ASSET-H&C as a network now counts 14 member schools from 5 countries around Southeast Asia.
Every year, in order to create a strong collective dynamic and to highlight common challenges and ways to support each other, members gather for a 2-day seminar.
One afternoon is dedicated to the organization of a public conference, aiming at raising awareness among external partners and friends about a subject deemed important by ASSET-H&C members.
In 2017, “Eco-Responsiblity in Tourism” was chosen as the central topic of the conference.
This was first the opportunity to present ASSET-H&C’s “Ecospitality Initiative”, a collective project that aims at shaping the next generations of responsible tourism professionals in the region by creative conducive environments – eco-schools – and adapted educational tools for eco-students.
Great guest speakers from Artelia, Exo Travel, Inle Heritage & Inle Princess Resort, Jaya House River Park Hotel & Refill Not Landfill, Plastic Free Cambodia and AccorHotels, were also invited to share their experience on topics ranging from carbon emissions to food waste, water preservation and many more. The event was very instructive as hospitality professionals and environmental experts presented practical tools to reduce the environmental footprint of both hospitality training centres and tourism businesses.
« The paradox of plastic is that it is often used once but designed to last forever. »
Sarah Rhodes, founder of Plastic Free Cambodia, listed 5 forms of single-use plastic goods that can be easily avoided or replaced, both in the private and work spheres: water bottles, straws, bags, cups & glasses, and food containers. She underlined that alternatives, such as sugarcane straws, were now both easy to find and affordable.
A few solutions were also shared to avoid water pollution. Philippe Bés, director of ASSET-H&C school Sala Baï, presented the partnership he implemented with Naga Earth to recycle cooking oils into biodiesel and soaps. Yin Myo Su, founder of Inle Heritage and Inle Princess Resort, presented the natural water treatment plant she and her team installed in her hotel and hospitality school.
« We must be proud to show what is happening at the back of our house too.
| To save energy and water, Nicolas Jallade, environmental expert at Artelia, recommended the use of efficient equipment and fixtures. For instance, water-efficient showerheads consume more than 2 times less water and the initial investment is reimbursed in less than 6 months thanks to water saving! Helga Nagy, director of the ASSET-H&C school EHT Paul Dubrule, talked about their measures to reduce food waste, implemented through the use of food trays and no-leftovers policy at the canteen, as well as a partnership with local farmers to use organic waste for compost. Constance Boullier, representing EXO Travel, gave tips about responsible transportation and explained how the agency was raising awareness amongst travellers through a dedicated foundation and an information booklet. The role of customer demand was indeed raised, with speakers agreeing on the general growing interest of travellers for eco-friendly products and services. « People appreciate the “stop talking, start acting” mind-set » according to Christian de Boer, General Manager of Jaya House River Park Hotel, who encouraged all tourism businesses, starting with the small ones, to take action given the urgency of the situation. He, for example, implemented a plastic-free policy within the hotel that quickly became 95% effective thanks to negotiations with its suppliers.The topic of the conference raised a great deal of interest as many questions and remarks were directed to the speakers at the end of the conference. All guests were then invited to discuss further around an eco-friendly buffet and left with a personalized Refill Not Landfill reusable bottle offered by ASSET-H&C to become eco-responsible citizens! |
LinkedIn 
Facebook