Hotels (Commonwealth Union) _ Uga, a Sri Lankan-owned hotel chain, is committed to long-term sustainability practices across its six resorts, focusing on environmental, social, cultural, economic, quality, and human rights issues. The Uga Ulagalla resort, for example, boasts one of the largest solar panel farms among Sri Lankan hotels, minimizing the need for grid power. The company’s vice president, Marcelline Paul, discussed Uga’s alignment with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and its comprehensive approach to operational sustainability, covering energy, water, waste, wildlife, community, legal, marketing, and training.
Responding to whether luxury can be sustainable, Paul affirmed that it can be, emphasizing the importance of shifting perspectives. Luxury, she noted, involves service, privacy, and space, and it doesn’t necessarily mean excess or opulence. Uga focuses on managing and measuring water and waste through frameworks provided by certification bodies like Travelife, setting up or reviewing processes, and training staff to minimize consumption.
Regarding AI food waste technology, Uga has not yet implemented it but is planning to explore such technologies in the coming year. While the hotels are not entirely single-use plastic-free, they are close, having removed single-use plastic water bottles long ago. Uga is phasing out clingfilm and working on alternatives with suppliers.
The newly opened Uga Riva hotel follows Uga’s sustainability practices, with a focus on conservation and community development pillars—Woman, Water, Wildlife. The company aims to employ and empower women in the local community, engage with local interests such as coconut cultivation, and address healthcare and water access needs.
Marcelline Paul discussed Sri Lanka’s efforts towards responsible tourism, mentioning the involvement of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, an MOU with GSTC, and collaborations with donors like USAID, Australian AID, and the EU. The country is working on a new Tourism Act prioritizing sustainability.
In terms of environmental initiatives, Uga collaborates with local communities to address the human-elephant conflict, working with experts to establish the Elephant Research Centre. The company wishes for Sri Lanka’s sustainable growth, emphasizing the need for a new narrative around conservation, heritage preservation, and community well-being. The goal is to move towards quality tourism and away from attracting large numbers of tourists, focusing on specific customer segments that align with desired profiles.
