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Floating solar array with 40 platforms and 2,160 PV panels. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands Luxury travel is shifting. It is no longer defined by abundance alone, but by experiences that are meaningful, restorative and deeply personal, according to the 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report. "True luxury today is responsibility-driven," said Kelly Forbes, founder of A’ARU Collective, a booking platform that curates sustainable high-end properties worldwide, in an email interview. “Not many customers want to study in-depth data before their vacation, but if it’s presented in a humanized manner that really tells a story, then it becomes an added value for the guest”, she added. From large-scale solar networks to wastewater treatment upgrades and biodiversity initiatives, sustainability spending is becoming a core part of property development and operations for numerous hotels. They are here to prove that comfort and responsibility can evolve together. Measurable Progress In Renewable Energy Implementation Solar panels at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands cover 61 Ocean Villas, the back-of-house area, Beach Shack, and Dive Centre, generating 983 kWp since September 2024. MORE FOR YOU The resort is part of the Fari Islands’ broader 6.4 MWp solar network, which will soon include a 1,037 kWp floating solar array with 40 platforms and 2,160 PV panels, slated for completion in late 2025. Neighboring Patina Maldives installed 2,994 kWp of solar capacity, 980 kWp on its land bank and 2,014 kWp across villas and restaurants. In 2025, this system will allow the resort to run entirely on solar power during daylight hours. Solar panels on top of the villas in Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands In Europe, all Sani and Ikos Resorts in Greece operate on 100% renewable electricity backed by guarantees of origin, with Sani Resort recognized as Greece’s first certified carbon-neutral resort. However, as part of its 2024–25 sustainability plan, the group launched a 6.76 MW solar park in Halkidiki, which currently supplies about 40% of the electricity used across its Northern Greece properties. Additional solar projects are underway at Ikos Aria, Ikos Andalusia and Ikos Porto Petro. Frasers Hospitality is a Singapore-based global hotel and serviced apartment operator. It invested in integrating solar with battery technology, debuting panels and energy storage at Capri by Fraser Frankfurt in 2025. Solar panels on the roof of Capri by Fraser Berlin. Frasers Hospitality "In 2025, Frasers Hospitality has accelerated its sustainability journey with tangible investments across Europe," said Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, COO EMEA at Frasers Hospitality, in an email interview. "We see sustainability as part of the luxury experience, not a compromise. Guests continue to enjoy the design, comfort, and service they expect from Frasers Hospitality, while knowing that behind the scenes, we are making measurable improvements to reduce our footprint," she added. Investments In Food Waste Management Both Sani Resort in Greece and Ashford Castle in Ireland have installed Winnow, an AI-powered food waste system. "However, this is only a tool. The kitchen has to analyze the data and make plans for what we deem as waste. All it takes is creativity and commitment," noted Niall Rochford, managing director of Ashford Estate, in an email interview. George V Dining Room at Ashford Castle, Ireland. Ashford Castle “Getting the younger generation of chefs involved is essential – inspiring them with new creations, technology and turning something deemed as waste into a beautiful product is key,” he added. But the implementation was successful, as this initiative has cut kitchen waste by two-thirds over the past two years. Balancing heritage and innovation, however, brings its own set of challenges when it comes to a historic building. However, several European castle hotels are proving that tradition and sustainability can coexist, just like at Ashford Castle. In the Maldives, Sun Siyam Resorts also invested in improving waste management. It established an upcycling facility in 2024 that transforms discarded plastic into furniture and usable materials, while keeping waste out of landfills and oceans. Sun Siyam is also committed to cutting food waste systematically and has started the PLEDGE on Food Waste program, which helps measure, prevent and reduce food waste. Discarded plastic is turned into furnitures in the new upcycling facility of Sun Siyam Resorts, the Maldives. Sun Siyam Resorts At the Cayo Levantado Resort in the Dominican Republic, a biodigestion system has been converting organic waste into biogas and fertilizer since 2024, cutting emissions and closing the nutrient cycle. Reducing Freshwater Use And Increasing Water Circularity Hotel El Ganzo invested in a comprehensive upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant in Los Cabos, Mexico. In 2024, the hotel commissioned technical advisory and diagnostics to address challenges, while in 2025 it replaced the aeration diffusers and expanded the oxygenation capacity to enhance treated-water quality. "Today 30–40% of treated water is reused for garden irrigation; expansion is planned to donate water for the public green areas outside the hotel," said Arun Ruz, sustainability director at Hotel El Ganzo, in an email interview. "We share where we are and what’s next, instead of claiming '100%' prematurely," Ruz noted. Waterfront of Hotel El Ganzo in Mexico. Hotel El Ganzo At Cayo Levantado Resort, a new drinking water production plant generates about 1,585 U.S. gallons per day (6,000 liters). All water is bottled in reusable glass bottles on-site to avoid plastic. While in Greece, Sani Resort operates modern wastewater treatment facilities that enable 100% reuse of treated water for garden irrigation. On the other side of Europe, South Lodge in West Sussex, United Kingdom, is part of the Exclusive Collection, which is the UK’s first B Corp-certified hotel group. When The Reeds at South Lodge, a brand-new private spa lodges, were built in 2024, they received an integrated rainwater harvesting system to reuse captured rainwater for flushing toilets and reduce mains water consumption. Lakeside cabins at South Lodge in West Sussex, United Kingdom The Reeds at South Lodge, Exclusive Collection / Angela Ward Brown "BCorp is about continuous improvement. We never hold ourselves up as being perfect, but we are transparent on where we are at on our journey and continually strive to improve in everything we do," said Danny Pecorelli, managing director at Exclusive Collection, in an email interview. Increased Conservation Efforts To Increase Biodiversity In Greece, Sani Resort continues its Thermaikos Biodiversity Project in partnership with iSea. It focuses on marine restoration initiatives such as hatching endangered ray eggs. In 2025, the resort will also maintain the Sani Bee Spot, the most extensive bee-friendly garden in Greece, in partnership with the Bee Camp. Bee-friendly garden at Sani Resort, Greece. Sani Resort The Sani Forest program, in partnership with the Forest Research Institute, enhances carbon storage and ecosystem resilience through long-term monitoring and native pine reforestation. "By weaving environmental responsibility into every aspect of the guest journey, Sani redefines what luxury in the Mediterranean means: an experience that is elegant, effortless, and conscious. This approach meets the growing expectations of today’s travellers," said Eleni Andreadis, director of sustainability and CSR at Sani Resort. At Cayo Levantado Resort in the Dominican Republic, conservation work included the removal of 1,400 invasive plants, the rescue and release of over 50 injured birds, the protection of sea turtles, and the release of more than 500 butterflies raised in the resort’s on-site sanctuary. Frasers Hospitality contributes to urban biodiversity through rooftop beehives at Capri by Fraser Berlin. It started producing local honey in 2025. Its tree planting initiative with Eden Reforestation Projects continues this year. Beehives on the rooftop of Capri by Fraser Leipzig, Germany. Frasers Hospitality Why Transparency Is The New Currency By no means is it an exhaustive list, but each project here demonstrates measurable impact rather than symbolic gestures. When sustainability becomes integral to hotel operations, it shifts from being a marketing feature to a core business principle and a performance metric. "Transparency is at the heart of our communications. Rather than relying on buzzwords, we focus on tangible, measurable actions, many of which guests can see, experience, or even participate in," said Ambar Grosch Rodriguez, sales manager at Cayo Levantado Resort, in an email interview. Forbes from A’ARU Collective also noted that travellers crave stories, connection and authenticity more than ever before. "There is significant mistrust in our industry due to tokenistic claims and the bar being too low for many green certifications, so specific actions and measurable outcomes must be shared clearly and explicitly, while then storytelling should focus on the why behind the initiative," she added. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
