Ascott Limited's (Ascott) Australian hotel brands are planting trees in critically endangered NSW rainforests through a new sustainable partnership that's already taking root in hundreds of hotel rooms and is set to branch out across more properties Australia-wide thanks to growing guest support. 

The new national partnership with Hotels For Trees gives Ascott Australia guests staying at Quest Apartment Hotels, lyf Collingwood and Somerset on the Pier the choice to 'skip their room clean and plant a tree' instead. Using a simple, eco-friendly door hanger to indicate their participation, guests can also scan a QR code on the reverse side of the hanger for information about the immediate and cumulative impact of their choice.

Austrade has identified sustainable tourism as a key driver of the visitor economy's future success, including the importance of implementing environmental and climate action. Ascott was both the first accommodation chain in the country to partner with Hotels for Trees and the first to take the tree planting initiative nationwide. 

Eleven Ascott Australia hotels and their guests have already planted over 850 trees between them since February 2024 in the critically endangered Big Scrub rainforest ecosystem in the Byron Shire region of NSW. The new forested areas are used to connect fragmented rainforest and build wildlife corridors.

Measurable improvements in environmental sustainability are a fundamental pillar of the Ascott Australia's commitment to doing better for the communities in which they operate.

Once guests choose and display 'do not clean my room, plant a tree instead' eco-friendly door hangers or reusable door magnets at lyf, the Ascott property donates $6.50 to Hotels for Trees to plant a tree on the guest's behalf to help restore critically endangered rainforest in the Byron Bay region of NSW.  

Hotels for Trees is a not-for-profit charity established in 2021 in the Netherlands. The organisation has rapidly expanded across Europe, planting more than 360,000 trees since inception across over 200 hotels. 

Ascott GM Brand & ESG, Anthea Dimitrakopoulos, said Ascott is proud to partner with Hotels for Trees as it provides a turn-key sustainability option for guests.  

“When guests choose to stay with Ascott they can take comfort in the fact they are choosing a brand family that's committed to taking proactive steps to reduce emissions and environmental impact,” said Anthea. “Ascott is moving beyond the basic first steps like single-use amenities to embrace truly environmentally sustainable operations at new guest touchpoints – our guests are regrowing a forest.” 

“We're delighted that Hotels for Trees offers comprehensive and transparent environmental reporting, which means our business and our guests can measure our impact as we grow this initiative together. This purpose led partnership engages our entire hotel ecosystem by providing an easy way for everyone from the guest through to hotel teams to be part of the climate solution by reducing our carbon emissions through minimising unnecessary cleaning, while also planting trees to offset our carbon impact.”

Managing Director, The Ascott Limited Australasia, David Mansfield, said Ascott is proud to embrace sustainability measures that make a real difference and provide win-win solutions for guests and hotel teams.

“Ascott Australia will continue to introduce purpose-driven initiatives at every level of our operations as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability in the communities where we operate. We are driven by the need to preserve the planet for future generations, while simultaneously enriching the hospitality industry and our guest's experience,” said David.  

Hotels for Trees APAC representative Hugo van Roermund said the Byron Shire climate enables year-round planting at high density to deliver optimal biodiversity, and the trees are a rainforest variety that sequesters more carbon.

“I congratulate Ascott for their forward-thinking leadership. They understand the bigger sustainability picture and take a long-term view,” said Hugo. “Research indicates that a stay at an Australian hotel emits 35 kg CO2e per room per night. Planting just one tree or shrub in the Byron Bay area results in an average offset of about 200kg carbon captured during the first 25 years after planting.”

The tree planting progress of Ascott Australia properties can be tracked in real-time HERE

 Ascott participating properties to date:

• Quest Frankston
• Quest Caroline Springs
• Quest Werribee
• Quest Geelong
• Quest Innaloo
• Quest North Sydney
• Quest Preston
• Quest South Brisbane
• Quest Warrnambool
• Quest Werribee
• lyf Collingwood
• Somerset on the Pier

 ENDS

About The Ascott Limited

Since pioneering Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984, Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with over 950 properties globally. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascott's presence extends across more than 220 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA.

Ascott's diversified accommodation includes award-winning hospitality brands: Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Quest, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Preference, Fox, Harris, POP!, Vertu and Yello. Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott's loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.

This year, Ascott marks 40 years in hospitality service with the launch of Ascott Unlimited, a full-year campaign that will offer Unlimited Opportunities, Unlimited Choices, Unlimited Freedom, and Unlimited Good. Navigating a future of unlimited possibilities against a backdrop of global change and evolving perspectives of travel, Ascott Unlimited marks Ascott's ambitions to break new ground and springboard to its next chapter of growth as a global hospitality company. Find out more about Ascott Unlimited at www.discoverasr.com/ascottunlimited.

For more information on Ascott and its sustainability programme, please visit www.discoverasr.com/the-ascott-limited. Alternatively, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.