Dubai Tourism (DTCM) in collaboration with Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF, Roya International and Insignia, hosted an initiative aimed at the hospitality industry, emphasising the importance of sustainability across the sector.
Hospitality Sustainability Board Game, the inaugural activity of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative was held at Media One Hotel, engaged industry professionals from across the city, as they gained insight into Dubai’s commitment to adopting sustainable practices and their role in achieving the goals.
The game was created as an educational tool for Dubai’s hospitality industry to contribute towards the city’s goal of sustainability. Participants at the event included staff across all aspects of hotel operations, who worked in teams of 2-3 people to measure consumption baselines and identify opportunities to reduce consumption.
Speaking at the event, Solaiman Alrifai, Senior Manager, Tourism Development, Dubai Tourism, said: “Dubai’s hospitality industry, which recently crossed the 100,000 room threshold, has been a cornerstone of the city’s economy. As we look forward to capacity expansion and increased visitor volumes in the lead-up to 2020 and beyond, it is paramount for us to implement measures for this industry to reduce consumption and conserve resources. Raising awareness of conservation practices is a key pillar of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative, making this game a very significant step towards creating ä clear understanding of how powerful hospitality employees are in bringing about change.
Also commenting on the initiative, Rabih Feghali, Director of Business Development at Roya International, said: “We are honored to have been chosen by DTCM and EWS-WWF to assist in the creation of this exciting new initiative. Having been at the forefront of environmental awareness in the regional hospitality industry, we delivered one of the first LEED certified hotels in the UAE, and continue to engage industry stakeholders at all levels to promote sustainable practices. I encourage all hotels in Dubai to participate in the board game; Its fun, interesting and a true learning experience. A special thank you goes out to the Media One Hotel, Shangri-La Dubai, Media Rotana and Radisson Blu Dubai Marina for their participation in the pilot program.”
Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative (DSTI) is an initiative by Dubai Tourism designed to assist the hospitality industry in Dubai in becoming sustainable and efficient in managing their resources. Along with raising awareness, the DSTI also aims to develop a framework to promote sustainability, introduce carbon emission reduction strategies, and share innovative solutions to improve sustainability.
