Of all of the country’s top vacation destinations, Palawan is known not only for its beautiful beaches but also for being a favorite of adventure-seeking travelers. Imagine walking down the beach in the morning, then kayaking through mangrove forests or hiking jungle paths in the afternoon. Sitting amidst these natural environs is Four Points by Sheraton Palawan, right along windswept Sabang Beach. Not only do they offer an idyllic spot for days basking in the sun, but also are carving a path towards a sustainable way to holiday.
Photo: Four Points By Sheraton Palawan
The international resort and nature sanctuary, the first of the multinational brand’s hotels to open in the country, is the first of its kind to come up in Sabang. It lies on a beautiful 5.3-hectare beachfront property along the pristine Sabang coast, with 168 rooms and full amenities, making it the perfect base for exploring Sabang’s natural attractions. Whether you are there with family or are on a bleisure (business + leisure) trip.
“Four Points Palawan takes pride in creating the perfect environment for a memorable getaway,” said General Manager Dietmar Platz.
The town of Sabang is home to a wealth of natural attractions, under the umbrella of the famed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. This includes the eponymous Subterranean River, Sabang Mangrove Forest, and the Sabang Waterfalls. “We have eight kinds of forests around us, and many opportunities to encounter Palawan’s unique wildlife,” adds Platz. Nearby is the Iwahig Firefly Watching Mangrove and Wildlife Park, and Isla Felomina is a short boat ride away.
Four Points Palawan took their cues from their natural surroundings as they laid the groundwork of their ethos of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Building on the legacy of Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa, considered one of the country’s pioneering green resorts, the management team is steadfast in this commitment to community well-being.
A key initiative is the partnership with Sabang Renewable Energy Corporation (SREC). This allows them to harness solar power as its primary electric source, with Four Points Palawan operating an impressive 300KW of in-house solar panels, channeled towards utilities, pumps, and other facilities. Energy conservation is also enhanced by the use of 100% LED lighting throughout the resort and in employees’ quarters.
Another key element of this campaign is their focus on farm-to-table cuisine in all of their food & beverage outlets. Making this a reality on a daily basis is their very own organic garden, where the soil is fertilized using coffee grounds. Among the variety of produce they grow is lettuce, bokchoy, chili, choy sum, okra, eggplant, and more. Herbs and aromatics like basil, lemongrass, and mint are picked fresh for use in their dishes and drinks. They even source their flora for centerpieces and floral arrangements from the same gardens. A rainwater collection system allows them to properly care for their gardens without doing any damage to Palawan’s pristine environs.
Photo: Four Points By Sheraton Palawan
As Four Points Palawan services a large number of guests, they supplement their F&B requirements through a partnership with Sheridan Organic Farm. This expands their ability to access more locally sourced vegetables and proteins.
“We are dedicated to sourcing ingredients from within, and around, the resort to guarantee freshness and uphold the integrity of our dishes,” Food and Beverage Manager Mark Anthony Antonio explained. “This ensures a truly authentic farm-to-table experience for our guests.”
On average, they source over 150 kilos of vegetables, including pumpkin, kangkong, calamansi, petchay, and more weekly from the farm. Sheridan also delivers 220 kg of grain, including the highly-prized organic black rice, featured in many of the resort’s signature dishes. Conversations are ongoing with Fish Right and USAID to find a sustainable seafood source, as well as training local fisher folks from Roxas, Palawan on handling and processing seafood to meet the hotel’s standards.
Pineapples also figure into the property’s environment-friendly options. The plants are known to absorb greater amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to minimize their overall carbon footprint. Enzyme Cleaners made from pineapple peelings are used in all their kitchens, as part of a “waste to clean” program. Even the beer the hotel serves has its roots in these efforts – a special brew created by Palaweno Brewery, using pineapples grown in Bataraza, Palawan.
As with most large hotels, packaging and disposable items are a big concern. Management took on the challenge by making sweeping changes across its departments, starting with a ‘Zero Plastic Policy.’ On the F&B end, takeaway is delivered in containers made of cassava and wooden utensils. Glass bottles are used in lieu of plastic for drinking water in guestrooms and all outlets. They’ve invested in a reverse osmosis filter, a water tank, and a glass washer to clean and sterilize the bottles – ensuring the long-term viability of these efforts. With an average consumption of 2,800 bottles monthly, “…these initiatives, along with the use of larger dispenser bottles for in-room toiletries, and alternative energy sources, have the added effect of significant cost-savings for the hotel,” says the resort’s Executive Housekeeper Jaime Pinto. “This allows us to invest more in other sustainability projects for the hotel.”
With banquets and conventions making up a huge chunk of the hotel’s business, these have also been figured into their sustainability efforts. Event organizers are asked during intake if they will need pads and pens for their event, or consider converting this to a donation of notebooks, pads, pencils, and bags to local schools. A long-term goal is to push for linen-less conventions, where all tables and chairs are bare, to help minimize the effects of laundry detergent on the ecosystem, as the hotel is inside a UNESCO Heritage and National Park.
This commitment to sustainability extends beyond its perimeter and into the big blue. Through the ‘Sea Turtle Saga’ initiative, Four Points Palawan supports marine conservation, particularly in protecting the sea turtles that nest on its beachfront, such as the Olive Ridley and Green Sea turtles. Partnering with the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the resort safeguards nesting sites, monitors turtle populations, and educates guests about the importance of marine conservation.
Palawan’s outstanding biodiversity, a myriad of endemic flora and fauna, and its innate wildness have earned for itself the reputation of “the Philippines’ last frontier.”
Four Points Palawan has taken this to heart, ensuring that each step taken to deliver an unforgettable experience for their guests is built on a foundation of eco-tourism and sustainability.
“In everything we do, Four Points Palawan strives to harmonize modern refinement with responsibility,” Platz said. “We want to create a haven that not only delights our guests but also honors the environment and the local community. The hope is that guests take with them the joy of waking up surrounded by nature and all its beauty. And dream of coming home to it, and to Four Points Palawan, again very soon.”
