Sustainable Hotel Hotlist, Matches Fashion

From slick city abodes to remote island retreats, Holly Tuppen discovers 10 new hotels offering a conscious approach to luxury travel.

MYANMAR

WA ALE RESORT

Wa Ale’s 11 carefully constructed tents line an otherwise deserted beach in Myanmar’s virtually unknown Myeik Archipelago; small sharks cruise the warm shallows, and sea eagles glide above dense mangrove forests. Guests pause nature-filled days for refreshment in a bamboo dining pavilion where exquisite seafood and homegrown greens are served with zingy local spices and fruits. Sanctioned by Myanmar’s Ministry of Tourism for its responsible tourism ethos, Wa Ale encourages guests to visit conservation sites in the Lampi Marine National Park and contributes 20% of profits to its Lampi Foundation. waaleresort.com

CAMBODIA

SHINTA MANI WILD

Hosting several new openings, Cambodia should be top-of-mind for eco-luxe travellers this year. Shinta Mani Wild is the most sustainably-focused; the first-class tented sanctuary offers guests the chance to track endangered species (including pangolins and cloud leopards) and support their wellbeing in the remote Cardamom Mountains. Adventure butlers will organise everything from foraging expeditions to bouldering, but only if guests can tear themselves away from nature-inspired spa treatments, Bill Bensley’s signature design and watching the river tumble past secluded suites.  shintamani.com/wild

USA

1 WEST HOLLYWOOD

The sustainably minded 1 Hotel group is bringing its neutral tones, native greenery and reclaimed interiors to the west coast for the first time this summer. 1 West Hollywood will breathe life into an existing hotel by adding a rooftop bar with downtown LA views, a daily market stand for guests and locals alike, and 1 Hotel’s signature energy-saving techniques — it’s on target to achieve a LEED Silver certification, making it LA’s most energy-efficient hotel. West Hollywood is one of California’s more walkable areas, so guests will be encouraged to leave gas-guzzling big rigs at home, too. Opening May 2019. 1hotels.com/west-hollywood

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE

SUNDY PRAIA

Marooned in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa, one of the world’s smallest countries can be challenging to get to, but that’s all part of the appeal. Once on Príncipe, a verdant jungle plunges into a sea teeming with life; a scene only occasionally disturbed by fisherman’s huts and dilapidated colonial-era mansions. Sundy Praia’s 15 tented-villas have been built using local timber and designed not to disrupt the surrounding forest. Owned by Here Be Dragons, the group provides vital employment opportunities for islanders and are establishing a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to protect the islands’ environment. sundyprincipe.com

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