Advisor Kayoko Ueno <Interview>

- Please tell us about your thoughts on SDGs initiatives. -
Thanks to the support of local residents, Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo will celebrate its 50th anniversary on March 25, 2025. We would like to express our gratitude for being able to operate a hotel in Kyoto for nearly half a century by giving back to the community. One way of giving back is through our proactive efforts toward the SDGs.
The term SDGs alone may give the impression of being something to be proud of, but what we want to convey is that you should take one step at a time, starting with what you can do, to make each day more comfortable.
Of course, it is important to aim to achieve the SDGs, but I think the key to making it lasting is to start with something close to home.

-Do you have any environmental initiatives?-
In terms of environmental consideration, our hotel has introduced water servers and promoted the use of mug bottles as an initiative to reduce the use of plastic bottles to a minimum. Previously, we prepared mineral water for all 988 guest rooms for the number of guests staying, consuming more than 2,000 bottles a day and about 70,000 bottles a year, but now we aim to be a hotel with a low environmental impact by reducing the consumption of plastic bottles. To promote this, we have also created mug bottles with original hotel designs and are selling them at the front desk. The simple and cute design inspired by Kyoto has been well received by overseas guests, and more people are buying them as souvenirs. We are very happy that such activities are supported by people both in Japan and abroad. Recently, we have also upcycled transparent acrylic panels that have finished their role in infection control and made coasters. We would like to continue to be an SDGs hotel that connects people, communities, and the earth through various initiatives in the future.