Gloria Hotel & Yassat Gloria 'Go Green'

UAE based properties reduce utility bills by more than US$1.09 million in 2015 and receive Green Globe Certification.

UAE-based Gloria Hotel and Yassat Gloria Hotel & Apartments have saved US$1.09 million (AED4.16 million) on their respective electricity and water bills in 2015 leading to Green Globe Certification (GGC).

Both properties witnessed improvements in a number of other key sustainability indicators including carbon footprint per occupied room, and food and waste reduction through the modification of their recycling programmes.

Both Gloria Hotel and Yassat Gloria Hotel & Apartments received scores of 73% and 75% respectively after an audit carried out by UAE-based Farnek, Green Globe's preferred partner in the Middle East.

Gloria Hotels and Resorts area general manager Freddy Farid said: "Saving four million dirhams is clearly substantial and underscores the correlation between sustainability and cost-efficiency. The Green Globe Certification process has systemised our commitment towards sustainability. It forms an important element within our wider vision and commitment to the environment, society and culture, quality, and health & safety."

Farid added: "We have made tremendous progress to achieve certification. However this is clearly just a beginning for increased and on-going improvement. Nevertheless, initial key milestones have been achieved including energy savings of more than 8,580 megawatt hours (MWh) and 54,000 cubic metres (m3) of water, which is the equivalent of 22 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

"We also reduced our carbon emissions by 4,400 tonnes, which is the same as flying to London and back four times," added Farid.

By improving the segregation of recycling materials and implementing a waste reduction campaign the two properties also managed to save 123 tonnes of waste.

"These results were achieved through passion, dedication and teamwork, which involved not just members of staff, but also the senior management team and the owners of the hotel, all clearly determined to reap the environmental, social and commercial benefits of Green Globe Certification," commented FARNEK Director Sandrine Le Biavant.