For a boutique hotel or lodge in Asia to be Travelife-certified, it must meet strict criteria in several key areas:
- Environmental Responsibility – Certified hotels must implement systems to reduce energy and water consumption, minimize single-use plastics, and promote and use renewable energy where possible. They must have waste reduction programs, responsible waste disposal, and recycling initiatives in place to qualify as environmentally friendly hotels.
- Fair & Ethical Employment – To ensure ethical business practices, Travelife-certified hotels must provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and equal opportunities for employees. This includes respecting labor rights, preventing discrimination, and offering staff training in sustainability practices.
- Community & Cultural Engagement – Certified properties must actively support local communities, sourcing food, materials, and products from local businesses, investing in fair trade, and respecting cultural heritage. This ensures that sustainable hotels contribute positively to the destinations, their homes, that they operate in.
- Wildlife & Conservation Protection – Hotels and lodges must demonstrate a commitment to protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. They are required to follow ethical wildlife tourism guidelines, avoid encroaching or damaging natural habitats, and refrain from promoting the exploitation of animals, birds, and endangered species through tourism activities that exploit or potentially cause harm to wildlife, or use of wildlife derived products in their decor.
By meeting these high standards, Travelife-certified hotels and eco lodges not only reduce their environmental footprint but also play a crucial role in promoting luxury sustainable travel. Secret Retreats works closely with these properties to ensure that they maintain their commitment to sustainability while delivering exceptional guest experiences.
Experience Luxury Sustainable Travel
Sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort. Many of our properties are recognized among the Asia’s best sustainable hotels, offering world-class service responsibly paired with a deep respect for the environment. Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly boutique hotel in the heart of a cultur-rich city in Asia, or a secluded eco lodge in the jungle to spot Asia’s wonderful wildlife, or a luxury sustainable hotel by one of Asia’s unbeatably beautiful beaches, you can travel with confidence knowing that your stay is making a positive impact locally both for the environment and for the local community. As part of a network of responsible tourism companies, Secret Retreats invites you to explore Asia with purpose, knowing that every stay at a Travelife-certified property contributes to a better future for sustainable and responsible travel.
Book a Travelife-Certified Stay
We encourage conscious travelers to choose accommodations that prioritize sustainability. By staying at one of our Travelife-certified hotels or eco lodges, you are directly supporting a more sustainable future in travel.
