If you were to script a movie scene for a luxury hotel stay, you would probably focus on opulence. Maybe drop a dash of beautiful views. A sprinkle of fine dining. A spa. But possibly not as many plants as you can possibly pack into a space. Well, well, well. Maybe you just haven’t experienced the 1 Hotel yet.
1 Hotel is a brand through the SH Hotels and Resorts group, which also manages Baccarat Hotels and Treehouse Hotels. The entire ethos of the brand is sustainability. It is not just about how they can look more sustainable or greenwash. There is an intentional effort to make concern for our one planet woven into every facet of their design.
They do this with a focus on three pillars: People and Equity, Prosperity, and Environment. Their pillar of People and Equity addresses their approach to diversity and inclusion, with special emphasis on the leadership level. Prosperity focuses on building the brand intentionally to be a leader in sustainability in luxury. To address all of their pillars, they make donations to various causes that align with their mission.
The Environment pillar, however, is their bread and butter. It is after all a chain of hotels focused on ecologically conscious luxury. You likely can think of all of the different things that an organization can do to take better care of the environment. Cool, now add a couple of more things to that list.
They include nature into what they term biophilic design. Living walls, rooftop gardens, murals made of dried moss, and decorative plants can be expected when you enter any of their locations. These add to the natural ambience and establish the location as a retreat for mind and body.
1 Hotel South Beach (Image credit to the brand)
And while they are keen to manage water use, avoid single use plastics, and limit food waste, there more elements to their approach I would have never thought of. As an example, they try to use materials in their buildings in the most natural state possible. This of course adds to the rough natural aesthetic, but it also means it limits the amount of potentially harmful chemicals that would be used in the process. They also are pursuing WELL Health Safety Ratings for their hotels. This is a set of criteria that was established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and helps businesses better prioritize the health and safety of their employees and guests. And of course, the seek a LEED certification and carbon neutral status for every hotel they establish.
This is truly a group that seeks to blend nature and luxury. Sustainability is made a part of the retreat. As they describe it themselves, “Where nature and nurture are 1, and you’re free to drift away.”
For more information on the group, take a look at their site.
Additional resource used:
Aziz, A. (July 23, 2019). The power of purpose: How 1 Hotels is pioneering the eco-luxury hospitality category. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/afdhelaziz/2019/07/23/the-power-of-purpose-how-1-hotels-is-pioneering-the-eco-luxury-hospitality-category/?sh=28202e518034
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