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HomeNestled between the edge of the Indian Ocean and the border of a national park, Jetwing Yala is truly immersed in the beauty of our environment. Naturally, a commitment to sustainability remains at the heart of everything we do, and our home of Sri Lankan hospitality sets an example for responsible tourism with a number of initiatives that preserve, protect, and promote the luxurious surroundings that we reside in.
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.
Since 2014, Jetwing Yala has hosted a 300kW grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system, which is the largest solar installation in a Sri Lankan hotel. With over 1000 panels spread over 1.2 acres, the park yields around 1500 kWh of energy daily – supplying 80% of our hotel’s daytime electricity demand, which amounts to over 35% of our daily electricity requirements.
After Jetwing Lagoon, Jetwing Yala is also the second hotel in Sri Lanka to use a Vapor Absorption Chiller. With a capacity of 200TR, the chiller consumes just 14kW of electric power and caters to the entire air-conditioning requirement of our hotel. The chiller is operated primarily using steam generated sustainably from the biomass boiler. This steam produced is also used for laundry and hot water generation during the nights. Running for 24 hours a day, the boiler can produce up to 1500 kilograms of steam per hour and uses approximately 4000 kilograms of cinnamon wood per day. In the staff cafeteria, this same wood is also used to fuel biomass stoves for cooking, while the steam generated from the biomass boiler is used to cook rice in a dedicated rice steamer.
It is also important to note that all hot water at Jetwing Yala is generated through 100% renewable means. A central hot water generation system which is made up of 90 flat plate collector type solar panels are used to provide hot water between 9 AM and 4 PM, while steam from the biomass boiler produces hot water at night.
It is worth mentioning that all commuting at Jetwing Yala takes place on electric buggy carts – a zero direct emission based mode of transport.
The Reverse Osmosis Plant is used to purify seawater to potable water. Considering Jetwing Yala is located in a remote area of Sri Lanka’s dry zone, there is no availability of pipe-borne water, and fresh water sources are scarce. As a result, seawater is desalinated water and used for all purposes across the hotel. The plant also features an energy recovery unit that helps reduce energy demand by one third.
Additionally, Jetwing Yala treats and reuses 100% of its wastewater on site. The dedicated Wastewater Treatment Plant collects black, grey, and laundry water separately in order to improve the efficiency of the system. Both black and grey water treatments are biological (anaerobic and aerobic), and feature gravity filtration. The black water is reused for irrigation, while the grey water is reused as makeup water for our cooling towers. The sludge generated from these processes is also used a nutrient-rich soil enhancer, while the final rinse water of the laundry is also treated and reused as our primary washwater, which reduced freshwater use by 30%.
All organic waste at Jetwing Yala is treated and recycled onsite. Food waste generated from hotel operations are fed into our onsite biogas digester, which later supplies biogas to the staff kitchen for cooking and produces sludge that is used as a nutrient-rich soil enhancer. A modified windrow composter and process-enhanced composting machine is used to treat all garden sweepings and clippings found across the grounds of Jetwing Yala. The compost produced is collected and used as a nutrient-rich soil enhancer across our gardens and organic farm.
Due to our close proximity to Yala National Park, animals and birds alike are often found within our premises, and are allowed to pass freely in keeping with our commitment to the harmonious coexistence we live in.
One of our standout conservation efforts is focused on turtle preservation, spotlighting the five distinct turtle species that visit our beach to lay their eggs. These nests face threats from poachers and natural predators. To counteract these threats, we identify turtle nests along our shores and takes in-situ conservation measures, ensuring the eggs remain in their natural location.
Our associates routinely engage in clean-up programmes in the surrounding areas; with the collected waste undergoing efficient sorting and treatment processes. By maintaining a pristine environment and promoting sustainable waste management, our team helps preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the area.
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.
Through our gender-sensitive recruitment project, 'Second Careers,' we empower economically marginalized mid-age local women by integrating their household management skills into a professional setting. The Second Careers programme harnesses their existing expertise in areas like kitchen and housekeeping operations, providing structured onboarding and capacity-building opportunities.
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.
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.
Jetwing Yala hosts an onsite glass bottling plant, which is dedicated to our hotel operations – minimising plastic waste and our overall carbon footprint from transporting bottled water. With a maximum bottling capacity of 2000 litres per day, the plant features semi-automated washing systems along with fully automated filling and capping systems.
Jetwing Yala also nurtures an organic garden, which is irrigated from a treated water line, and sprouts fresh regional produce that is used in our hotel kitchens.
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 60% of our suppliers located within the same district.