SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD WELCOMES “The Namkhan” INTO ITS ‘CONSIDERATE COLLECTION’
A COMMUNITY OF ACTIVELY SUSTAINABLE LUXURY HOTELS
[28.07.2024] Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has announced the addition of The Namkhan Resort to its Considerate Collection, a group of luxury hotels that are committed to sustainability. This pioneering hotel joins a community of actively sustainable luxury hotels going the extra eco mile, proving that luxury is compatible with longevity.
This prestigious recognition acknowledges The Namkhan´s commitment to sustainable practices and contribution to a more environmentally conscious hospitality industry. SLH has collaborated with the most respectable sustainable travel and luxury hospitality players to create a trusted and transparent framework. These include Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) – the international, independent, not-for-profit body established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO.
All Considerate Collection hotels display strong alignment with the GSTC’s global criteria across three key pillars ensuring all the hotels are **Community Minded, Cultural Custodians and Environmentally Conscious. These pillars are all underpinned by a strong sustainability management system.
The Namkhan, Laos
Environmentally Conscious
Transforming a rundown teak plantation into a flourishing organic farm with botanical gardens, The Namkhan takes ongoing care of the land and its now fertile soil – which is pesticide-free and irrigated by the nearby Nam Khan River. Much of the produce you’ll dine on is homegrown (you can learn more by joining one of the educational garden walks with informative QR codes next to each plant), supported by a zero-waste kitchen. The hotel is entirely plastic-free and mostly solar powered, offering mountain bikes and electric scooters to explore Luang Prabang.
Cultural Custodians
The riverside rooms at The Namkhan were sustainably built by a team of local carpenters using native teak wood, bamboo, and recyclable grass on the roofs. The interiors are filled with artworks and handicrafts made by Luang Prabang artisans, and every bamboo piece is handwoven by Mae Souk, the hotel’s resident bamboo weaver (who leads weaving workshops with guests to create traditional baskets and tea filters, paired with the hotel’s own organic tea blend). Gather vegetables from the hotel’s gardens, then learn how to prepare a five-course Laotian farm-to-table feast with The Namkhan’s chefs.
Community Minded
Many of The Namkhan’s staff members hail from the surrounding villages, and benefit from living onsite, with ongoing training opportunities and healthcare costs covered. Famers from neighbouring provinces are invited to visit the hotel and exchange their knowledge and skills, helping the community grow and work together. The hotel’s boat transports guests down the Namkhan and Mekong rivers to visit various cultural sites and locally owned businesses, including Ban Chan Pottery House (run by the Lamphet family). The hotel has also dedicated one of its fields to shelter and care for around 20 stray dogs, in the hopes of helping them find forever homes with visitors.
Camille, GM of The Namkhan: Sustainability and a deep connection to the local community is in the DNA of THE NAMKHAN
Daniel Luddington, VP of Development, Small Luxury Hotels of the World said “We’ve carefully curated the Considerate Collection to help customers and the travel trade make more informed and eco-conscious decisions. The Namkhan is a standout property in this collection, demonstrating how a small luxury hotel can have a significant positive impact. Its commitment to sustainability serves as a model for other hotels in the industry, and we’re proud to showcase it as an example of excellence.”
Each hotel within the Considerate Collection either has been certified by a GSTC Accredited Certification Body or certified to a GSTC Recognized Standard or has passed an assessment by the SLH Sustainability Advisory Panel with review by the GSTC.
For more information, visit www.slh.com/considerate
Images can be downloaded here.
Editorial Enquiries:
The Namkhan, Camille Budry, gm@thenamkhan.com
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