HOTELIER AWARDS 2013: Unveiling the CSR champions
With just one month to go until the Hotelier Middle East Awards are held at the world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on October 30, it is time to unveil the shortlist. In total, 90 hoteliers across 18 individual awards categories have been shortlisted, along with five hotel teams for the coveted Team of the Year Award.
Here we unveil the finalists for the new CSR Champion of the Year Award, sponsored by Diversey, introduced this year to celebrate the responsible business, environmental achievements and charity work conducted by Middle East hoteliers.
Marietou Seck, Regional Quality and Sustainable Development Executive, Accor Middle East
ABOUT MARIETOU
Marietou Seck graduated in 2008 with a master degree in Agronomy in ENSAT Toulouse followed by a Master degree in Management of Environment at ISEAM in Marne la Vallee France. She implements her vast knowledge of environmental issues in her role as Regional Quality and Sustainable Development Executive at ACCOR Middle East, in which she is responsible for managing Accor’s worldwide sustainable development programme, Planet 21. Marietou joined Accor in March 2012.
WHY WAS SHE NOMINATED?
To date, Marietou has achieved the ISO 14001 certification of nine Ibis hotels in UAE, Kuwait and Jordan, part of the Planet 21 programme. Based on a standard of 10 mandatory actions that help the hotel obtain the bronze level in ISO 14001, Marietou has driven the project since its beginning. She has increased the amount of recycled waste, rolled out certified European Ecolabel products in all UAE hotels and increased the water and energy consumption reporting of 44 Accor hotels, enabling the group to monitor its progress within Planet 21. In addition, she focuses on engaging both colleagues and guests in her CSR work.
WHAT DID HER TEAM SAY?
“This letter serves to confirm that Miss Marietou Seck has been responsible for the coordination and implementation of the ISO quality management systems 9001 and 14001 throughout the Novotel and Ibis Hotels at the World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During this project I have always found Marietou to have been extremely well organized, knowledgeable, thorough and fair in all aspects of her role.” Frederic Gitzner , General Manager , Novotel & Ibis World Trade Centre
To find out who else is shortlisted, please click through to the next page
Kashmira Maneckji, Director of Residences, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre
ABOUT KASHMIRA
Having started her career with The Oberoi Group as a trainee in 1991, Kashmira Maneckji progressed through guest relations and front office before joining Ritz-Carlton Dubai as front office manager in 1998. She then opened the first Ritz-Carlton managed Residences in the Middle East at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre and has completed several task force projects.
WHY WAS SHE NOMINATED?
Kashmira leads the hotel’s CSR strategy, implementing activities aligned with the three key elements of The Ritz-Carlton brand’s ‘Community Footprints’ programme; hunger relief, child poverty and environment. She leads a CSR team of 15 people, and has put in place a comprehensive strategy with key local partners. Examples of her initiatives include organising for 50 students from approached Cambridge International School in Bur Dubai to train at the hotel for two days; partnering with the World Food Programme on an initiative called ‘Recycle More, Feed More!’; and raising money for Senses Care Home. In addition, for the majority of 2012 she conducted her own role as Director of Residences as well as heading-up the HR department, in the absence of an HR Director in the hotel.
WHAT DID HER TEAM SAY?
“I was very impressed by the strategy that The Ritz-Carlton DIFC Community Footprints team has in place – and delighted to meet all the members of the team. The enthusiasm and commitment by the team for making a positive impact in the local community was inspiring! Thank you for all that you do!” Sue Stephenson, Vice President, Community Footprints, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
WHAT DID THE GUESTS SAY?
“Kashmira was a joy to work with from start to finish and an inspiration for our students. We had a few students who have special educational needs and Kashmira was very aware of this and made sure that all the staff meeting the students were also aware. She has been very proactive in organizing the events we have done so far and has made sure the students have access to all information and also to her so they can expand their learning even after the visits. The students and I both felt the visits were very organized and varied. Kashmira has also arranged a work exposure/placement for one of our students who is very interested in hotel management. He said his experience was excellent and that he felt welcome.” Leanne Ryder, Vocational Studies Faculty Leader, Cambridge International School
To find out who else is shortlisted, please click through to the next page
Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman
ABOUT IFTIKHAR
Iftikhar Hamdani started his hotel career in 1994 in Pakistan before moving to the UAE in 2000 with Coral International Hotels. He joined Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman in 2009 as director of sales and marketing and progressed to GM and then Cluster General Manager for Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman. Hamdani is also “Brand Ambassador of Wyndham Hotel Group” because of the sustainable practices he has initiated at Ramada.
WHY WAS HE NOMINATED?
In addition to his GM role, Hamdani spearheads Ramada Ajman’s social activities and environmental initiatives. He’s formed an Urban Farm near the property, teamed up with Al Ihsan Charity to share excess food and implemented energy saving bulbs and aerators in the taps. Most impressively, he launched the first ever Zero Landfill Project amongst hotels in the UAE in July 2012. The Zero Landfill Project intends to recycle and reduce the hotels’ waste, which is 80 kg to 1000kg daily. The initial efforts generated positive results as the property nearly reaches 90% in terms of waste diversion. The hotel has no commercial objective on this project, although is getting the benefit of savings on garbage clearance.
WHAT DID HIS TEAM SAY?
“Mr. Iftikhar is truly an energetic man, considering his role as GM, getting into sports along with his team, and organizing an initiative that will truly benefit the environment. He launched the 1st Zero Landfill among hotels in UAE. He is the kind of manager that could squeeze his resources and time, even converting some area from the hotel’s vast parking space into an “Urban Farm” where freshly harvested vegetables are now served in the hotel’s kitchen. Amazingly, he succeeded.” Mayda Solatre, employee.
WHAT DID HIS GUESTS SAY?
“An environmental enthusiast is what I could describe him as; He acts responsibly towards the environment, works towards equitable and fair business practices and brings to life products and services with lower impacts on the natural environment. I am repeatedly staying at the hotel and kept my loyalty with them.” Robert Sulman.
To find out who else is shortlisted, please click through to the next page
Caroline D’Souza, Security Manager, Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha
ABOUT CAROLINE
Caroline’s career began in 1990 as security officer at the American Consulate in India. She joined the Dubai Marine Beach Resort in 1994 as a Health Club attendant. After four years she moved to Holiday Inn Downtown Dubai, where through determination and hard work she was promoted to Supervisor in 2001. She then joined the larger Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha as security in charge in 2010. D’Souza was promoted to her current role in October 2012, as assistant security manager.
WHY WAS SHE NOMINATED?
D’Souza leads the Holiday Inn- Dubai ‘Loves You Campaign’, conducting weekly committee meetings, co-ordinating the logistics of charity events and motivates team members to get involved. She is dedicated to raising funds to support a local girl at the Special Needs Foundation and the UN World Food Programme.
WHAT DID HER TEAM SAY?
“’A loving and soft spoken lady with a big heart’, is who Ms. Caroline is for me. Her commitment and dedication towards Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha’s CSR Drive (Holiday Inn - Dubai “Loves You Campaign”) is incomparable. As head of the Security at the Hotel she is not just securing the ones who live within; but also those who are in dire need like Ayesha, a blind student of SNF, and many other underprivileged children first in Africa and now in Philippines. Leading from the front she has been involved in all the activities to raise funds and create awareness about our campaign” Sameer Suleman, online coordinator.
WHAT DID HER GUESTS SAY?
“Thanks Caroline , Best Greetings from Beit Al Khair Society. We thank you for all your continuous cooperation and efforts in serving the UAE. We are grateful that you partner with Beit-Al Khair society to draw smiles on the faces of orphans, widows, poor people and disabled people.” Abdeen Taher Alawadi General Manager - Belt Al Khair Society
To find out who else is shortlisted, please click through to the next page
Waseem Ahmed, director of risk management, InterContinental Doha The City
ABOUT WASEEM
Waseem Ahmed joined IHG in 2006 as security manager at Crowne Plaza Bahrain and within two years became Safety and Security Manager, playing a significant role during the unrest in Bahrain. . In December, 2011, he moved to InterContinental Doha The City as Director of Risk Management as part of the pre-opening team and is now leading the team to achieve HACCP, for ISO 9001 for Quality management system, ISO14001 for Environment management system and OHSAS 18001 for Occupational Health and Safety system.
WHY WAS HE NOMINATED?
Ahmed spearheads the hotel’s CSR initiatives, with recent projects including the promotion of Zubarah Fort, the organisation of charity runs for IHG’s Shelter in a Storm campaign, securing the UN Climate Change Conference COP18 and promoting the hotel’s Green Engage activities at the event. He has helped the hotel achieve Level 3 in the IHG Green Engage Certification and in addition to environmental initiatives, has lead several charity events such as efforts to preserve the Mangroves on Purple Island and the Think Pink Walk.
WHAT DID HIS TEAM SAY?
“A role model and an inspiration for others when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility, Waseem has been at the forefront of activities carried out under the CSR banner; he has been donating blood since 1999 and has so far inspired many to follow his path — the hotel is conducting a quarterly blood donation campaign and has created a pool of donors.” Colleague.