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The Westin Manila’s location at the heart of the Ortigas Center in Metro Manila has become distinguishable not only for the luxurious accommodations it offers, but for the friendly eco-sustainable practices integrated into the hotel’s operations. Recently, the hotel has been recognized through the Green Globe Certification, a testament to the eco-sustainable practices the hotel has integrated into its operations. This certification illustrates the hotel’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship by fostering a positive impact in the local community and beyond, safeguarding the environment for the future, and sustaining eco-tourism.

Green Globe Certification: A Milestone for Sustainability

The  Westin Manila, by receiving the Green Globe certification, demonstrates that the hotel has solid positive practices for sustainability and the hotel’s accountable deployment of eco-tourism. In an interview with Mr. Alexander Dietzsch, the General Manager of the hotel, expressed the hotel’s pride for all the personnel and the hotel sustainability efforts, for it is a formal recognition for their achievements in sustainability. It reflects their commitment to improvement, even in the slightest, to new initiatives which conserve the earth’s dwindling energy and natural resources.

Strategic Resource Management: Energy, Water, and Waste

All hotel employees participate in the hotel sustainability management plan (SMP), which the Green Team coordinates. The plan implementation begins with the 2023 opening of The Westin Manila. Each department’s Green Team ensures the plan’s constituent energy and resource conservation policies are uniformly applied across the entire property. Advanced LED corridor and public space lighting and lighting table lamps in the public areas and stairwell lighting activated by motion sensors testify to  the Westin Green Team energy conservation initiatives.

Effective resource leverage entails proper water use as well. The Westin Manila Green Team demonstrated deep resource leverage commitment by the installation of low-flow aerators in guest bathroom and enhanced water toilet cistern water restrictions. The Net Zero targets are reinforced by the installation EV charging stations to promote increased guest and staff adoption of electric vehicles and encourage use of other environmentally friend sustainable transportation options.

Waste management is another area where The Westin Manila has shown commendable initiatives. The hotel has decreased the amount of waste sent to landfills through green procurement strategies, waste recycling, and waste diversion activities. It collaborates with a social enterprise, ChopValue, that upcycles landfill-bound bamboo chopsticks to create premium quality buffet stands, food displays, and bamboo homeware, thereby supporting the circular economy.

Sustainable Dining: Culinary Excellence with a Green Focus

Sustainability in The Westin Manila also includes its food offerings. The hotel’s chefs and culinary personnel responsibly source food and avert waste where possible. The introduction of the One Dish Wonders interactive buffet station aligns with food waste reduction efforts under Marriott International’s Serve 360 initiatives. Guests pick dishes from a sustainable stream of offerings prepared à la minute, fostering a more sustainable dining experience.

The hotel has also begun Green Mondays to support local entrepreneurs and sustainable local farming. The hotel collaborates with local chefs, farmers, and restaurants to promote plant-based cooking and a food ecosystem that encourages healthy eating and benefits the community.

The Forests of Life Program: A Commitment to Reforestation

The Westin Manila takes care of the environment, and that includes The Westin Manila’s own grounds and broader efforts. The Westin Manila donations benefit The Westin Manila incorporates the HARIBON Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources. For instance, from July to September 2025, The Westin Manila takes contributions for the reforestation of the Philippines, where we plant native trees and work to care for the seedling for three years, thus training and providing for local community members, who assist the guests and visitors with donations of 488 PHP.

Giving Back to the Community: Corporate Social Responsibility

The Westin Manila’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the environment. The hotel engages socially as well.  The Westin Manila supports the Road to Give charity run for Save the Children Philippines, and the staff supports this initiative each year. The charity run takes place every year in Clark, Pampanga. The run supports the welfare of children and raises funds for the organization. School year preparation is another focus of the hotel, as the staff supports school volunteer activities during Brigada Eskwela. During this time, the staff assists in cleaning school grounds and repainting classrooms.

The Westin Manila encourages school children to embrace the culinary arts in the community and supports children in the culinary industry as well. The hotel helps to support the Mentor-Mentee Program, in which culinary interns participate in sponsored events to showcase their skills, and the community helps to raise money for Save the Children Philippines. Help for the organization is emphasized during the 7-course degustation dinner.

The  Westin Manila epitomizes the prospect of eco-friendly luxury travel. Green Globe certified, waste management programs, and sustainable dining initiatives are just a few of the Green Globe programs that the hotel has adopted. Their community involvement, social responsibility, and commitment to sustainability and waste management programs are just a few of the characteristics required to be recommendations as a leading member of eco-friendly luxury travel. This demonstrates a decline in the carbon footprint of luxury travel. For the Westin Manila, corporate social responsibility and waste management are the pillars of innovative green practices. The Westin Manila demonstrates innovative green practices along with philanthropic initiatives, showing the other side of eco-friendly luxury travel. This proves that philanthropy and restorative luxury travel are not mutually exclusive.