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HomeChampioning the unwavering commitment to sustainability in our family, Jetwing Blue holds the proud honour of being the first to establish a number of initiatives that have since been replicated across Sri Lanka. From the solar photovoltaic system to the effluent treatment plant and more, our original home of Sri Lankan hospitality lives and breathes sustainability as an icon of responsible tourism on the western coastline.
Jetwing Hotels has been a pioneer of sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka, guided for over five decades by the philosophy of our founder, the late Herbert Cooray. With the importance of sustainability being brought to the fore in recent times, the need for conscious decisions to be made for the future of the planet and its people is greater than ever. We believe that making changes today, however small, can lead to a better future.
By sharing our journey of sustainability, what we have learnt, and what we hope to achieve, we aim to inspire change and create a butterfly effect.
In 2010, Jetwing Blue became the first in our family of hotels to install a 20kW off-grid, roof-mounted solar array. Today, we host a 330kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system, which contributes more than 30% of our day-time electricity requirement.
Our 300 TR vapor absorption chiller that was commissioned in 2017 caters to the entire air-conditioning requirement of our hotel, as well as the requirement of our adjoining sister hotel, Jetwing Beach. The chiller is sustainably operated via steam from the onsite biomass boiler – which is also used to generate hot water during the nights, and for laundry purposes. Fueled by cinnamon wood, the biomass boiler operates 24 hours a day and produces up to 2000 kilograms of steam per hour. Part of this steam is used to cook rice in a modified rice steamer within our staff kitchen, which also includes a series of biogas and cinnamon wood-fired stoves as sustainable cooking equipment.
A 90 flat plate collector-type solar panels form our central hot water generation system at Jetwing Blue, providing hot water throughout the property during sunlit hours, with the strict use of only renewable energy to generate hot water throughout the day.
All cooking in the Associates’ Cafeteria is fueled entirely by sustainable means with the inclusion of cinnamon wood-fired biomass stoves, and stoves fueled by biogas generated from our onsite biogas digester.
In the early 90s, Jetwing Blue established the first effluent treatment plant in our family of hotels. 100% of the wastewater from hotel operations is treated onsite, and later used for garden irrigation, while the sludge produced is added to our biogas digester.
With a daily feed capacity of up to 2000 liters of sludge and 600 kilograms of food waste, our onsite digester can produce up to 33m3 of biogas that is used to fuel cooking stoves in our staff kitchens. While the digester includes heating and agitation enhancements as in-house process modifications, the sludge produced is also used as a soil enhancer for our gardens.
The first enhanced compositing machine at a Jetwing property was set up at Jetwing Blue and is used to process food and garden waste. Our composting machine operates on a rapid digesting cycle of 21 days, allowing compost to be added back to our hotel gardens. All garden sweepings and other tree clippings from Jetwing Blue are composted as a traditional above ground compost pile, while the product compost is also used as a nutrient rich soil enhancer in our gardens.
Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach implement a rigorous waste management system, sorting waste at its source. While food waste is processed in the biogas digester, the ‘Sampath Piyasa’ complex is utilized to store segregated plastic, paper, and glass waste, which is sold to licensed collectors. Proceeds from these sales are allocated to the Associates Sports and Welfare Society, encouraging responsible waste management.
At Jetwing Blue, skilled toddy tappers transform fresh coconut sap from our gardens into traditional treacle, used in our dishes and available for purchase.
The Treacle Trail Experience offers guests an opportunity to immerse themselves in this time-honoured craft, passed down through generations; while the Meegama Pick & Cook experience allows guests to engage in Sri Lanka’s rich culinary traditions guided by a local culinarian.
Our associates routinely engage in clean-up programmes along the beach infront of our property; with the collected waste undergoing efficient sorting and treatment processes. By maintaining a pristine beachfront and promoting sustainable waste management, our team helps preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the coast.
Youth from nearby communities are recruited through the Jetwing Youth Development Programme (JYDP), which offers free training in tourism, hospitality, language, and interpersonal skills. This equips them for careers within the industry. After the training, participants receive on-the-job training and are then given the opportunity to join our family, though there is no obligation to do so.
Our communities are an integral part of our hospitality. At Jetwing Blue we work closely with religious leaders and community leaders in the area to support and empower/uplift the communities. These initiatives include need-based support such as the maintenance of a ward at the local hospital and engagement with local schools in the surrounding regions. We often host a number of educational lectures and workshops covering sustainable topics such as biodiversity, the environment, waste management - led by our Experience Curator who shares knowledge and expertise with future generations.
Jetwing Blue is proud to be part of the local community. A majority of our team members are from the region.
As an equal opportunity employer, we ensure all associates have equal growth opportunities with promotions based solely on merit. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace. Our inclusive infrastructure supports associates with varying abilities. All team members are sensitized to ensure everyone feels welcomed and understood.
Employee health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. We routinely inspect our spaces, maintain essential safety equipment, and provide thorough training so that all associates are well-prepared in case of an emergency.
At Jetwing Hotels, we take pride in celebrating our local cuisine. We were the first family of hotels in Sri Lanka to exclusively use local fruits, vegetables, and seafood in our culinary offerings. By focusing on local sourcing, we've built strong partnerships throughout our supply chain, with many of our suppliers located within the same district.
All glass water bottles used within the hotel are sourced from our own glass water bottling plant, which has helped us avoid the use of single-use plastic bottles.