[SINGAPORE] Sustainability was not something Beh Siew Kim set out to pursue. But as she helmed CapitaLand Ascott Trust (Clas), she noticed a rising clamour from investors for greener portfolios of hotels and lodging properties.
Sustainability became a “business imperative”, said Beh, who was chief executive of Clas’ managers between 2017 and 2022. “If it was important to investors, it had to be important to the business. Sustainability found me, instead of me finding it.”
Clas went on to clinch several firsts under her watch. In 2021, it was named the global sector leader in the hotel category of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark. The following year, it became the first hospitality trust worldwide to issue a sustainability-linked bond.
In both those years, Clas also topped the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index for real estate investment trusts and business trusts.
Beh’s passion, alongside her early exposure to sustainability at the trust, led her to her current role as the chief financial and sustainability officer (CFSO) for lodging at CapitaLand Investment (CLI). She now advocates green strategies at CLI’s hospitality business, The Ascott Limited, where she is managing director for Japan and South Korea.
In recognition of her work in the industry, Beh received the Impact Leader Excellence Award (Individual) at the 2025 Sustainability Impact Awards, jointly presented by The Business Times and UOB.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Property Insights
Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.
Learning curve
Trained as an auditor, Beh admits she knew little about sustainability when it first landed on her desk. Undeterred, she turned to YouTube, where she learnt the basics of sustainability reporting standards, greenhouse gas emissions and methods of calculation.
She also attended online courses by the Singapore Management University (SMU), Accounting for Sustainability, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). She obtained an advanced certificate in sustainability and sustainable businesses from SMU.
The learning continued as she stepped into the newly created role of CFSO for lodging at CLI – which involves not just overseeing finances, but also leading the company’s sustainability framework and strategy, in line with the group’s environmental, social and governance goals.
In the early days, there was no clear road map for implementing sustainability initiatives, but the team rallied around a shared mindset: “Let’s do something.”
Beh also identified a gap: Discussions about sustainability were often overlooked. Determined to change that, she ensured it was tabled at every meeting.
Out of these conversations grew Ascott Cares, a comprehensive sustainability framework guiding the day-to-day operations across the company’s portfolio – built on Beh’s conviction that sustainability and profitability can be powerful allies in driving long-term growth and resilience.
Ascott Cares, structured around five pillars – community, alliance, respect, environment and supply chain – translates the group’s sustainability ambitions into concrete and achievable targets.
These include attaining GSTC certification for all properties and phasing out single-use plastics in guest-facing items by 2028, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy intensity and water intensity by 46 per cent, 15 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, by 2030.
With the framework in place, the next step was building awareness across Ascott’s portfolio, which now comprises more than 1,000 properties in over 40 countries.
Online classes and bimonthly seminars were put in place to train staff, share knowledge and inspire sustainable practices in daily operations.
At an Ascott property in Vietnam, an engineer noticed heavy rainwater flowing out of the estate during the rainy season. He devised a system of trap doors to collect the rainwater and repurpose it for watering plants, generating measurable water savings.
“Sharing such examples during the sessions allows people to think outside the box – not just to reduce environmental impact, but to create innovation and curiosity,” said Beh. “A lot of times when people think about sustainability, it’s daunting and scary. But actually, a lot of actions we can take are low-hanging fruits.”
One such initiative is removing single-use plastic bottles from hotel rooms.
Five years ago, in Japan, Beh suggested removing such bottles from guest rooms, only to be told by the residence manager that it was impossible because guests expected them. Today, the situation is the reverse: If a plastic bottle is found in a room, some guests call to ask why it is there.
“The mindset has changed over the years,” Beh said. “It’s about changing the mindset of our people and our guests. This journey of becoming more environmentally conscious is really about partnership.”
Her proudest achievement is witnessing this transformation. “I’ve seen us grow from doing very little, to creating a framework and watching people embrace it and execute it. To see our people shift from asking, ‘Why should I do this?’ to saying, ‘I want to do this’ – that, to me, is the biggest achievement.”
On a more personal note, she finds the greatest satisfaction in staff telling her they have learnt something new, contributed to their communities, or made a positive impact on the environment. “It makes me feel good that we can do something for people,” she said. “For me, it’s always about being a blessing to another person, and every person we bless, there’s always a ripple effect.”
Persisting through obstacles
Despite these successes, Beh acknowledges that implementing sustainable practices across a global hospitality portfolio comes with its own set of challenges. Collecting accurate data remains a key hurdle, given its tedious nature. The group is exploring technologies, including artificial intelligence, to streamline energy, water and procurement data collection.
Moreover, many of Ascott’s properties are managed on behalf of third-party owners, meaning changes cannot be implemented unilaterally. Beh and her team need to work with property owners, on-site staff and operators while meeting guests’ growing expectations for sustainable options.
Obstacles aside, quitting is not in her vocabulary.
“It energises me every time we talk about sustainability because it’s ever-evolving – the standards and investors’ expectations are changing,” she said. “I don’t take lightly that I’m in a position to influence and make a positive impact on those around me.”
Her drive extends beyond Ascott. Beh is a director on CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s board, championing sustainability and disability inclusion. She is also a member of the Singapore Hotel Association’s hotel sustainability committee and the Global Business Travel Association.
In addition, she chairs the capability sub-committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ sustainability and climate change committee. In this capacity, she oversees sustainability training and advocates reporting standards that encourage finance professionals to embrace sustainability in their roles.
In her personal capacity, she volunteers with Focus on the Family Singapore on the audit and risk committee, and supports The Saturday Movement Singapore in helping disadvantaged elderly individuals.
Inclusivity also a priority
Environmental sustainability remains a key focus for Ascott as it targets a 46 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030, among other goals. Scope 1 emissions are directly generated by a company’s operations, while Scope 2 emissions arise indirectly from the purchase of electricity, heating and cooling.
Inclusivity is another priority. Beh and her team are finalising a global playbook for the hospitality sector, slated to launch by the end of 2025, which embeds disability-inclusion practices not just in infrastructure, but also in staff training and guest engagement.
On the difference she hopes to make, Beh said: “I want people to realise that there’s always an opportunity to make a positive impact. It doesn’t have to come from leadership; everyone can be a part of this journey, and everyone can make a difference.”
Keyword added to your list