EmiratesGBC seminar to put spotlight on sustainability trends in UAE’s hotel sector

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, will put the spotlight on sustainability trends in the UAE’s hospitality sector at a specialised seminar on June 17, 2013.

The seminar will bring together tourism and hospitality experts from across the UAE to discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting sustainability in the hotel industry.  The dedicated hospitality programme of EmiratesGBC will also be presented and launched at the event, to encourage more hotels to become environment-friendly and promote energy efficiencies.

The key speakers include representatives of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bid Committee, and the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, as well as leading hotel groups . Among the topics of discussion include governmental perspective on the need for sustainability in the hotel sector, and the drivers that shape the sustainability agenda in the region’s hospitality sector.

Adnan Sharafi, EmiratesGBC Chairman, said: “The hospitality sector is a key contributor to the UAE’s GDP, supporting the tourism sector and creating several thousand new jobs annually. Today, the hotel sector is witnessing a fast revival with several new projects being undertaken. This is a strong opportunity to implement greener building practices, while also potentially undertaking the retrofit of existing hotels.

“The sustainability programme that EmiratesGBC has developed will serve as roadmap for the hotel industry in the UAE to strengthen their operational efficiencies vis-à-vis the environment. The EmiratesGBC Seminar underlines our commitment to strengthen our outreach with all our different stakeholders.”

Ibrahim Al Zubi, Head of CSR for Majid Al Futtaim Properties said: “Majid Al Futtaim is a proud pioneer of sustainability, not only in shopping mall development, but also in the hospitality sector. The Company has invested and allocated more than Dh8 million to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its hotels through smart designs. This resulted in 15 percent reduction in energy and 14 percent in water consumption so far. Currently, six of our Dubai hotels received the ‘Earth Check Silver’ certification, one received ‘Earth Check Bronze’ and another hotel is in the process to get LEED certified.”

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