Worldwide: The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has introduced the Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme featuring activities, wellness programmes and community initiatives at Somerset properties globally.
From 20 November 2023, the new Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme will be rolled out at Somerset properties around the world. It encourages families to complete a series of on-site sustainability initiatives such as cultivating plants, art workshops with reusable waste materials, fitness classes and more.
The programme aims to educate children on eco-friendly and community-related tasks that can be incorporated into daily lives, including sorting recyclables, conserving energy, and gardening. Upon completion, children will be rewarded with prizes such as limited-edition collectibles unique to each property.
A task that runs throughout the programme includes the opt-in GoGreen – an 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.
Tan Bee Leng, managing director for brand and marketing at Ascott, said: “Sustainability is a global challenge that requires collective effort. The Somerset Sustainability Passport programme is a global initiative by Ascott to foster a sense of community and shared purpose through our Somerset brand. By actively involving our guests in these efforts, we are not just telling them what the Somerset brand stands for; we are amplifying our impact to create a lasting emotional connection. Small individual actions, when multiplied across our portfolio of Somerset properties globally, can inspire our guests of all ages, especially the next generation, to recognise the importance of taking practical action today.
“As sustainable travel gains pace, Somerset brand’s philosophy of finding harmony within ourselves, with the people around us, and being in harmony with the environment, is exactly in line with shifting traveller demands to embrace greater mindfulness and sustainability when they travel and in their daily lives. Positioning ourselves as forward-thinking and socially responsible in a world that increasingly values sustainability and inclusivity, is a strategic imperative for Ascott which goes beyond the transactional nature of business,” she added.
In line with the passport launch, Somerset properties around the world have received the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification, awarded for achieving at least 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption, water consumption and embodied carbon in construction materials. The total number of EDGE-certified properties across Ascott’s branded portfolio stands at almost 30.
This November, Ascott opened Somerset Schönbrunn Vienna and lyf Schönbrunn Vienna, marking the debut of the two brands in Austria.
The launch of the Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme supports Ascott’s sustainability goals in Ascott CARES, which celebrates its first anniversary this November. Ascott aims to reach net zero emissions (scopes one and two) by 2050.
