Cardamom Tented Camp wins HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action

“GT” Partner Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has won the 2022 Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Hotel Award for Climate Action.

Apart from climate action, there were awards for building preservation/adaptive reuse, positive community impact, and sustainable design. The BHN Group, which runs the HICAP event, announced the winners on 12 October.

Seven judges, mostly from institutional sustainability backgrounds, assessed the submissions. The judges based the climate action decision on Cardamom Tented Camp’s ability to work with partners to preserve 180 sq km of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor national park in southwest Cambodia.

On climate action, it is estimated that the forest that the camp helps protect sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per year, according to Wildlife Works.

“… the forest that the camp helps protect sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per year, according to Wildlife Works.”

Since opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.” It makes the claim because monthly salaries of 10 Wildlife Alliance forest rangers are supplemented by profits from the camp. The rangers protect the habitat from illegal poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.

Populations of elephant, leopard, python, sun bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are increasing due to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have forced poachers to the perimeters, or out of the park altogether.

“Despite setbacks during the two Covid years when tourism income greatly disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures.

Find the full story and a video at https//goodtourismblog.com/2022/10/cardamom-tented-camp-wins-hicap-sustainable-hotel-award-for-climate-action/