The hotel earned LEED v4.1 Operations & Maintenance (O+M) Gold certification, a globally recognized green building standard developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Unlike certifications focused primarily on design and new construction, LEED O+M evaluates building performance under actual operating conditions, including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, waste management and overall performance
According to the hotel, achieving LEED certification in the hospitality sector is considered more challenging than in many other commercial real estate categories due to the nature of round-the-clock operations. A large international hotel must simultaneously maintain guestrooms, restaurants, ballrooms, kitchens, laundry facilities, and public areas under continuous guest traffic while ensuring consistent service standards.
For a property that has been operating for 23 years, achieving LEED Gold reflects the ability to optimize resources, improve operational efficiency, and maintain guest comfort on a daily basis.
The property is currently the only Marriott International hotel in Vietnam to hold the certification.
 |
|
Santanu Duttagupta (R), Associate Director and Market Development of GBCI (India East, Vietnam, Bangladesh and African Markets), presented the LEED Gold certification to Julian Wong (L), General Manager of the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel. Photo courtesy of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel |
According to Santanu Duttagupta, Associate Director and Market Development of GBCI (India East, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and African Markets), the story of a 23-year heritage landmark like the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, successfully investing in “greening” its operations to earn the prestigious LEED Gold certification under the strict framework for existing buildings, is truly an impressive symbol. “Sheraton Saigon has proven that earning a green certification goes far beyond enriching the guest experience; more importantly, it fosters a healthy and human-centric working environment for its entire workforce.
Julian Wong, General manager of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, said the certification reflects the hotel’s long-term focus on sustainable operations.
“Achieving LEED Gold marks an important milestone in advancing our sustainability initiatives,” he said. “We believe that a premium hospitality experience today is defined not only by service and design, but also by responsibility to the environment and the community we have been part of for the past 23 years.”
According to the hotel, achieving LEED Gold in the hospitality sector presents operational challenges due to the continuous nature of hotel services, including guest accommodation, dining outlets, meeting facilities and public spaces operating around the clock.
To qualify for LEED Gold, properties must meet multiple operational prerequisites and achieve between 60 and 79 points across international sustainability benchmarks.
The hotel said the certification followed several years of operational upgrades involving engineering, housekeeping, culinary and management teams.
Measures implemented included optimizing air-conditioning systems, upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, monitoring electricity usage in real time, improving water efficiency, enhancing indoor air quality and strengthening waste sorting and reduction processes.
The hotel has implemented multiple operational improvements focused on energy efficiency and sustainable resource management.
According to the property, these efforts contributed to a 42% reduction in water consumption and helped divert more than 50% of waste away from landfill.
 |
|
Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel’s maintenance staffs. Photo courtesy of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel |
The hotel also reported maintaining indoor air quality with average carbon dioxide levels of approximately 640 ppm. Its energy performance currently ranks within the top 31% of comparable hotels globally based on Energy Use Intensity (EUI).
 |
|
Tan Ling, Director of engineering at Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, said maintaining stable operational performance requires continuous monitoring and system optimization. |
“For guests, the experience may feel seamless and comfortable,” he said. “But behind that is ongoing work by our engineering team to ensure every system consistently performs according to international standards.”
The property also recorded a 4.1% reduction in energy-use intensity over the past 12 months, exceeding Marriott International’s internal sustainability benchmark.
 |
|
The hotel prioritizes the use of solar power to save costs and promote sustainability. Photo courtesy of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel |
In addition to technical operations, the hotel said it has expanded sustainability initiatives into areas including responsible sourcing, food waste reduction and internal employee awareness programs.
The achievement follows the hotel’s Green Globe certification in 2024, when it became the first Marriott International property in Vietnam and the third hotel nationwide to receive the sustainability recognition.
For corporate and MICE clients, the hotel said the LEED Gold certification may also strengthen its position as a venue option for organizations increasingly incorporating sustainability standards into procurement and event planning requirements.
Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel is located at 88 Dong Khoi Street in central Ho Chi Minh City, near the Saigon Opera House and the city’s commercial center.
More information is available at the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel’s official website.
Sourcee.vnexpress.net
