Green Globe Certification has awarded ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar Polaris its inaugural certification. It is the first hotel in Mongolia to become officially certified. ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar Polaris is a contemporary hotel located along one of Ulaanbaatar’s main avenues, providing convenient access to the city and airport. Elements of Mongolian culture combine with modern design throughout the property which features Mongolian art and décor created by rising local artists.
General Manager, Tuvshinjargal Battogoo said, “We are very proud to receive our first Green Globe certification. The Mongolian nomadic lifestyle is, in many ways, the ultimate example of sustainability, balancing harmony with nature and strong community bonds. At our hotel, we are committed to carrying these cultural principles forward by integrating them into our modern operations and guest experiences.”
Employee Apartment Ownership Support Program
ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar believes that the community starts at the hotel first as 90% of employees are Mongolian. Secure housing is seen as fundamental to employee wellbeing, financial stability, and long-term career development and to support this goal, the hotel has established an Employee Apartment Ownership Support Program.
Through this initiative, ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar provides 30% of the required apartment down payment for selected employees and assists them in accessing Mongolia's nationwide mortgage program through its partner banks. The hotel also provides support by acting as guarantor for eligible employees during the mortgage application process, helping them meet lending requirements and obtain affordable financing.
The program enables employees who may otherwise face barriers to home ownership to purchase their own apartments, creating greater financial security and improving their quality of life. Selection is based on both performance and need with employees who demonstrate dedication and a strong work ethic prioritized.
Those who may benefit most from the additional support include:
Single mothers
Women who are the primary breadwinners in their households
Young families seeking stable housing, and
Employees facing financial challenges despite a strong work performance
The aim of the program is to promote social equity, employee wellbeing, and long-term economic empowerment within the workforce.
Tsagaan Sar Zolgolt
Tsagaan Sar Cultural Celebration
ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar actively promotes Mongolian cultural preservation and employee engagement through the annual Tsagaan Sar Celebration. Employees, company founders, and colleagues from the hotel’s sister companies and subsidiaries participate in Lunar New Year festivities where everyone can relax and intermingle.
Tsagaan Sar usually falls in late January or February and marks the beginning of Spring. At the hotel, the celebration begins with the traditional Zolgolt, during which employees pay their respects and exchange greetings with senior members of the company. Then everyone gathers to enjoy traditional buuz (Mongolia's national steamed meat dumpling), creating an opportunity for employees from different departments and companies to have fun while eating together.
Employees then participate in games using shagai (sheep knuckles), a traditional Mongolian game that is often associated with checking one’s fortune in the coming year. Team members thoroughly enjoy spending this free time socializing together to strengthen relationships and build camaraderie outside of daily work activities.
Upon departing and in keeping with Mongolian tradition, each participant receives a small gift. Employees are encouraged to wear Mongolian Deel (the traditional, knee-length outer garment or robe) if possible and actively participate in the festivities as a means of strengthening their connection to Mongolian culture and heritage.
Tree Planting Day
Waste Management Strategy
Waste management remains a developing topic in Mongolia, and currently Ulaanbaatar does not yet have comprehensive city-wide recycling infrastructure capable of processing all recyclable materials. Recognizing this challenge, ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar has taken a proactive approach to ensure that as much waste as possible is sorted and diverted from landfill through specialized recycling channels.
To achieve this, the property works with five different recyclers and collection partners in addition to the Municipal waste management company, including both companies and individual collectors, to ensure that various waste streams are properly recovered and recycled.
Currently, the waste segregation and recycling program includes:
Glass
Plastic bottles
Aluminum cans
Cardboard boxes
Batteries, and
Used cooking oil
Because waste management practices are still evolving in Mongolia, the hotel has also partnered with local waste management NGOs such as Be Colorful, to provide training and education for managers and staff. These training sessions help increase awareness of responsible waste handling, recycling practices, and environmental stewardship throughout the property.
By creating its own network of recycling partners and investing in employee education, ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar aims to maximize waste diversion streams and contribute positively to the development of sustainable waste management practices within the local community and region.
Protecting The Mongolian Saiga
Beyond the hotel’s urban walls, Styles Ulaanbaatar Polaris promotes biodiversity by supporting conservation of the endangered Mongolian Saiga or antelope. The hotel sponsors the Mongolian National Short Track Team which is connected to raising awareness and conservation of the Saiga. The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with WWF Mongolia with part of the sponsorship contributing financially to Saiga conservation activities.
Contact
Tuvshinjargal Battogoo
General Manager
ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar Polaris
Chinggis Avenue 81
Khan Uul District
20 khoroo
17043 Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia
E: H9808-GM@accor.com
T: +976 7010 0707