Mandarin Oriental Recognised with Three Prestigious Sustainability Awards at WSTHA 2025, Showcasing Its Commitment to Eco-Friendly Luxury and Cultural Preservation

Published on November 23, 2025

Dubai, the epitome of modern luxury, continues to set global standards not only for its skyscrapers and luxury hotels but also for its commitment to sustainability. At the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) 2025, held in the heart of Expo City Dubai, Mandarin Oriental was awarded three prestigious trophies, cementing its place as a leader in sustainable hospitality. Recognising its exceptional efforts in sustainability, Mandarin Oriental walked away with awards for:

• World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative 2025
• World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project 2025
• World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative 2025

These honours were unveiled during a high-profile ceremony attended by hundreds of global leaders in sustainable tourism, all gathered to celebrate the organisations and individuals accelerating positive environmental change within the travel and hospitality industries.

Mandarin Oriental’s sustainability achievements in Dubai at the 2025 WSTHA are a testament to the group’s unwavering commitment to environmental preservation, cultural heritage, and responsible business practices. With a bold strategy for sustainability, the luxury hotelier is setting a global benchmark for energy efficiency, waste minimisation, and community engagement, all while enhancing the guest experience.

Mandarin Oriental’s Sustainability Milestones and Awards
The WSTHA 2025 awards recognised Mandarin Oriental’s outstanding achievements in three key sustainability areas: energy efficiency, cultural preservation, and sustainable policies. These awards acknowledge the group’s efforts in ensuring that sustainable practices are not just an afterthought but a core part of its operations, guiding everything from sourcing materials to reducing carbon emissions.

Mandarin Oriental’s transparency and action-led sustainability strategy include a detailed roadmap with environmental targets set for 2030. The brand is actively driving property-led optimisations in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable sourcing across its global portfolio. In the face of growing environmental concerns, the brand has proven that luxury and sustainability can coexist.

Key Highlights from Mandarin Oriental’s Sustainability Efforts:

• Energy Efficiency: Mandarin Oriental’s commitment to improving energy efficiency has helped reduce its environmental impact significantly. The award for World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative recognises this achievement.
• Cultural Heritage: The brand’s World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project award is a nod to its efforts in preserving local cultures and traditions while operating its luxury properties.
• Sustainable Policies: Mandarin Oriental’s World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative award highlights the brand’s ongoing commitment to developing and implementing policies that prioritise sustainability across all areas of its operations.

These milestones are not just about enhancing the brand’s reputation but about integrating sustainability at every level, from strategic decision-making to daily operations, ensuring that its impact on the planet is positive.

Sustainability Achievements at Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond the energy-efficient initiatives recognised by the WSTHA. The company’s environmental and social responsibility initiatives include:

• Elimination of Single-Use Plastics: Mandarin Oriental has successfully removed 99% of single-use plastics from its operations, resulting in a saving of over 930 metric tons of plastic waste annually.
• Responsible Sourcing: The hotel group maintains rigorous standards for sourcing, ensuring that core commodities are responsibly sourced. As part of its responsible sourcing programme, the company audits its procurement practices through third-party auditor LRQA, maintaining 100% responsible sourcing for its core commodities.
• Sustainable Food Practices: Mandarin Oriental ensures 93% of the eggs used across its properties are cage-free, underlining its commitment to animal welfare and sustainable food practices.
• Employee Engagement: In 2023, over 78,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to supporting more than 500 local community initiatives. This engagement not only supports the communities where Mandarin Oriental operates but also fosters a culture of sustainability among its employees.

The Future of Sustainable Luxury Hospitality

Mandarin Oriental’s remarkable sustainability initiatives have set a new standard in the luxury hospitality sector. By blending innovation, transparency, and measurable outcomes, the company is redefining what it means to be a leader in sustainable luxury tourism. As part of its long-term strategy, Mandarin Oriental is committed to achieving net-positive sustainability by 2030, a goal that will see the company’s environmental impact reduced even further, while continuing to enhance the guest experience.

Why Sustainability Matters in Hospitality

Sustainability has become a key concern for travellers, particularly those in the luxury segment, who are increasingly prioritising eco-consciousness when booking their trips. The impact of tourism on the environment has raised concerns about over-tourism, carbon footprints, and resource depletion. In response, organisations like Mandarin Oriental have begun integrating sustainable practices at every stage of the hospitality process, from reducing waste to ensuring energy efficiency, and the results speak for themselves.

At the same time, the hospitality industry is recognising that the future of tourism lies in responsible practices. Guests expect more than just luxury; they expect their accommodations and experiences to be environmentally and socially responsible. Mandarin Oriental has embraced this shift, ensuring that its sustainability efforts are both meaningful and measurable.

Sustainable Impact Beyond the Awards: The Role of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), a key partner of the WSTHA, continues to drive the sustainability agenda within the global hospitality sector. Representing over 66,000 hotels and 8 million rooms globally, WSHA’s work focuses on collaborating with partners and members to further sustainability in all aspects of hospitality. The recognition of Mandarin Oriental’s efforts through the awards highlights the importance of partnerships and collaboration in achieving a sustainable tourism future.

Mandarin Oriental’s Roadmap to Sustainability
Mandarin Oriental’s sustainability strategy is guided by a clear and actionable roadmap, with 2030 environmental targets in place to further reduce its carbon footprint. The company has committed to the following:

• Carbon Emission Reduction: Mandarin Oriental is now measuring Scope 3 emissions to enable deeper decarbonisation throughout its supply chain, ensuring the complete lifecycle of its operations is sustainable.
• Water Conservation: By reducing water usage across its properties and increasing water recycling, Mandarin Oriental is tackling one of the most critical challenges facing the hospitality industry.
• Waste Minimisation: The brand continues to implement strategies that reduce waste across its operations, including through recycling, composting, and reducing food waste.

This ambitious agenda ensures that Mandarin Oriental will continue to lead by example, showing that sustainability is not just about mitigating negative impacts but creating positive change for the environment and communities alike.

Conclusion: Leading by Example in Sustainable Luxury Tourism

Mandarin Oriental’s success at the WSTHA 2025 awards reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, making it a true leader in the luxury tourism sector. Through its innovative, transparent, and accountable approach to sustainability, Mandarin Oriental is redefining what it means to offer a luxury experience that is both indulgent and responsible. As the company looks towards the future, it continues to set new standards in sustainability that others in the hospitality industry are sure to follow.