Most of you have probably never heard of Singita but it is a company with concessions, reserves, lodges, and camps located in some of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas. Singita’s commitment to safeguard the precious wildlife and communities of these areas is entrenched in three core pillars: Biodiversity, Sustainability and Community, and it has been helping to preserve Africa’s wildlife and wilderness for the past 28 years.
“As an ecotourism and conservation brand, Singita is unwavering in its commitment to preserve and protect Africa’s wilderness for future generations,” the company says on its website.
Less than two weeks ago, Singita announced that it will automatically include a carbon neutral charge in every new booking from August 30, 2021, onward. The company says this will allow guests to seamlessly offset their carbon footprint. Funds generated will enable Singita to purchase verified carbon credits from accredited service providers in each region where it has properties. The charge is in line with Singita’s commitment to One Planet Living’s Zero Carbon Energy principle.
Says Dr. Andrea Ferry, Singita’s Group Sustainability Coordinator: “As an ecotourism and conservation brand, we believe we must play our part in fighting climate change. As part of our unwavering commitment to regenerative tourism, we are essentially enabling guests to enjoy a carbon neutral Singita stay by integrating a carbon emissions offset levy for accommodation. Added to that, we are also starting to offset all carbon emissions from staff business flights.
“We are constantly delighted to discover how likeminded and environmentally aware our guests are. They really do care, and we want to make it easier for them to tread as lightly as possible on the planet, while enjoying their time with us. Carbon offsetting is one way of lightening this impact. Many guests choose Singita because our values and purpose to protect wilderness areas resonate with them. Integrating carbon offsetting is a logical step to validate our and their commitment to a thriving planet.”
Charge Will Appear on Each Guest Invoice
The funds generated from the charges are rigorously tracked, and the average carbon footprint of one night’s accommodation was converted into a carbon offset cost for every stay. The estimated current cost per ton of carbon offset is $10 per ton, and the monetary value of the offset will appear on each guest invoice.
Carbon offset projects not only mitigate carbon, but also provide various other benefits for local communities. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, for example, funds collected by Singita support the purchase of a revolutionary, non-electric heat-retention cooker that allows food to continue cooking for up to 12 hours, without using additional energy.
The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address global inequalities and challenges by 2030, while aiding development and protecting the environment. Supporting carbon offsetting projects that align with as many of these SDGs as possible means that their impact will go well beyond carbon mitigation.
To what degree has your company or property incorporated carbon offsetting into your guests’ stay? Have you made it a voluntary step? If so, what percentage of your guests have participated? Or, like Singita, have you woven it into what you charge your guests? What has guest reaction been? I would love to learn about your experience with offsetting. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
For more information on Singita’s far-reaching conservation and sustainability efforts, click here.
Green Lodging News Welcomes STEP HEAT to Product Directory
Green Lodging News welcomes STEP HEAT to the Flooring/Radiant Heat section of its Green Product & Service Directory. STEP HEAT offers underfloor radiant heating solutions that bring warmth to hotels, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality. STEP Warmfloor is a 24/48 Volt AC/DC heating system that warms the air by heating the objects within the space from the ground up. It features a self-regulating heating element that decreases its electrical consumption when the ambient temperature increases. STEP Warmfloor is installed by laying out the heating elements to the pre-designed layout and connecting to a low-voltage electrical power supply. The elements can be put under most non-conductive floor covering be it hardwood, ceramic or porcelain tiles, natural stone, laminate, or carpet. Call (314) 222-9090 or e-mail sales@stepheat.com for more information.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 23,275 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 23,275. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,756 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 981 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
