Jetwing Yala tops Asia Pacific for commitment to sustainability

While Jetwing Hotels lives up to its promise of being the home of Sri Lankan hospitality through its exceptional service, the Jetwing family is also committed to the cause of sustainability. In recognition of the practices ensued at Jetwing Yala, the hotel was announced as a HICAP Award winner for sustainable operations. 

Jetwing Yala

The official announcement of HICAP went on to say that Jetwing Yala homes one of the country’s largest privately owned solar installations of 300 kilowatts, which 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 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.

Jetwing Yala provides a holistic experience to its guests; from traveller comforts, engaging in excursions to being a part of responsible tourism, this property is in perfect unison with the natural world. While the official announcement gives a general understanding of the sustainable initiatives at Jetwing Yala, the team at the property strives for harmony with the environment through every day practices. 

Jetwing Yala General Manager Gamunu Srilal receiving 

the award

As for water needs, seawater is filtered through a reverse osmosis system, ensuring no strain on the scarce freshwater resources of the region. The wastewater is separated at source and treated black water is used for gardening purposes while treated grey water is used for the cooling towers and further disinfected for use in cisterns. The property also homes its own compost machine and plant whereby all organic waste is treated and used as organic fertiliser for the hotel gardens and farms. 

Additionally, electric buggy carts are used for transportation within the hotel to lower greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption. The resident naturalist alongside the team at Jetwing Yala is ever ready to take its guests on a tour enlightening them on the properties sustainable initiatives.

It is not the first time Jetwing Hotels bagged a HICAP Award, in keeping to the family’s commitment to the environment and community, in 2012 Jetwing Vil Uyana received a HICAP award for sustainable design followed by Jetwing Lagoon being recognised for its sustainable operations at the HICAP Awards in 2013. 

“From the very beginning, we made sure to incorporate all our green initiatives into the design phase of Jetwing Yala – thus ensuring that everything in practice was a part of the hotel and not introduced later on. We wanted our guests to enjoy sustainable comfort and luxury with no compromises, and without any guilt. Winning our second HICAP award makes me very proud of what we have achieved and I look forward to more accolades in the future.”

Biomass Boiler at Jetwing Yala

The 27th annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) was held from 19-21 October, at the InterContinental Hong Kong with the participation of over 800 delegates. The Sustainable Hotel Awards was launched at HICAP in 2007 to recognise 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 global and local environments and cultures.

Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 43 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment.

In line with the Jetwing Hotels Sustainable Strategy, across all properties sustainable and responsible practices are given precedence with resource efficiency, community upliftment and education, and awareness being some of our key focus areas.

Solar park at Jetwing Yala