notion of tourism as a force for good. The awards are further distinguished by the voluntary participation of 23 independent expert judges from renowned organisations across the region.

“I am extremely delighted to note that we have received a significant number of high-quality submissions, with a 19% increase compared to the previous year. This is a clear sign that the travel and tourism sector is thriving and becoming more competitive than ever. We have witnessed tourism professionals putting more creativity and passion into their work to enhance the tourism economy. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the applicants and judges who have dedicated their time and effort into making the PATA Gold Awards a possibility,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. 

Jetwing Hotels’ dedication to responsible tourism is evident in its numerous awards, including over 10 PATA Gold Awards for its contributions to community upliftment and environmental conservation. The 2022 PATA award for the ‘Second Careers’ initiative highlights Jetwing Hotels’ commitment to local communities, providing employment opportunities for women over the age of 45 from economically challenged backgrounds, and contributing to both community upliftment and increasing female participation in the hospitality sector.