Going green:Driving savings through sustainability

Eco-aware GMs combined with those who were keen to learn more in this workshop, moderated by Professor Neil Kirkpatrick, head of environment and sustainability, Royal Group.

The workshop, Going Green: driving savings through sustainability, which was hosted by Royal Group Head of Environment and Sustainability, Professor Neil Kirkpatrick, addressed the ways in which hoteliers could improve their green credentials.

During the session, the key drivers were identified as: cost savings, personal motivation, consciousness, conforming to policy and regulations, demand from guests, and company green goals or targets.

Hoteliers were asked to share sustainability best practice, and highlight what worked in their hotels.

Richard Haddad of Vision Hotels said: “Involving staff is a key priority, for example sharing with staff how their efforts have made a difference — how many trees they have saved, how they have contributed to society; we share these results.”

And involving the community had the potential to make an impact added Elaine Watson, general manager, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments.

“We involve local schools and had a competition where children made an energy saving device,” she said.

However, R Hotels vice president Martin H Kolb questioned this method.

He said: “This is all good in 20 years, but we can do things now and make a difference. For example, take away rain showers, take away the choice for guests to use them.”

But James Robert Wilson, general manager of Dusit Thani Dubai, questioned whether hotels should make decisions for their customers.

“Do you want to take away choice? We are in the hospitality industry,” he argued.

The session was concluded with participants debating the merits of green hotels.

Watson added: “People will actually book with us because we can deliver a green meeting.”

Hoteliers also discussed the fact that the industry as a whole could make a big difference.

‘We have an opportunity to educate people on a larger scale than most industries,” Wilson said.