Dubai hotel earns Green Globe certificate for 11th consecutive year

Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, has for the eleventh consecutive year, been certified by Green Globe, a worldwide system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses.

The hotel said it is now only one of two properties in the UAE to hold the coveted platinum certification, having demonstrated consistent year-on-year improvements.

During the recent Green Globe audit, which was carried out by Green Globe’s preferred partner in the Middle East, Dubai-headquartered sustainability consultancy Farnek, the property achieved a rating of 93%, having conformed with over 380 demanding sustainability standards.

Noteworthy initiatives put in place by hotel management included installing a water bottling plant to eliminate single use plastics, installing sensors and introducing a 100% smoke free environment to improve and monitor indoor air quality, motion sensors in the basement car park and stairwells, waste segregation on each floor, in the hotel’s kitchens and all relevant back of house areas.

Michael Goetz, General Manager of the Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, said “Green Globe is a sustainability programme specifically designed for the hotel and travel industry, so we are extremely proud of our platinum certification and our position as one of the most environmentally friendly hotels in the region.

“This certification highlights our consistently strong performance and our commitment to sustainability over the past eleven years. However, sustainability is a journey, not a destination and we will be working hard towards an even better performance during next year’s audit.”    

Farnek also conducted an Ashrae (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Level II energy audit and assessment for the hotel.

Muna Al Nahdi, Head of Sustainability & Consultancy at Farnek, said: “The purpose of the detailed data-driven audit was to evaluate the current energy consumption patterns and identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency within the hotel, to reduce costs and carbon emissions.

“The hotel’s energy performance registered an index of 247 KWh/sqm, which was considerably better than the UAE average of 252 KWh/sqm.

“Moreover, we have projected that the hotel has the potential to reduce its energy consumption by up to another 10% and lower its carbon emissions by 1.6kg per guest night.”

The five-star 297-room Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach is located on The Walk in Dubai’s Jumeriah Beach Residence and consists of two restaurants, three bars and lounges, an outdoor swimming pool, five meeting rooms, a fitness centre and spa.

“Overall, Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach continues to excel in its sustainable practices and constantly outperforms other hotels that participate in the Green Globe programme, throughout the Middle East region,” said Al Nahdi.

Having signed its original partnership agreement with Green Globe in 2009, Farnek has certified well over 100 hotels and leisure facilities in 38 cities across the MENA region.

This has enabled members to save in excess of 180 million kWh of energy, worth over $20 million, and more than two million cubic metres of water, valued at approximately $5 million. - TradeArabia News Service