At the Hotel Sustainability Conference and Marketplace 2023 held in Singapore, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling announced that the country’s hospitality sector is progressing towards its sustainability targets outlined in the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap, launched in March 2022.

Currently, at least 35 hotels in Singapore have either obtained or are in the process of acquiring internationally recognized sustainability certifications, representing about 25% of the nation’s hotel room inventory. Notable establishments such as Marina Bay Sands and The Fullerton Bay Hotel have received certifications from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

The roadmap sets two key objectives: ensuring that at least 60% of hotel rooms in Singapore attain sustainability certifications by 2025, and requiring hotels to start tracking their emissions this year, with an aim to reduce them by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Beyond these targets, the hospitality industry is also innovating in various areas. Low highlighted that major hotels, including MBS and Andaz Singapore, are piloting technologies to convert food waste into reusable products in collaboration with retail partners. Additionally, hotels are encouraging guests to adopt sustainable habits; for example, Parkroyal on Beach Road offers a dining credit to guests who choose to have their rooms cleaned on alternate days.

The conference featured around 200 attendees and included an exhibition showcasing 17 booths where vendors presented their sustainability solutions. Furthermore, the Singapore Hotel Association launched a comprehensive web-based hotel sustainability playbook, which includes best practices, case studies, and government grant information to assist hotels at different stages of their sustainability journey.

One such initiative is the Singapore Tourism Board’s Business Improvement Fund, which enabled Grand Copthorne Waterfront to install in-room water filters, replacing single-use plastic bottles and resulting in significant cost savings and operational efficiency improvements.