Next generation of sustainable hospitality solutions unveiled in Abu Dhabi

PIONEERING sustainable solutions for the global hospitality industry were unveiled in the UAE capital as the world’s ‘future tourism’ champions gathered for the ground-breaking World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi conference and exhibition.

Environmentally-friendly taxis and revolutionary solar-powered boats were among the highlights of the exhibition which hosted national arenas from Japan, Thailand and the UK alongside private participants from the UAE, Qatar, France, Germany and Malaysia.

“This is the future on show,” said Rick Theobald, event director, Streamline Marketing Group (SMG), which organised the event. “It is an essential forum for hospitality industry players as the sector moves to a fresh era being driven by an increasingly discerning international guest base which is demanding evidence of sustainable responsibility from its preferred hosts.

“There’s massive potential for destinations and operators to reduce carbon footprints, increase bottom lines and open up to a growing market segment of eco-conscience travellers. This is the industry’s chance to get in on the ground floor of a movement which is defining its future.”

Exhibitors included the world’s most powerful ‘green’ leaders such as Philips, the global technology and design company which demonstrated its LED technology and ensured World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi was a fully carbon- neutral event, via an offset programme; Zeoplant, which delivers a water retaining soil amendment to reduce irrigation water requirements and Oxel, which provides technology for remote reading and analysis of electricity and water consumption.

Also at the event were the forerunners of the ‘green tourism’ movement including Suraphon Svetasreni, governor Tourism Authority of  Thailand, Hisham Zaazou, assistant minister, Ministry of Tourism Egypt, Isabel Hill, director, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Department of Commerce, US, and Luigi Cabrini, director (sustainable development), UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation).

“Going green is our next big initiative in Egypt. But we need to be realistic and approach it carefully. In Egypt, we will begin our sustainable practice in Sharm El Sheikh, approaching one destination at a time.  With a budget of approx EGP1.6 billion (approx $278 million) and a target of 2020, we will get there slowly but surely,” said Zaazou.
According to Cabrini, responsible business is no longer an option, but a necessity and government bodies need to look at strategies and effective ways to make that change.