TS Suites (www.tssuites.com) has been collaborating with Yayasan Tanam Pohon Indonesia (www.onemilliontrees.org) since their launch last year, to plant a tree for every room night sold. So while providing a great service to their guests, the hotel is making a positive impact on the environment in Surabaya, making it the first truly ‘Green’ hotel in Indonesia. The trees will be planted in Surabaya in lots of 1000 trees by the staff of the hotel. Information about this program and YTPI will be available in each room and at the hotel reception.

Indonesia has the highest rate of deforestation in the world. It is only when individuals and corporations take a stand, can this global problem be tackled. TS Suites initiative is in line with the YTPI’s goal to create awareness of climate change and its implications and their ‘Green Rooms’ raise awareness about our individual responsibility for planting trees.

Randolph Bubu, owner of TS Suites and Karl Waelti, CEO of Core Hospitality International are the people who made this happen. Karl Waelti’s is passionate about education and training of staff for the Hospitality & Tourism Industries in the region. “It’s the extra thought that makes the difference”. It is this mission that the company and its managed hotels follow. Planting trees is yet another thought that is making a huge difference to the planet. This ‘green mindset’ is like a pair of spectacles that makes visible the ‘butterfly effect’ our every action has on the planet.

Karl says “In a competitive environment we need winners to work for us. We need people who do not just see this as only a job. Our mission helps everybody to understand that to be successful we must not only concentrate to make money but to do things better and different[ly]. Only then we are recognized and then the money will come as a result of the difference we have created. We want to be better than best.” He stresses that a hotel is a place of fun, joy and pleasure not merely for the guests but also for all the staff.

Every minute, we are losing one football-field-size of rainforest, accelerating the process of global warming. From draughts to flooding, the effects of climate change are enormous and immediate, making global warming a pressing concern for the world community to address.

YTPI was formed by a group of concerned people in April 2007 with the mission to react to increasing level of deforestation in Indonesia, raise awareness on environmental issues, take action against climate change, educate children on these issues and to Plant More TREES!

Since its formation, YTPI has planted over 260,000 trees with corporate partners, individual contributors and volunteers.

YTPI promotes biodiversity:

Yayasan promotes bio-diversity and also avoids planting very commercial trees like Jati. We feel that optimum benefits will accrue if we select rainforest, long lasting trees. Our choice of trees, so far has been made in consultation with the community in the chosen area and also keeping in mind the bio-diversity principle.

Sustainability:

For all our projects – we pay special attention to (“what will happen after we plant these trees”) the maintenance aspect. We have MOU’s to safeguard and maintain the trees planted, with the real estate developer (for example PT Sentul City) or an MOU with a local institution with the support of the local governmental authorities (like the MOU with SMK2 witnessed by the Bupati of Subang). These are serious commitments to preserve the trees for at least 40 years. Areas are chosen where progress can be monitored.

The Important Thing:

We aim to motivate and start a movement within Indonesia towards environmental love through reforestation, to benefit not only Indonesia but the whole world. We realize that this is not easy but with your assistance, we can heal the planet and leave it in a better shape for our children and grandchildren. Your charitable contributions help YPTI and ensure that the city is greener and healthier for its residents. Together we can improve our communities, one tree at a time!

We look forward to working with more such like minded organizations with YAYASAN TANAM POHON INDONESIA (YTPI). Do please visit our website at www.onemilliontrees.com for more information and to find out how you can participate with us.