Ascott introduces Sustainability Passports to mark 1st anniversary of Ascott CARES


In Indonesia, in promoting healthy eating habits, Somerset Sudirman Jakarta offers wholesome snacks and beverages such as healthy crackers and milk for kids upon check-in. Meanwhile, Somerset Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia offers a mini salad station in the lobby for all guests to enjoy healthier diets. Somerset Pattaya in Thailand has in place an ongoing rotation of diverse fitness classes such as yoga, aqua aerobics and muay thai (Thai boxing) for families or individuals. In fostering greater mindfulness, Somerset Al Fateh Bahrain has introduced yoga and meditation classes for both adults and kids.

In harmony with the people around

Offering a place where guests may feel right at home with people they love, Somerset aims to encourage family bonding and interaction with the local community.

For instance, Somerset Ginza East Tokyo in Japan will host culture workshops for guests to better appreciate and understand local traditions. At Somerset Maslak Istanbul, families can participate in captivating local experience tours and visit famous landmarks like the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome to explore the rich cultural heritage of the locale.

Enriching the Next Generation

Recognising that the next generation holds the key to a sustainable future, the Sustainability Passport Programme further seeks to educate kids on eco-friendly and community-related tasks that they can undertake in their daily lives. Through an engaging Sustainability Passport booklet, kids and their families embark on a journey of exploration around the property, where they complete tasks such as sorting recyclables, conserving energy, gardening, or even referencing a green message from the property’s digital compendium. A unifying task that runs through the programme is a call for families to opt in for GoGreen, an eco-friendly initiative that allows guests to select a reduced housekeeping frequency via the DiscoverASR mobile app and receive Ascott Star Rewards points that can be redeemed for future stays. Upon completion, kids will be rewarded with prizes including limited-edition collectibles that are unique to each property.

Furthering Sustainability Efforts

Championing environmental stewardship through thoughtfully designed events and initiatives, guests of Somerset Central Bundang in South Korea are encouraged to donate items for a charity bazaar on 23 November, where proceeds will go towards supporting Seongnam-si Hanmaum Welfare Center, a charity in aid of persons with disabilities.

Across other markets, further sustainability efforts have been undertaken to reduce carbon footprint:

  • India: Plastic water dispenser bottles at Somerset Greenways Chennai are recycled into t-shirts and gifted to guests in appreciation of their sustainability efforts.
  • China: Somerset properties in China have repurposed close to 40,000 plastic bottles into school uniforms that were donated to underprivileged students through Lingshan Charity Foundation.
  • Singapore: Somerset Bencoolen Singapore has switched away from bottled water to in-room water dispensers. In addition, all the lights along the corridors have been changed to LED lights which are more environmentally friendly.

Sustainable Built Environment

Apart from engaging guests on its journey of sustainability, Somerset is also committed to environmental stewardship from the ground-up. Designed with sustainability as a focus, Somerset properties are integrated with environmentally friendly features that seek to reduce carbon emissions.

Somerset properties around the world have received the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification, for achieving at least 20 percent reduction in energy consumption, water consumption and embodied carbon in construction materials. These include Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City, Somerset Grand Citra Jakarta, Somerset Grand Hanoi, Somerset Hoa Binh Hanoi, Somerset Kuala Lumpur, and the newly certified Somerset Olympic Tower Tianjin and Somerset Ho Chi Minh City. Furthermore, Somerset Greenways Chennai, which utilises 100 percent renewable energy, was conferred the EDGE Advanced certification for achieving at least 40 percent energy savings.

In addition, other properties under Ascott’s portfolio that have been awarded the EDGE certification include Citadines OMR Chennai, Citadines République Paris, Citadines Barbican London, Temple Bar Hotel Dublin, and La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris. Citadines Islington London and Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue New York have further been conferred the EDGE Advanced certification. These additions have brought the total number of EDGE-certified properties under Ascott’s portfolio to almost 30, more than double of last year’s count.  

Ascott CARES will continue to play a pivotal role in Ascott’s operations and delivery of sustainable travel experiences, as it actively works towards meeting its sustainability targets in accelerating low carbon transition to reach Net Zero emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2050. 


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