Green Buildings Shape the Future of Hospitality

As the global tourism industry faces growing challenges from climate change and the push for sustainable development, leading resort developers are redefining their strategies—not only to deliver luxury experiences but also to leave a green footprint in design and operations. Green buildings, once a secondary highlight, are now becoming essential benchmarks for quality and long-term value in hospitality real estate.

The Rise of Green Buildings in Hospitality Development

As travelers and investors become increasingly conscious of tourism’s environmental impact, “greening resorts” is no longer an optional upgrade but a competitive edge. International green building certifications such as LEED and EDGE have emerged as trusted measures of sustainability in both design and operation.

Developed by IFC (a member of the World Bank Group), EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) and its advanced version, EDGE Advanced, recognize projects that achieve exceptional performance in energy, water, and material efficiency. With a clear and quantifiable approach, EDGE allows investors and architects to benchmark their projects’ environmental efficiency against conventional buildings.

With these clear criteria, many high-end resort developments now target green certification right from the design stage. The tangible benefits include lower operating costs (energy and water consumption), improved indoor environmental quality (natural ventilation and daylight), enhanced brand value, attraction of eco-conscious guests, and compliance with increasingly stringent ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards set by global partners.

Vietnam’s Momentum: Embracing the Green Tourism Shift

In Vietnam—a rising tourism destination in Asia—developers are increasingly adopting green building standards for resort projects to stay ahead of global trends and demonstrate sustainability commitments. However, achieving certification is no easy task: it requires experienced technical consultants, climate-responsive architecture, efficient building systems, and strict operational management after completion.

Among various certification systems, LEED remains a popular choice for its global prestige, but EDGE / EDGE Advanced offers advantages in speed, measurability, and adaptability – especially for emerging markets like Vietnam. As a result, many resort developers are turning to EDGE Advanced as the new standard that balances investment efficiency with sustainable outcomes.

BIM Land – Phu Quoc’s EDGE Advanced Certified Resorts

A standout example in Vietnam is BIM Land’s dual luxury resorts in Phu Quoc – Regent Phu Quoc and InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort—which both achieved EDGE Advanced certification. According to BIM Group, the projects demonstrated remarkable savings in energy and water use:

• InterContinental Phu Quoc: ~41% energy savings, ~35% water savings, ~97% reduction in embodied materials, cutting approximately 359.37 tons of CO₂ annually.
  
• Regent Phu Quoc: ~40% energy savings, ~25% water savings, ~99% reduction in embodied materials, cutting about 399.27 tons of CO₂ annually.

Combined, BIM Land’s EDGE-certified developments are reported to reduce roughly 13,912 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to the annual emissions of around 3,024 cars.

These projects incorporate advanced green technologies, including smart energy management systems, optimized design solutions, and eco-friendly material selection. Achieving EDGE Advanced is not merely a label—it marks BIM Land’s forward-looking vision for sustainability in the luxury hospitality sector.

In this project, ISD Engineering—a leading green building consultancy in Vietnam—partnered with the developer as the EDGE certification consultant. The achievement of EDGE Advanced not only underscores the project’s sustainability commitment but also highlights ISD Engineering’s strong technical expertise and extensive practical experience in delivering internationally certified green building solutions.

Learn more from the BIM Land article: [Link]

When Green Standards Define Hospitality Excellence

“Green buildings” are no longer a distant concept—they are becoming the new measure of prestige in resort development. With the adoption of EDGE Advanced and proven performance outcomes.

In the near future, resorts without green certification may lose competitiveness—not only in operational costs but also in global brand credibility. On this journey, green building consultancies such as ISD Engineering serve as crucial partners, helping turn the vision of sustainability into reality.

ISD Engineering is Vietnam’s leading green building consultancy, pioneering the integration of international sustainability standards into practice. Notably, ISD Engineering is the first company in Vietnam to be simultaneously recognized as a LEED Proven Provider by USGBC/GBCI—affirming its outstanding capability, credibility, and consistent excellence in delivering LEED-certified projects—and an EDGE Premier Service Provider by IFC/World Bank Group, a prestigious designation awarded to organizations demonstrating exceptional expertise and performance in EDGE certification.

Contact ISD Engineering today to lead the green transformation.