Small Luxury Hotels launches Considerate Collection

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has announced the launch of Considerate Collection, a community of actively sustainable luxury hotels going the extra eco mile, proving that luxury is compatible with longevity.

The hospitality brand renowned for its diverse portfolio of boutique properties also announces new sustainable initiatives forming part of a renewed strategic vision to mark its 30+1year anniversary.

From the biodiversity-promoting Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Costa Rica to the culture-preserving Domaine de Manville in France, Considerate Collection debuts with 26 pioneering hotels in 16 countries, each meeting the highest criteria in sustainability.

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); and Greenview, whose platform is the only GSTC-recognised sustainable tourism management tool.

“We’ve carefully curated the Considerate Collection to spotlight luxury boutique hotels exemplary in their sustainability efforts, making it easier for customers and the travel trade to make better-considered choices,” explains Daniel Luddington, VP of Development, Small Luxury Hotels of the World. “Staying in small, independent hotels goes hand in hand with travelling sustainably and all SLH hotels are already steeped in the many facets of sustainable hospitality, so we haven’t had to look far outside of our portfolio for the launch collection. We also have an exciting pipeline of new hotels to add in the coming months.”

Luddington adds: “This is not about creating a new brand, but rather building on the strong brand values that have existed within SLH since inception – independent spirits, community-centric, questioners, storytellers and the ultimate belief that Small is beautiful and a better way to travel.”

Criteria for the Considerate Collection align with the GSTC 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.

Each hotel within the Considerate Collection either has been certified by a GSTC Accredited Certification Body or certified to a GSTC Recognised Standard, or has passed an assessment by the SLH Sustainability Advisory Panel with review by the GSTC.

Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, comments: “SLH has impressed us with their dedicated support of their member hotels, and we’re delighted to collaborate with them to devise a robust framework, consistent with GSTC measures but uniquely matched for all luxury boutique hotels.”

With a luxury hotel portfolio of over 520 hotels in 90 countries, SLH has taken a holistic approach to sustainability to complement its long-term brand vision. Over the last two years, SLH has worked with hospitality sustainability consultancy, The Considerate Group, to develop bespoke toolkits to support its member hotels. H2 Sustainability Consulting, headed by legendary former hotelier Hervé Houdré, is among the consultancies SLH is collaborating with to support hotel members.

SLH’s quality inspection reports, carried out annually by its international mystery hotel inspectors (all SLH hotel guests), has also been revamped and is currently being trialled to include a 50-point Considerate module focusing on customer-facing, front of house initiatives.

The company has also turned the microscope on itself to update its corporate head office policies making sure to practice what it preaches to hotel members. These include implementing volunteer days for staff and the launch of a partnership with social change and reforestation charity, TreeSisters, among other initiatives.