Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay Dubai receives Green Key
Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay Dubai has received the Green Key 2018 Certification, a citation that underscores the hotel’s commitment to managing its energy, water and waste management systems.
The hotel has put in place multiple green initiatives such as transforming a previously unused rooftop area of 72m2 into an organic garden producing herbs and vegetables for use in the kitchen and bars. The stand-out feature of this project is that the water used to irrigate the crops comes solely from the air-conditioning condensation, thereby saving the hotel gallons of water.
Sustainability plays an important role for Deutsche Hospitality, the umbrella brand of Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts. The ‘green meeting concept is the group’s approach to providing meetings that reduce the impact on the environment, and is set to launch officially at the hotel in April 2018. The aim is not only to decrease meeting costs, and pass that value on to the consumer, but to encourage delegates to learn how their interaction with the hotel impacts on the environment, and their own health.
This meeting concept incorporates environmental considerations throughout all stages of the meeting to minimise negative impacts on the environment. This includes such things as using energy-saving signage, recycled conference note pads, flip charts and stationery. Waste disposal from the meeting room follows a certified recycling/separation practice. Branded and sealed plastic water bottles are no longer used and have been replaced with a water filter and glass bottles along with a healing crystal water bar. A healthy coffee break menu features Eco Terra snacks, and a selection of healthy snacking options.
All efforts are taken to source local food products materials with minimal packaging, and technology with low power consumption is employed all through the hotel. A total of 6,000+ halogen and incandescent lights have been replaced by LED lights which make the hotel 99% LED lit.
The use of water aerators on all guest room taps, and the use of biodegradable laundry detergents along with low temperature washing of the hotel's linen, has resulted in a significant drop in electricity and water consumption both on property and at the off-site laundry.
By installing a ‘backwash system’ the hotel is able to capture approximately 400 gallons of ‘grey water’ for use in toilet flush systems and the surrounding garden areas per day.
Steigenberger Hotel has recently been part of the Sustainability Champion Award, which acknowledges initiative and leadership skills in employees, inspiring others to make positive changes in that work space. The hotel has also initiated a number of strategic collaborations with brands that match the hotel’s vision of eco-sustainability. This includes a partnership with 'Clean Swift Laundry and Textile Services' that promotes environmental friendliness. Steigenberger Hotel also seeks the help and co-operation of its guests, encouraging them to echo the same sentiment towards the overall benefit of the global environment.
"Our commitment towards a sustainability strategy reaches beyond the doors of our hotels to preserve and protect our planet’s natural resources. We are extremely proud of our team's consolidated efforts and achievements so far, and aim to continue working on this promise," said the hotel's general manager Stephen Meredith, in a statement.