For Earth Day—and throughout Earth Month—attention is turning to the tangible, often behind-the-scenes efforts reshaping hospitality. In line with this year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, this roundup of five hotels highlights properties where sustainability goes beyond messaging, with measurable initiatives that lower environmental impact while supporting local communities.
In Amsterdam…
Tucked within Amsterdam’s protected canal belt, you’ll find The Dylan Amsterdam, occupying a group of 17th-century canal houses. Following Green Globe’s Sustainability Management Plan means that change at the hotel happens carefully and gradually, with a focus on steady, trackable improvements—monitoring energy, water and emissions, transitioning to LED lighting and reducing daily impact through operational choices like linen-on-request and recycling streams.
Working within historic structures, the hotel prioritizes a fabric-first approach, including high-performance insulation glass, façade insulation and heat-recovery ventilation. A gas-free canal house retrofit using a heat pump marks a key milestone, with seasonal thermal energy storage also underway to further reduce carbon impact.
Materials are repaired, reused or repurposed wherever possible, while procurement emphasizes durability, refillable amenities and local suppliers. Guests can explore the Nine Streets on bicycles made from recycled Dutch bike components.
Partnerships with local makers—from stroopwafels by Lanskroon to a bespoke scent by Nose and Partners—keep value rooted nearby. Rooftop beehives produce honey used on property, supporting urban biodiversity, while seasonal, locally sourced ingredients anchor the hotel’s culinary program.
How to participate: Ask for the rooftop honey at breakfast and the custom Bakkerij MAMA rye at dinner to support the hotel’s urban beekeeping and neighborhood makers while reinforcing low‑waste, local sourcing.
In the Himalayas…
At Ananda in the Himalayas, Ayurveda’s five elements translate into measurable operations. A chemical-free MBBR plant enables zero wastewater discharge, recycling greywater for landscaping, while automated sprinklers save 3,600 kiloliters annually. Single-use plastics are eliminated through refillable dispensers and in-house glass-bottled water.
2024 results show a 65 percent reduction in tanker water use, 60 percent lower natural water draw and a 7 percent drop in overall consumption (May–July YoY), alongside 1,658 kg of avoided CO₂ from reduced transport. Food systems remain local and circular, with seasonal sourcing and edible waste diverted to nearby animal farms.
On-property initiatives include bamboo feeders and water pots supporting native and migratory species, alongside guided birdwatching and seva (selfless service) experiences that connect guests to environmental stewardship.
Through the Ananda Skill Development Institute, relaunched with the Ambuja Foundation, the retreat supports local livelihoods by training women from underserved communities for roles in hospitality and wellness. Partnerships with nearby farms and the use of indigenous grains and Ayurvedic herbs further root the experience in place, reinforcing a people-first approach to sustainability.
How to participate: Start with packing light and using the daily provided kurta pajamas. Visit the Ananda Institute to support local women students as they train in hospitality and wellness. Engage in guided birdwatching and participate in on-property seva.
In Japan…
Imperial Hotel integrates legacy and sustainability across Japan, with Imperial Hotel, Tokyo earning Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality (2025). Properties in Tokyo, Kamikochi and Osaka also hold the top-tier Sakura Quality ESG certification, reflecting consistent, trackable practices across the portfolio.
In Tokyo, plastics have been reduced by 87.7 percent since 2019—avoiding roughly 13.9 tons—through shifts to bamboo, wood and biomass materials, alongside 100 percent CO₂-free electricity. Circular initiatives repurpose coffee grounds into cattle feed and convert used cooking oil into Sustainable Aviation Fuel, while Osaka turns kitchen waste into fertilizer and sources produce grown from it, supported by onsite EV charging.
At Imperial Hotel, Kamikochi, operations run on net-zero CO₂ energy using regional hydropower and offsets, with plastic reductions nearing 90 percent. A spring water refill station encourages reuse, while conservation partnerships with the Kamikochi Beautification Association support stewardship of the national park.
The March 2026 opening of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto in the restored Yasaka Kaikan highlights adaptive reuse, including the repurposing of more than 16,000 tiles. Across the portfolio, partnerships with local artisans, cultural programming and culinary collaborations keep value rooted in place, complemented by community initiatives such as school programs, cleanups and disaster support agreements.
How to participate: Refill at Kamikochi’s spring water fountain, request low-impact amenities and choose Osaka’s circular vegetable dishes.
In Saint Lucia…
Set above Bonaire Bay, Calabash Cove Resort & Spa integrates regenerative practices into its boutique, adults-only experience. The resort operates plastic-free, replacing disposables with recycled and biodegradable alternatives, while solar-heated water, LED lighting and an onsite treatment plant support energy and water efficiency. Guests receive reusable aluminum bottles with complimentary refills to eliminate single-use plastics.
Daily operations prioritize circularity, with grass clippings composted, kitchen scraps sent to a local pig farmer and rainwater collected for reuse. Used cooking oil is repurposed to heat laundry water, and energy demand is reduced through timed pool systems. The resort has also eliminated mosquito fogging to support local birdlife.
Staff receive reef and turtle protection training through Saint Lucia’s Fisheries Department, including identifying nesting periods, relocating eggs and tagging turtles to support long-term conservation monitoring.
Built with local materials and shaped by Saint Lucian artisans, the resort reflects a strong sense of place—from hand-carved details to native landscaping that supports shoreline ecosystems. Its 26-room scale keeps impact low while offering guests opportunities to engage through beach cleanups, nature-based experiences and plant-forward dining.
How to participate: Choose vegan or vegetarian menus, refill from water dispensers, and join a beach‑cleaning outing to support Calabash Cove’s island‑first sustainability practices.
In Costa Rica…
Hotel Belmar, a family-owned cloud forest retreat in Monteverde, centers its sustainability model on Finca Madre Tierra—Costa Rica’s first carbon-neutral farm—supplying eggs, dairy, coffee, sugarcane and seasonal produce. Guests engage directly through hands-on experiences like milking cows, cheese-making and coffee harvesting, while on-property composting and a biodigester turn organic waste into clean gas, closing the loop daily.
Bio-intensive gardens feed the hotel’s dining program, while garden-to-glass mixology and a plastic-free bar reduce reliance on packaged inputs. An air-dry laundry solarium cuts energy use, and furnishings crafted by regional makers keep value local while reflecting Monteverde’s woodworking heritage.
SAVIA, the hotel’s forest program, employs local experts and uses tree-friendly systems—high-tension ropes instead of bolts—to minimize impact. Guided experiences range from birdwatching to nighttime canopy exploration, supporting paid ecological interpretation in one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
From Cerveceria Belmar’s use of spring water and live music programming to immersive classes and guided experiences, guest spending directly supports local farmers, artisans, educators and naturalists. Long-standing partnerships and an Artist Residency Program further deepen ties to Monteverde’s creative and agricultural communities, reinforcing a year-round, place-based economy.
How to participate: Reserve the Finca Madre Tierra tour and a garden‑to‑glass class, then hike SAVIA with a local naturalist to fund closed-loop agriculture and paid ecological interpretation in the cloud forest.
