Our Company is Committed to Promoting Sustainable Accommodation.
Accommodation plays a vital role in tourism, and our company is committed to making mindful choices for our clients. We prioritize accommodations meeting sustainability and quality standards, focusing on responsible water, waste, and energy management, sustainable supply chains, and safety and security. Our policy is to recommend the most sustainable options within our clients’ budgets. When selecting accommodations, we prefer those who consistently practice sustainability in all areas of their operations, in line with Travelife sustainability criteria.
Scope
This policy is a component of our overall Sustainability Policy and applies to the selection of accommodation providers we work with. It takes effect immediately upon approval by the Managing Director and distribution to staff.
The policy will be reviewed every two years to maintain its relevance. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Managing Director or the sustainability coordinator.
Sustainable Accommodation Principles
In our effort to select the most sustainable accommodation providers available, we prefer establishments that follow these core principles:
The Best Comfort at a Convenient Price
We prioritize accommodations that are hygienic, sanitary, and safe, and provide good comfort and service to meet our client’s expectations. Sustainable practices can be found across all price ranges, so we strive to identify the most sustainable options that fit within our clients’ budgets.
Fair Business
The accommodation provider should follow fair business practices, including transparency and adherence to law, human rights and economic/social equity, and environmental and animal protection.
Minimizes Impact on the Environment, Culture, and Society
The establishment places a high priority on sustainable practices, aiming at minimizing their effect on the surrounding environment, culture, and society.
General Sustainability Considerations
We prioritize accommodations that follow sustainability principles and minimize their impact on the environment, economy, society, and culture. Many hotels in Nepal are recognized for their responsible practices, which can be found across all budget ranges. Therefore, our company focuses on these practices when selecting the most responsible suppliers. Evaluations of the accommodation by our company can be made in several ways:
- Site visit by our company’s sustainability coordinator/reservation and operation manager
- Observations from our guide
- Provide feedback form to the clients as we have an accommodation section in the form
- Online Reviews to check their service and performance (example: Hostel World, Trip Advisor, Booking.com, etc.)
The following considerations are made in the evaluation of accommodation establishments and will inform our company preference:
Human Rights and Labor Standards
Accommodation providers must uphold human rights and comply with national labor standards throughout their operations. All employees should be provided with fair working conditions, including minimum wage, reasonable working hours, and proper meal breaks.
No Use of Plastic
The accommodation reduces plastic usage and, as a standard practice, does not offer plastic water bottles to guests. Instead, it provides designated refill stations where guests can fill the jugs provided in their rooms or their bottles.
Waste Management
We verify that the accommodation separates at least organic waste for composting and plastic for recycling. Establishments that can go beyond these basic waste management practices will be highly preferred.
Energy Efficiency
The accommodation provider should implement energy efficiency practices, such as using energy-saving light bulbs and energy-efficient equipment. They should encourage guests to turn off lights and appliances when not in use, either through signs or an automated system. We only prefer accommodations that use solar power.
Additionally, the provider must have a solar or electric heating system for hot showers, rather than relying on gas.
Water Efficiency
The accommodation efficiently uses water. Places with a water-saving system on their ‘western’ toilet and shower will be preferred over others. Places that make use of a bucket flush for the toilet and/or bucket shower also have clear control over the amount used.
Reuse/recycle the water in a swimming pool if the hotel has a swimming pool etc.
Rainwater harvesting hotels are our first preference etc.
Child Protection
The establishment ensures that the rights of children are respected and safeguarded. If the supplier employs children below the age of 18, the business should ensure that there are special working conditions put in place to safeguard them (for example part-time or on an internship basis).
Local Supplies
Accommodations are stimulated to purchase and use local food products, which are produced based on fair trade and sustainability principles.
Biodiversity Care
The accommodation limits their negative effect on local and global biodiversity wherever feasible (e.g. do not offer red-listed species on the menu).
Authentic Charm
The accommodation building (exterior and/or interior) incorporates elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage.
Community Value
The establishment respects the intellectual property rights of local communities and contributes to the local community in whichever way they can (e.g. sponsoring local events, and donating to local heritage sites).
Stimulating Enhanced Sustainable Practice
Our company follows a long-term strategy to improve the sustainability of regular accommodation suppliers. Upon request or self-initiative, we support collaborative initiatives with other tour operators and/or stakeholders to promote sustainability among accommodations in our destinations.
When possible, we talk to the accommodation owner/manager about their current practices and what they could do to follow more sustainable practices (e.g. by visit from our reservation manager or through our guides).
In addition, we may share best practice standards and guidance with our accommodation suppliers, including:
- Information about their sustainability certification, such as Travelife for Hotels
- Inform the accommodation provider about their sustainability practice and feedback from the clients which helps them self-evaluation
- Training manuals such as sustainability training, staff management, and behavior, etc.
Sanctions
If it is revealed that an accommodation supplier acts on unsustainable practices, our company will give them a warning. If that supplier does not amend its practice, our company will end any form of collaboration (informal and contractual) and will blacklist that company from any further association.
Communication with Accommodation Providers
Our company communicates with accommodation establishments in various ways.
Our most common communication is via email and phone. Particularly when sending emails, we can communicate on some sustainability aspects.
Digital – Voucher
Once our booking is made, we supply the accommodation suppliers with a voucher to claim their payment. With our regular suppliers we have agreed to send this voucher via email, to avoid paper waste except to some suppliers in that prefer paper proof.
Contract
We sign contracts with accommodation suppliers that we work with on a regular basis and with sufficient volume of clients. These contracts include an overview of our codes of conduct and sanctions, which the suppliers read and sign upon agreement.
In-person Visit
When we have the opportunity, we visit the accommodation in person and talk to them about how they could improve on their services and become more sustainable. In many instances it is our guides who deliver these messages.
What we communicate
Our company promotes as a mandatory policy:
- Child labour
- Quality food and service
- Sexual exploitation
- Anti-corruption / bribery
- Waste management
- Protection of biodiversity
Incentives
Our company give preference to working with those accommodation providers who are able to operate in a sustainable manner, taking responsibility for their impact on environment and society. We also recommend the hotels to our clients that has the maximum sustainability practices.
Sustainability Code of Conduct
As part of our long-term collaboration, Ace the Himalaya and [name of the supplier] agree on jointly pursuing and promoting sustainable business practices to develop more sustainable tourism in Nepal. These terms and conditions are an integral part of our collaboration:
Terms and Conditions
Social Welfare and Human Rights
- The supplier shall follow fair business practices, including transparency and adherence to national law and regulation.
- The supplier shall respect human rights and economic/social equity by establishing fair labor conditions for its staff and providing equal opportunities.
- The supplier shall ensure that all employees are free to enter and terminate their employment without penalty and following the employment contract.
- The supplier shall ensure that its activities do not risk in the provision or integrity of basic services to its neighboring communities, such as soil, food, water, energy, health care or public space.
- The accommodation provider follows child labour policy and work against sexual exploitation, in the context of Nepal the child right reflects:
- No employment of children below 16;
- Special working conditions are put in place to safeguard any employees between 16 and 18 (for example part-time or on internship basis);
- Follow the Child Protection Code against sexual exploitation of children. Any suspicious behavior from persons on the premises or during excursion shall be reported to the local authorities immediately.
Socio-Cultural Conditions
- The supplier shall purchase and use local food products, which are produced based on fair trade and sustainability principles
- The suppliers integrate and reflect elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage and follow the rules of local communities
- The supplier shall not sell or promote souvenirs that contain historic or archeological value, except as permitted by law.
Environment and Biodiversity
- The supplier shall minimize their impact on the environment by reducing plastic, using energy and water efficiently and ensuring proper waste management.
- The supplier shall ensure that animal-related activities, if any, are operated within proper internationally accepted animal welfare conditions.
- The supplier shall limit their negative effect on local and global biodiversity wherever feasible (e.g. do not offer red listed species on the menu).
Monitoring and Sanctions
- The supplier shall fully co-operate with the sustainability terms and conditions of this contract, and shall allow and support on-site inspections by our company or appointed third party in order to monitor compliance with sustainability conditions.
- In case of clear evidence that the accommodation bring risk in the provision or integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare or soil to the neighboring communities it can be reason to terminate this contract.
Our company will end this contractual agreement prematurely if the accommodation supplier does not take adequate measures to prevent (1) corruption and bribery, (2) sexual exploitation of children
