Spanish hotel group Melia has improved the green credentials of three of its hotels in Asia, adding more than 2,600 solar panels to the properties.
Between them, the three solar panel projects will make a significant impact on the hotels’ carbon footprints. The installations will reduce the carbon emissions of each hotel, and cut their reliance on local grid electricity, while producing emission-free power from rooftops.
Supporting Vietnam’s green push
At the Melia Vinpearl Cua Hoi Beach Resort in Vietnam, 1,450 solar panels have been introduced, added to building rooftops, in parking areas and on back of office blocks. The Melia Vinpearl Cua Sot has seen a smaller installation of 546 panels. Over a year, the panels are expected to generate 10-30% of each property’s total electricity requirement, going towards the country’s estimated 19GW of green energy production, across both solar and wind power installations.
In Thailand, at Melia Phuket Mai Khao, the solar panel installation is expected to deliver more than 39,000kw of electricity every month. There, the panels have been installed across ten different buildings on the site, including the spa and lobby blocks.
“Solar panels are just one of the sustainable initiatives that our hotels are pursuing to ensure a healthier future in places where we have properties,” said Ignacio Martin, managing director for Meliá Hotels International in the APAC region. “Our hotels and resorts are also investing in circular food economies, community projects focused on restoring local natural environments, and plastic reduction or elimination, to name a few initiatives.” More installations are planned, with the Melia Vinpearl Cam Ranh Beach Resort expecting to see a panel installation later in 2024.
The move is one of a number being led by Melia, as it claims a lead in sustainability in the hotel sector. The group has been named by TIME magazine as the most sustainable hotel company in the world, and its Travel for Good programme continues to drive forward new initiatives to support the sustainability cause.
Encouraging greener travel
In October 2024, the group partnered with Spanish rail operator Renfe, to encourage guests to use more sustainable transport. With carbon emissions from a train journey reckoned to be up to five times less than travel by other methods such as driving a car, the Reward Trip has been set up to reward the environmentally responsible option.
A three month campaign will focus on guests travelling to Melia hotels in Spain, where destinations can easily be reached using trains from Renfe’s AVA, Avant and ALVIA long distance services. Those validating their train ticket on arrival at their hotel will received 1,000 Melia Rewards loyalty points, and 100 Renfecitos, both with a value when exchanged for benefits and upgrades.
