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Small Luxury Hotels of The World Launches ‘Considerate Collection’: Actively Sustainable Luxury Hotels

LONDON, UK – Media OutReach – 4 October 2021 – Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) today announces the launch of Considerate Collection, a community of Actively sustainable luxury hotels going the extra eco mile, proving that luxury is compatible with longevity.  The hospitality brand renowned for its diverse portfolio of boutique properties also announces new sustainable initiatives forming part of a renewed strategic vision to mark its 30+1year anniversary.

From the biodiversity-promoting Keemala in Thailand to the culture-preserving Gangtey Lodge in carbon-negative Bhutan, *Considerate Collection debuts with 26 pioneering hotels in 16 countries, each meeting the highest criteria in sustainability. 

SLH has collaborated with the most respectable sustainable travel and luxury hospitality players to create a trusted and transparent framework.  These include Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) – the international, independent, not-for-profit body established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); and Greenview, whose platform is the only GSTC-recognised sustainable tourism management tool.

Daniel Luddington, VP of Development, Small Luxury Hotels of the World said “We’ve carefully curated the Considerate Collection to spotlight luxury boutique hotels exemplary in their sustainability efforts, making it easier for customers and the travel trade to make better-considered choices. Staying in small, independent hotels goes hand in hand with travelling sustainably and all SLH hotels are already steeped in the many facets of sustainable hospitality, so we haven’t had to look far outside of our portfolio for the launch collection. We also have an exciting pipeline of new hotels to add in the coming months.”  He adds, “This is not about creating a new brand, but rather building on the strong brand values that have existed within SLH since inception – independent spirits, community-centric, questioners, storytellers and the ultimate belief that Small is beautiful and a better way to travel.”

 

Criteria for the Considerate Collection align with the GSTC Criteria across three key pillars ensuring all the hotels are **Community Minded, Cultural Custodians and Environmentally Conscious.  These pillars are all underpinned by a strong sustainability management system. Each hotel within the Considerate Collection either has been certified by a GSTC Accredited Certification Body or certified to a GSTC Recognized Standard, or has passed an assessment by the SLH Sustainability Advisory Panel with review by the GSTC. 

 

Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council said: “SLH has impressed us with their dedicated support of their member hotels, and we’re delighted to collaborate with them to devise a robust framework, consistent with GSTC measures but uniquely matched for all luxury boutique hotels.  We are sure it will be a huge success.”

SLH is making it easier for travel trade and customers to identify each Considerate Collection hotel by featuring them within a specific section on the website www.slh.com/considerate.  The hotel pages are also stamped with a sage leaf and include dedicated content outlining their notable sustainability initiatives.

Currently, with a luxury hotel portfolio of over 520 hotels in 90 countries, SLH has taken a holistic approach to sustainability to complement its long-term brand vision – a future where people explore the world with intention, experience its intensity, and protect its integrity. Over the last two years, SLH has worked with hospitality sustainability consultancy, The Considerate Group, to develop bespoke toolkits to support its member hotels and plans to continue this approach to “help our hotels walk all this sustainability talk”, adds Luddington. H2 Sustainability Consulting, headed by former legendary hotelier Hervé Houdré, is among the consultancies SLH is collaborating with to support hotel members.

 

SLH’s quality inspection reports, carried out annually by its international mystery hotel inspectors (all SLH hotel guests), has also been revamped and is currently being trialled to include a 60-point Considerate module focusing on customer-facing, front of house initiatives.

The company has also turned the microscope on itself to update its corporate head office policies making sure to practice what it preaches to hotel members.  These include implementing volunteer days for staff and the launch of a partnership with social change and reforestation charity, TreeSisters, among other initiatives.

Each SLH room night booked and stayed using an SLH INVITED member rate includes a donation to plant a minimum of three trees with TreeSisters. SLH INVITED membership is complimentary.

Through individuals and businesses that give back to Nature every month, TreeSisters has so far funded the planting of over 19 million trees across 12 locations in Brazil, Borneo, Cameroon, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar, Nepal and West Papua.

 

For more information, visit www.slh.com/considerate

Images can be downloaded here or via www.slhimages.com

 

 

Notes to editor

*Considerate Collection Hotels (26)

 

APAC

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Shaba, Bhutan

Gangtey Lodge, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, Bel Ombre, Mauritius

The Fortress Resort & Spa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Keemala, Phuket, Thailand

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Lanta Island, Thailand

The Racha, Phuket, Thailand

EMEA

Columbia Beach Resort, Limassol, Cyprus

Domaine de Manville, Les Baux de Provence, France

Domaine des Etangs, Massignac, France

Le Domaine d’Ablon, Ablon, France

Hotel Rangá, Hella, Iceland

FORESTIS, Brixen, Italy

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Gargnano, Italy

Lefay Resort Dolomiti, Pinzolo, Italy

Susafa, Polizzi, Generosa, Italy

La Sultana Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

The Dylan Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Storfjord Hotel, Skodje, Norway

Hotel Arima & Spa, San Sebastian, Spain

Torre del Marques, Monroyo, Spain

Grove of Narberth, Wales, United Kingdom

AMER

GAÏA Riverlodge, Cayo District, Belize

Hotel Nantipa, Santa Teresa de Cobano, Costa Rica

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

Petit St Vincent, Vincent Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

** Considerate Collection Pillars

 

Community Minded

Proactive, positive members of the local community

Like the humble honey bee who works hard to keep his hive happy and healthy, Considerate Collection hotels are passionately committed to making their communities a better place for both locals and visitors to enjoy alike.

  • Many of our hotels are locally owned and family-run, who have a deep rooted, personal connection to the people who make a place special. By ensuring equal employment opportunities to local residents, including managerial positions without discrimination of any kind, the hotel invests in its community while giving guests a more authentic experience of its people’s culture, language, and storytelling.
  • As champions of local, fair-trade produce, our hotels buy local wherever possible to support the community’s supply chain – whether it’s serving fresh fruit from the morning market where the hotel chef knows the farmer by name, or providing hand-woven bags made by a local artisan for guests to use by the pool.
  • It is not enough for our hotels to simply give back to the community, they must continuously strive to enrich local lives through social impact initiatives, educational, health, and training programmes, and projects which address the impacts of climate change.


Cultural Custodians

Protectors and preservers of cultural heritage

To better understand and appreciate the culture and customs of another country is one of travel’s greatest joys. Each Considerate Collection hotel and destination has its own cultural identity which it works tirelessly to protect, preserve and promote for generations to come.

  • Elements of traditional and contemporary local culture are incorporated in the operations, design, decoration, cuisine, or boutiques of our hotels, while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.
  • Going beyond the maintenance of local buildings, and the protection of culturally, historically, archaeologically, and spiritually significant sites, our hotels aim to enhance and sensitively improve upon properties of cultural interest through ongoing heritage and restoration projects.
  • Immersing guests in the local culture through an array of authentic activities is integral to our hotel experience, from traditional cooking classes in a rural farmhouse to pottery making in an ancestral ceramics studio.


Environmentally Conscious

Maximising benefits to the environment

These trailblazing eco-hotels know that luxury travel shouldn’t cost the earth, which is why their sustainable strategies go well beyond reducing negative impact on their immediate environment with regenerative and restorative action.

  • Conserving resources – our hotels make an active effort to increase their use of renewable energy and sustainable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal or biofuels, while assessing, measuring, and minimising energy and water consumption.
  • Reducing pollution – greenhouse gas emissions from all sources controlled by our hotels are identified, calculated where possible, and procedures implemented to avoid or minimise them. Wastewater is effectively treated, and is only reused or released safely with no adverse effects to the local population or the environment, while solid waste is reduced, reused or recycled. Significant steps are taken by Considerate Collection hotels to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Conserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes – from coral reef regeneration and ocean conservation to wildlife rewilding and tree reforestation, our hotels play an active role in restoring the natural beauty of our planet. Protected natural parks and areas of high biodiversity value are especially looked after, while any interaction with free roaming wildlife is non-invasive and responsibly managed.

About Small Luxury Hotels of the World:

Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) is the most desirable community of independently minded travellers and independently spirited hotels in the world. We turned the luxury boutique hotel into a phenomenon and selected the distinctive, the diverse and the downright delightful. People, places and experiences with individual character, intimate charm and inherent class. We’ve personally visited, vetted, and verified over 520 hotels in more than 90 countries. We are envisioning a future where people experience the world with intention, experience its intensity and protect its integrity. Be part of the community – join us at INVITED, visit us at www.slh.com, contact a travel agent or call the Small Luxury Hotels of the World VIP Desk. Click here to view a full contact listing by country.

#smallluxuryhotels

Rhenus India opens new chemical multi-user warehouse in Chennai

The strategic addition expands the Rhenus warehousing space across India to 2.2 million square feet and strengthens its capabilities in supporting the chemical industries.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 October 2021 – Leading global logistics service provider Rhenus has launched a new multi-user warehouse in Chennai, India. With good connectivity to Chennai’s major ports and to major industrial and automobile hubs, the PCB (Pollution Control Board) -approved facility will serve as the central Rhenus distribution hub for chemical customers throughout South India.

 

Offering 110,000 square feet of storage space for chemical cargo, the multi-user facility meets all HSSEQ (Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Quality) standards, and features modern fire safety infrastructure such as fire-rated walls, beam detectors and NBC-approved sprinkler system.

 

Manned by a team of professionals well-trained in material handling, safety and statutory compliances, the warehouse provides comprehensive solutions to leading companies from the chemical Industry.

 

The warehouse is part of a modern logistics park and equipped with eight loading and unloading bays with hydraulic dock levellers, as well as ground plus 7-level racking system and a capacity of 10,270 pallet positions.

 

“The logistics market in India is seeing an upward trajectory, with forecasted[1] growth at a CAGR of 10.5 percent between 2019 and 2025. The new warehouse, built with world-class Rhenus infrastructure, is our latest step in offering broad-based logistics support in India. By offering safe and reliable storage of general and chemical cargo, we are confident to provide well-managed and tailor-made storage solutions for our customers and continue to maintain our leadership position in handling chemical Logistics,” said Marcus Fornell, Director of Contract Logistics Rhenus India.

 

Rhenus India has over seven decades of expertise in domestic freight and logistics services. With more than 2,000 professionally qualified employees across 69 locations in India, Rhenus India provides integrated logistics solutions and services across most industry segments including chemicals and petrochemicals, industrial and engineering, automotive, electronics and white goods as well as pharmaceuticals.

 



[1] Indian Logistics Industry Outlook, 2020, Frost & Sullivan

About Rhenus

The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 5.4 billion. 33,500 employees work at 820 business sites and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times.

#Rhenus

Cambodian Conglomerate Prince Holdings Donates USD 1 Million to Laos to Fight Covid-19

Chairman of Prince Holding Group hands over a donation to the Lao Embassy in Cambodia.
Chairman of Prince Holding Group hands over a donation to the Lao Embassy in Cambodia (Photo: Khmer Times).

Cambodian conglomerate Prince Holding Group has donated USD 1 million to the Government of Laos to assist in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Toyota Section 19 PJ Installs Rikeguard Antimicrobial Film to Protect Customers

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 4 October 2021 – Toyota Laser Motor PJ has recently installed the cutting-edge Rikeguard antimicrobial film in their Section 19 Petaling Jaya premises for their customers’ protection. The decision was made as an initiative to protect the health and well-being of their customers and visitors.




Following the installation, Rikeguard is now installed upon the high-touch surfaces of Toyota Laser Motor PJ, one of the largest and most iconic Toyota Sales, Service and Body & Paint centres in Malaysia which is located in Section 19 Petaling Jaya. The facility’s large size and wide range of Toyota model displays make it a popular Toyota centre with high customer traffic, making it necessary to make the showroom as safe as possible.

Rikeguard is an antimicrobial film which is made in Japan and deployed as Japan’s No. 1 protective film in highly public touchpoints, and exclusively distributed by Jasa Sarjana in Malaysia along with other safety film technologies. The film provides effective, long-lasting protection by neutralising 99.99% of viruses and bacteria immediately upon contact with the surface, making the showroom’s surfaces safe to touch at all times. These features have been certified by SIAA Japan, University of the West of Scotland, and SIRIM.

For more information about the Rikeguard antimicrobial film and installation queries, contact Jasa Sarjana Sdn Bhd via their website at: www.ice-u.com.my/rikeguard

Laos Exports 50 Tons of Rice to European Union

Laos exports rice to EU (Photo: Lao Economic Daily)
Lao farmers harvest rice (Photo: Lao Economic Daily)

Laos has exported 50 tons of rice to the European Union market, with Belgium as the first purchase destination.

Widely Famous, Pingtan’s Tourism Comes to International Stage

PINGTAN, CHINA – Media OutReach – 4 October 2021 – Pingtan has embraced unprecedented opportunities since the establishment of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone. On November 1, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Pingtan for the 21st time and said with genuine concern: “Tourism is the greatest resource of Pingtan and it must be well protected to build Pingtan an international tourism island.”, which has been kept in mind and implemented in actions.

 

Pingtan has actively explored and taken many pilot trials to develop tourism, which has made Pingtan widely famous. The annual tourist reception of Pingtan has increased from 537,200 in 2010 to 2,895,000 in 2016 and 3,868,100 in the first half of 2021. With the leading concept of “modern and pristine development”, Pingtan’s tourism brand – “Pingtan Blue” has become more and more popular and Pingtan is striding toward an international tourism island.

 

Enhancing infrastructure to upgrade soft power of Pingtan’s tourism

The Pingtan Southern Bay Resort in autumn is marvelous as before, with tree-lined roads. Ubiquitous mobile food trucks and assembled commercial houses and even floods of visitors. But it’s hard to imagine that it was a place off the beaten track just a few years ago. The transformation and upgrading of scenic spots in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone have brought such tremendous changes.

 

Under the principle of “high-quality building and low-intensity developing”, Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone has transformed and upgraded many traditional scenic spots – the Tannan Bay, Xianrenjing, General Mountain, Shipaiyang, and so on. The ecological parking lots, public toilets, viewing platforms, and other supporting facilities have been built. In addition, the sightseeing train, art station, music dining bar, and other special creative products have brought the scenic spots a new look.

 

Lin Yuchuan, the CPC representative of Tourism Group of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, said that 15 scenic parking lots had been upgraded, providing about 3,500 parking spaces in recent years. It has effectively solved the difficulty in parking for tourists and further improved the service and reception of the scenic spots. At the same time, the south and north ecological corridor and a countryside walkway connecting different scenic spots have been built to provide visitors with a better and more convenient environment.

 

Apart from infrastructure development, Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone also attaches great importance to its soft power to facilitate the high-quality and effective development of tourism. Through the big data analysis of tourism, the travel preferences of visitors can be studied and the scenic spots can provide better services and the management can be more comprehensive. In addition, Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone also actively promotes the integration of culture and tourism by introducing outstanding teams from Taiwan to carry out various colorful cultural and artistic activities. For example, the Cou ( also known as Tsou, an ethnic minority in Taiwan) Troupe from Mount Ali stationed in Tianmeiao Beach, and the Wind-blowing Artist Festival have brought new cultural hotspots to Pingtan’ s tourism.

 

Upgrading business modes to fit various needs

Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone has made every effort to promote the upgrade of tourism mode, optimize the tourism environment greatly and enrich the tourism product system to meet the personalized and diversified needs of tourists. The highlights of tourism have emerged frequently. The south and north ecological corridors that have become a popular scenic spot in the past two years, are based on the unique tourism resources and in combination with the ecological landscape of the island. Built between the mountains and the sea, the ecological corridors, with the incredible scenery, shape Pingtan’s “most wonderful coastline”.

 

Weng Bin, deputy head of Tourism, Culture and Sports Bureau of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone introduced that the ecological corridors include four parts – south, north, east, and west, with a total length of 195 kilometers, connecting more than 90 villages along them. Thus, it greatly revitalizes the countryside and meets the diversified needs of tourists in the era of mass tourism. In addition to the ecological corridor tourism, Pingtan also actively expands the sea tour around the island, rural special tour, and other business modes to stimulate the development of tourism.

 

Weng Bin said, “The brand popularity and reputation of Pingtan International Tourism Island are increasing, and its brand effect is gradually emerging. I believe that Pingtan will gradually become a happy home for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and an internationally renowned tourism island for leisure.”

 

ZOZ Makes Car Services More Accessible with New Outlet Launch in Singapore

To better support customers in urgent vehicle situations, ZOZ Pte Ltd is launching their second outlet to cater to the needs of drivers in Singapore.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 October 2021As the leading tyre replacement and repair company in Singapore, ZOZ Pte Ltd comes to the rescue to offer onsite car tyre and battery replacement services to drivers on a 24/7 basis. In addition to their service center at Sin Ming Drive, their professional team of technicians are always ready to assist from various standby mobile locations including in Potong Pasir, Chander Road, Yishun and Punggol.

To offer customers the increased convenience of their products and services, ZOZ is launching their second outlet along Sin Ming Drive on 1 October 2021.

 

Making Affordable Car Services Possible in Singapore

 

From sudden tyre punctures to weak battery incidents, these are some of the common car problems that drivers in Singapore face. To help drivers in any situation, ZOZ goes the extra mile to offer the necessary service on the spot as well as at their auto repair shops. In addition to car tyre replacement and repair, this includes car battery replacements, car wheel alignment and balancing, car servicing and car repair.

 

In the event of a replacement, customers can now get up to 50% of all tyres and save more at ZOZ. Customers can also enjoy the following when they head down to any of ZOZ workshops:

●      Free alignment and tyre balancing

●      Free membership worth $300 for replacing of four tyres

●      Free towing service (unlimited)

●      Free tyre patching service (unlimited)

●      Free battery jump start service (unlimited)

●      Free tyre replacement service (unlimited)

●      Earn points to redeem vouchers for future purchases or services

●      Membership for 3 years

 

Terms & conditions apply*

 

Keeping Drivers Safe on the Road Anywhere, Any Time

 

Unexpected vehicle problems can leave anyone at a loss in Singapore. Should drivers find themselves in need of immediate onsite assistance, ZOZ continues to give drivers the reassurance of no less than a 30-minute wait to reach them. Their well-trained team of experts will always do their best to get drivers back on the road quickly and safely.

 

*Membership last for 3 years (Attach to owner detail and vehicle detail)

*No transfer of membership

*Charges applicable for towing if it is not to ZOZ workshop

*Free alignment are for 4/pcs of tyre change

*Any purchases/services within ZOZ will automatically renew the membership

*No expiry for accumulated points for members

*Vouchers/points cannot be converted to cash

*Any abuse of onsite service is chargeable at $50 per trip

*We reserve the rights to make any changes without prior notice

About ZOZ

As an established name in the industry, ZOZ Pte Ltd employs the best technicians to serve drivers in Singapore. Enjoy highly competitive rates when you reach out for their wide range of services today.

#ZOZ

Deputy Mayor Clarifies Covid-19 Restriction Measures in Vientiane Capital

Prime Minister of Laos Orders Vientiane Lockdown

Deputy Mayor of Vientiane Captial, Phouvong Vongkhamsao, has clarified Covid-19 restriction measures in place in the nation’s capital from 1 to 15 October.