The Datai Pledge is an environmental initiative by The Datai Langkawi Resort in Malaysia. It aims to protect nature and the local community by promoting sustainable practices, supporting environmental education programs, and preserving wildlife habitats. Guests and staff are actively involved in conservation projects to maintain biodiversity and the ecosystem in the long term. The initiative is so exciting and interesting that editor Andreas Conrad conducted an interview with CEO of Datai Hotels and Resorts, Malaysia about it.
Exclusive Interview with Arnaud Girodon, Executive Administrator, The Datai Pledge and CEO of Datai Hotels and Resorts, Malaysia
Andreas Conrad: Speaking of your guests, generally speaking people staying in exclusive hotels, do you have the feeling that they look for sustainable arrivals to their destination?
Arnaud Girodon: We have indeed seen a growing trend of travellers specifically looking for destinations that contribute back to the environment and surrounding communities, however, in my view, this has not become a primary driver on how guests decide on their holiday destination yet. Other considerations, such as location, landscape, type of property, service reputation and facilities ae still higher on the priorities list of the majority of guests when deciding on their next holiday destination. Nonetheless, if guests have the choice between similar hotels that fulfil all other factors, but differ in their active support for sustainability and regenerative programmes, then this can certainly become a deciding factor.
Andreas Conrad: So would you agree that sustainable traveling starts with the actual travel itself or at the hotel?
Arnaud Girodon: It is undeniable that sustainable traveling encompasses both the journey and the stay, purely from a carbon foot print perspective. But that would by default mean that long haul travel is therefore not sustainable, which would be very reductive, in my view…
I am of the opinion that sustainable travel truly begins with the mindset of the traveller, and instead of purely choosing carbon foot print as the benchmark for their travel, they rather adopt a more holistic view. This holistic view includes the desire for regenerative travel experiences, where a holiday not only rejuvenates guests in terms of their own well-being but also contributes to the support of local culture, artisans, suppliers and more. At The Datai Langkawi, we conceptualised The Datai Pledge during our 1 year closure for refurbishment in 2017/2018 and are now thrilled to have a thriving conservation and sustainability programme in place that reinforces our sustainability ethos, as in its framework, we have established partnerships with local NGOs and social enterprises, we work with local artisans and have implemented initiatives that offer guests the opportunity to engage directly with the local community – through workshops, talks and other activities that enable them to immerse themselves in the culture and history of the destination they chose to holiday in, while also leaving a lasting impression and direct tangible support for the communities surrounding The Datai Langkawi.
Andreas Conrad: In common sense most people connect luxury with wastefulness, of course we know and agree that’s not always the case. So how would you reconcile luxury and sustainability?
Arnaud Girodon: Luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can complement each other beautifully. We at The Datai Langkawi strongly believe that experiences are what draw today’s luxury travellers to certain destinations or properties, specifically when it comes to resorts. By using our resources to invest in people and nature and by creating experiences that prioritise environmental stewardship, such as sustainability activities, community outreach programmes, nature conservation initiatives, interactive workshops and talks with local artisans, educational excursions with recognised scientific researchers, and more, we surely prove how luxury can coexist harmoniously with sustainability.
Andreas Conrad: Speaking of those refinements and ideas, does your resort have for example a two-year plan to operate more eco-friendly or sustainable? If so, are you comfortable sharing some with us?
Arnaud Girodon: As part of The Datai Pledge, our wide reaching sustainability and conservation programme, we publish an annual impact Report, This report details our short-, mid-, and long-term plans, segregated by the areas we focus on (our four pillars: Pure for the Future which focuses on sustainable operations and community outreach, Fish for the Future which focuses on the protection of our marine environment, Wildlife for the Future which focuses on supporting wildlife and their habitat surrounding us, and Youth for the Future which focuses on educating the next generation on environmental practices and nurturing the green leaders of tomorrow).
Some of our mid-term (2-3 year) goals are to establish a Marine Protected Area for Datai bay – we are working on a number of projects within the Fish for the Future pillar to support this designation such as coral rehabilitation, reef monitoring, the planting of artificial reefs, collaboration with local fishermen and the Department of Fisheries on sustainable fishing practices, and more.
We have also formalised a partnership between the Pure for the Future pillar and The Kanshalife Project, a local social enterprise that aims to uplift and support underprivileged members of the local community through projects that support a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. In this collaboration, we have come to support the work of Geng Bersih Kampung (GBK), an inspiring community space that provides children at risk with education on nature, sustainability, language, heritage and other life skills. Our goal is to provide upgrades to the community space with a dedicated pavilion where classes can be held, separate lodging for volunteers to stay at the facility while they work with children, and an extended kitchen and garden that will provide space to grow produce that can then be used in transferring culinary skills that build the basis of a self-sufficient lifestyle.
As part of our work under the Wildlife for the Future pillar, we aim to address the five biggest threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population growth beyond sustainable numbers, and over-harvesting. One of our mid-term goals is to establish an island-wide wildlife corridor that will connect fragmented habitats for Langkawi’s wildlife. Extending over 45km between the east and west coast of Langkawi, this corridor will enable the safe passage of wildlife through over- and underpasses, as well as promote genetic diversity. We are in ongoing discussion with the local development authorities for support in this endeavour as it will involve installations, bridges, tunnels and more on land around the island.
In terms of reforestation, we are working on enhancing our Native Tree Nursery, where we grow saplings from seeds collected on our property, which are then transplanted into the forest surrounding our grounds. Through this nursery and careful tending to the seeds and saplings, we aim to increase the survival chances of a sapling from 40% in the wild to 60%. A next step will be to upgrade the nursery to include a full seed bank and have a planting stock of 15,000 trees just to replace pioneer trees lost or damaged due to storms. We will also cultivate 50,000 saplings with assistance from the Forestry Department for eventual planting within Datai bay.
Andreas Conrad: In order to reach your goal, to what extent do you involve the local population in your sustainability strategies and is there government support for sustainability programes?
Arnaud Girodon: Engaging the local community is at the core of our sustainability strategy at The Datai Langkawi. We’ve forged partnerships between The Datai Pledge and local NGOs as well as social enterprises that share our commitment to environmental conservation and community development. Each of our pillars is partnered with a dedicated local organisation that regularly visits The Datai Langkawi for scientific research as well as guest engagement, and that we in turn support with outreach by the team as well as monetary contributions.
Our Pure For The Future pillar underpins The Datai Langkawi’s commitment to be a sustainable business and strives to consistently achieve zero waste to the landfill whilst protecting nature and improving the welfare of the local community. Our programe involves recycling and upcycling initiatives, community projects that champion sustainable micro-enterprises and natural produce, guest education programes that promote ‘green living’, and initiatives to reduce energy and our carbon footprint. In partnership with Langkawi-based social enterprise and pillar partner, The Kanshalife Project, as well as Geng Bersih Kampung and schools sponsored through the United Nations-endorsed Eco-Schools Programme, we nurture businesses and local entrepreneurship, especially with children, disadvantaged and marginalised members of our extended community.
Under Fish For The Future, we work with the Department of Fisheries and the state government to help us reach local fishers and work with them to adopt a whole-systems thinking on marine environments and to raise awareness of the benefits of sustainable fishing. The Artificial Reefs deployed at Datai Bay were designed to support sustainable fishing practices. Over 90 local head fishers have participated in engagement sessions with the Malaysian Department of Fisheries to promote sustainable fishing.
The Wildlife For The Future programe aims to protect and restore the natural heritage of the island using a holistic approach and responsible management. We work alongside Gaia, a social enterprise dedicated to wildlife conservation nationwide by installing artificial nest boxes and funding them on specific project. These involve the production of education and fundraising material for community outreach programes to schools as well as the maintenance and care of a fig tree nursery in Kinabatangan, Borneo, to grow hornbill preferred food plants.
The Youth For The Future pillar aims to educate young people through promoting a greater awareness of sustainability issues and instilling them with the knowledge, actions and activities to create a sustainable lifestyle at their own homes. Together with partner NGO Green Growth Asia Foundation, we sponsor three schools in Langkawi to participate in the Kedah Eco-Schools Programme. Eco-Schools is the world’s largest sustainable education programme, present in 68 countries and 52,000 schools. It supports the goals of the United Nations (UNESCO) Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The Eco-Schools initiative has a 3-year programme cycle that comprises preparation, implementation and reporting. These partnerships focus on initiatives such as protecting the rainforest, supporting youth education, and preserving endangered species habitats. Through collaborative efforts with local schools, we educate children about eco-friendly practices and environmental stewardship.
Andreas Conrad: Due to our profession we are at multiple exclusive resorts of the world. Sometimes we have the feeling that the thought of sustainability is only important for European / German speaking guests.
Would you agree?
Arnaud Girodon: I can understand where this feeling would come from somehow, but, ironically, the biggest polluters in the world are the most advanced countries including Europe. The US leads the world in carbon emissions, and Germany is included in the top 10 of countries producing the most carbon emissions. Maybe there is a correlation between these facts and sustainability having been a more prominent topic traditionally in the West than in Asia. However, I feel that recent years have seen an exponential growth of not just private citizens but large corporations driving environmentally conscious measures worldwide.
From our own team, we can see how passionate everyone is in pursuing our sustainability goals. For example, the staff working in waste processing, in our Sorting Centre, separating and compacting food waste, or crushing glass for further processing – these are not glamorous jobs but the satisfaction in knowing they are contributing to a better environment that we leave behind for our children is what makes these team members proud of their work each and every day. Other staff spend their free time to engage in further research on endangered species, ways to reduce waste, or come up with new ideas of how to engage guests in our activities.
On the other hand, we can also see the response from our guests to our sustainability and regenerative experiences. While we do have a strong guest base in Western Europe, we have also seen increased visitor numbers from Malaysia and the region – and no matter the origin country, they are all enthusiastic about participating in our nature and sustainability activities, to engage with our team and learn more about the delicate balance of the eco system in Langkawi and what we do to protect and support it. In fact, more than 90% of our guests support our sustainability measures with an optional nightly fee that goes to The Datai Pledge and is utilised in our programes and to support our partner organisations.
Andreas Conrad: Speaking of your personal opinion, how do you think traveling and staying at luxurious destinations will change in the future? And where do you see the limits of sustainability in the luxury hospitality industry?
Arnaud Girodon: Sustainability is already one of the driving forces of luxury travel and I foresee the concern for nature, community, operational sustainability and wildlife to be growing in the coming years. Luxury hospitality must evolve to meet these evolving expectations by integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of the guest experience. However, there are challenges, particularly in maintaining high standards of luxury whilst minimising environmental impact. Striking the right balance will be crucial for the industry moving forward.
I also believe all hotels will be faced with more and more government regulations imposing new sustainable criteria. Properties that have already advanced further into regenerative practices will surely have a leading edge.
The real challenge for our industry and most specifically the luxury segment is to discern who is serious and authentic about their sustainability goals and who is only jumping on the bandwagon and ‘greenwashing’ their actions and projects. This ‘greenwashing’ practice is unfortunately being employed more and more by disingenuous operators, which causes confusion in the market and poses the challenge to find hotels that are actually serious in their sustainable endeavours, and who are investing into sustainability programmes with a view to long-term positive influence on the environment and community, as opposed to only using sustainability as a PR term for short-term financial gain.
Andreas Conrad: There are lots of environmentally conscious trends, which ones have you noticed in recent years?
Arnaud Girodon: In recent years, several environmentally conscious trends have emerged in the hospitality industry. These include a shift towards renewable energy sources, such as solar power and wind turbines, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, there’s a growing emphasis on waste reduction and recycling, as well as initiatives to conserve water and protect natural habitats. Sustainable sourcing of materials and ingredients, together with the promotion of local and organic products are also gaining traction among eco-conscious travellers. All of these trends require conscious decision making and adoption by every member of an organisation – from the top decision makers down to entry-level staff, I believe it is essential that everyone is dedicated to improving sustainability in business operations, if adoption lacks in certain segments, the entire programme is at risk of not succeeding.
Andreas Conrad: Lastly, we are curious! There’s a current boom of luxurious hospitality facilities all over the world. Everybody wants to go higher, further, faster, chasing the sky. What does a luxury resort or hotel need to survive the tough competition?
Arnaud Girodon: In such a competitive landscape, a luxury resort or hotel must differentiate itself by offering more than just opulent amenities, services or luxury architecture and interior design. To thrive amidst tough competition, a property must find its key differentiators and its route, its own purpose and what it stands for, and then excel at it. We at The Datai Langkawi are very clear in our approach to exist in harmony with nature and are therefore placing sustainability and environmental responsibility as our core values. This entails not only implementing eco-friendly practices but also fostering meaningful connections with guests, team members, and the local community.
It is an approach of aiming higher in terms of leaving a positive impact and ensuring future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty of nature around us, consciously moving away from the empty race to be more glitzy, more grandiose, or more opulent. We understand that this can serve as a competitive advantage that differentiates us from other properties, but are also happy if any of our programmes are used as best practice and to enhance sustainability programmes in other properties. By providing authentic regenerative experiences that resonate with more and more eco-conscious travellers, we believe that our resort can stand out as a unique luxury resort and thus ensure its long-term success.
Andreas Conrad: Finally, we would like to know what unique selling point your resort has in terms of environmentally friendly tourism?
Arnaud Girodon: The Datai Langkawi’s unique selling proposition regarding environmentally friendly tourism is multifaceted. Grounded in our brand ethos, ‚Man and Nature in Perfect Harmony‘, our resort delivers an immersive experience that invites guests to engage in meaningful connection with nature, themselves, and each other.
The Datai Langkawi has been intentionally designed to be ensconced within an ancient rainforest, and to seamlessly integrate into its verdant surroundings, instead of overpowering the beauty of nature all around it. Captivated by the beauty of Datai Bay, the late architect Kerry Hill approached our resort’s construction with reverence, opting for a methodology that honoured the ecosystem. Rather than disrupting the natural habitat with heavy machinery, trees were felled only selectively, repurposing the wood thoughtfully in other areas of the construction such as the proud wooden pillars our Thai restaurant The Pavilion sits on. Every step of the process was guided by a commitment to sustainability, from the choice of building materials celebrating local cultural heritage to the immediate replanting of trees in cleared areas.
In 2017 and 2018, The Datai Langkawi underwent a significant renovation, led by esteemed architect Didier Lefort who was the designated interior designer collaborating with Kerry Hill on the original creation of the resort. Preserving the resort’s cherished ‚Datai DNA‘ while fortifying our dedication to sustainability, new dedicated facilities were added to the property. Central to this renovation was the establishment of The Nature Centre, a haven for environmental education and research, constructed with eco-conscious materials and staffed by a passionate team of naturalists and marine biologists who offer immersive experiences to guests such as beach walks to learn about the fascinating life cycle of creatures that have made this specific habitat their home, or holistic nature experiences such as Mandi Embun which consists of an amalgamation of ancient Malay rituals that are believed to enhance mental and physical well-being – starting with forest bathing in an ancient rainforest at the break of dawn at the foot of majestic Mount Machinchang, and ending in a dip in a pristine jungle creek to refresh the senses and invigorate the self. Aside from guest engagement, the team at The Nature Centre also engages in research projects under The Datai Pledge, actively working on supporting and protecting our environment.
Our commitment to environmental stewardship extends beyond infrastructure to encompass waste management, plastic reduction, and resource conservation. Initiatives such as our Organic Wealth Centre, Permaculture Garden, Pure Centre, and The Lab play an essential role in or efforts. Through a variety of initiatives such as composting, waste sorting, glass crushing, upcycling of materials used in operations, and more, we have achieved our goal of zero waste to the landfill for the first time in December 2021. On an annualised basis, we now achieve an average of 94% of waste diverted form the landfill – an accomplishment that has been made possible by the dedication of our team, the investment in new technologies and machinery, as well as the collaboration with the local community.
We were also the first and remain the only organisation in the world to be awarded the EarthCheck ECO Certification (Silver) for terrestrial (land-based) tourism projects – we achieved this landmark certification in 2019 and have been re-certified in a rigorous audit process every year since.
These initiatives, while diverse in scope, converge on a singular vision: to foster a symbiotic relationship between our guests and the natural world. Through immersive experiences, educational opportunities, and sustainable practices, The Datai Langkawi invites guests to not only witness the beauty of nature but to become active participants in its preservation.
In essence, The Datai Langkawi offers guests an unparalleled opportunity to reconnect with nature while being stewards of the environment. We believe this unique combination is what truly sets us apart.
Here you can find the interview in German
The Datai Langkawi
Jalan Teluk Datai
07000 Langkawi – Kedah
Malaysia
