Jetwing Hotels on Sustainability Initiatives

14 May 2012 05:19 am

The name ‘Jetwing' has long been associated with caring, and a commitment to hospitality as well as the environment. For almost 40 years, the family owned company has grown tremendously, from humble beginnings in Negombo in 1963. Future projects, planned to bear fruit in the next three years, include the doubling of the current room inventory.

Amidst this rapid growth, many principles have not changed. The importance placed on remaining sustainability through energy efficiency and education, has been heightened with many new initiatives in place. The soon to be unveiled Jetwing Lagoon in Talahena, Negombo, formerly known as the Blue Lagoon and honoured with the distinction of being Sri Lanka's first resort hotel as well as the maestro Geoffrey Bawa's first hotel project will feature a central chilling system powered by a biomass boiler, as well as 100% illumination through energy saving lighting. Using the latest in technology to achieve such aims, the latest innovation to be used at Jetwing is indeed a novel one: a completely self-sustaining mobile water purification and bottling plant. Powered by solar power, and depending on city watersup- ply, the plant purifies the water and prepares bottles (which are made of 30% recycled glass). Initial plans for the plant are for operations to begin in Negombo, to supply the four Jetwing hotels in the area, and to be implemented within the other hotels as well.

The process of innovative measures doesn't stop there however; with the recent implementation of an enhanced composting process utilizing technology from Norway's Agro Nova. The final product from the process can either be directly used as compost, or pelletized to be consumed as fuel for the bio-mass boilers.