Discovering a path to the future
Sustainability may be the guiding light of many of today’s businesses and enterprises, but for Discovery Primea, it is also shining the way to the future.
David Pardo Ayala, general manager of the luxury Makati hotel, says while sustainability is being increasingly accepted by many people, younger individuals expect—even demand—it from establishments they patronize.
This plots the course for the future of Discovery Primea.
Ayala says young people “care with a passion” for the environment. They are invested in sustainability, which means meeting current resource needs without depleting them for future generations.
The hotel, which is popular with business executives and entrepreneurs, does have a substantial number of young guests, often staying with their families, Ayala says. “They influence (family) decisions and will soon be making their own,” he points out.
Discovery Primea’s general manager also knows these young guests are future movers and shakers and may become the company bigwigs that the hotel caters to.
Thus, it makes good business sense to anticipate and start responding to their preferences.
Using less water, energy
Ayala says the hotel has been taking steps toward sustainability in the last three years.
It has partnered with leading experts and companies to adopt more energy-efficient and water-saving systems, among other things.
Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions, has installed water systems that optimize water pressure using less energy. Slow-flow fixtures that use less water have been installed.
AdventEnergy has allowed it to source electricity through cleaner, more sustainable solutions. Ventilation is also being improved to help reduce energy use.
Ayala says, “We choose partners that offer impactful solutions for our sustainability objectives.”
With Grundfos pumps requiring less power to operate, it is estimated that power saving will be about 15 kilowatts per hour, or energy savings of up to P3,600 per day.
The use of Grundfos pumps also means less carbon emissions from the operation of the pumps, aside from more efficient use and less wastage of water.
Discovery Primea has also partnered with Bambikes to make available to guests bamboo bicycles created by artisans from Gawad Kalinga, a nongovernmental organization that aims to combat poverty and build sustainable, integrated communities.
Another sustainability initiative is to go paperless. In partnership with The Digital Hotelier, the hotel has replaced printed materials with a streamlined digital platform that allows guests to access hotel information, dining options and services through their personal devices like mobile phones and tablets.
This reduces the use of paper and is aligned with the hotel’s goal of delivering a more seamless and sustainable guest experience.
Sustainable dining
As Discovery Primea also has food outlets, the hotel is exploring ways to reduce food wastage.
“Mindful dining is important to us … Through a committee that constantly explores new ideas, our F&B (food and beverage) outlets are working toward more sustainable ways to serve guests with both excellence and care,” Ayala says.
The process of making dining sustainable is an ongoing process.
Clients have responded well to efforts to be more environment-friendly and have been “extremely receptive.”
No major complaints have been received from guests. Instead, helpful suggestions have been offered on how to do things better.
Discovery Primea is also developing a culture where staff members themselves are practicing, not just implementing, sustainable ways.
The hotel believes sustainability should be adopted because it is the company’s responsibility to do its share in easing environmental problems and not just because clients demand it.
The process is gradual. Discovery Primea is adopting and adapting to changes in both big and small ways to achieve its goal.
As Ayala says, “Sustainability does not have to be grand gestures.”
