Senses working overtime
While global travel continues to attract condemnatory headlines, tourism 'in a sustainable environment' has always been part of the Six Senses Resorts group's ethos. Fittingly, its flagship property, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives (above), has become the first of the bunch to implement a programme to offset its guests' flight emissions. The aim is to make Soneva Fushi carbon neutral by next year then carbon free by 2010.
The resort is a contributor to the Six Senses Carbon Offset Fund, set up partly to support the Converging World project, which promotes alternative energy - such as that produced by wind turbines - in developing countries. At its resorts, the company builds what it calls 'climate-sympathetic accommodation' using local materials, and reduces the energy required for transporting food by growing fresh produce in its organic gardens. The ultimate aim for Soneva Fushi, says Six Senses, is clean power; meaning carbon emissions of zero through the use of solar, wind and tidal power.
While targeting a 30 per cent cut in the use of traditional energy sources, the resort's designers are also working on energy-efficient architectural initiatives with additional roof ventilation and cross ventilation in all buildings.
City super
Offering yet more choice of accommodation for those living it up in the Thai capital is the newly opened five-star Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel. Half an hour from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and in one of the city's liveliest areas, the property is handy for some of its best entertainment spots, as well as its business district if you must be on duty.