Working for a greener future

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RIGAUD: Many staffs come from cultures where 'green living' is a way of life.

Crowne Plaza Dubai general manager Laurent Rigaud discusses the property's recently launched 'Building a Greener Future' initiative, and possible regulatory changes to hotel operating standards.

What green programmes did Crowne Plaza Dubai have in place before the recent launch of the Building a Greener Future initiative?

The Crowne Plaza Dubai team has created a green committee under the name of "Room to be green", which is composed of green activists who have volunteered to be fully involved and make a difference in the way we live and operate.

One of the main initiatives undertaken was to start a major recycling program with a local company, involving all our 750 team members, using our recycling plant at the back of the hotel. Furthermore, each green activist focused on his/her own department in the hotel and started looking at ways to become greener.

Such actions resulted in new initiatives that have been implemented since then, such as usage of recycling paper, water and electricity saving devices, staff awareness days, plastic and paper usage reduction, for example.

At the moment we are finalising new initiatives which focus on using greener chemicals, amenities, products and looking at developing other initiatives with our employees and customers.

What is the purpose of the Building a Greener Future initiative?

We are living in a world which has been abused over the years, mainly due to the modernisation and development in all major cities and countries. Until recently, very little attention has been put towards our environment.

During recent years, the due to different disasters, problems and issues arising, we have started to realise that if we don't take care of our environment, our children will not have much left to enjoy.

As concerned citizens of the world and the local community, our team members at the Crowne Plaza Dubai want to participate in this crusade to stop damaging the planet and build a greener future for all.

How important is staff education in dealing with environmental matters?

It is essential that all our team members are involved, this is the foundation of our programme which is set up.

Without our people we cannot succeed, they are the engine of the operation and they are the ones that make it happen. Our employees are very engaged in this cause and most of the ideas are coming from them.

Not only do our employees see various parts of the hotel on a daily basis, but furthermore, some of them are coming from various areas of the world where the environmental issues have been part of their daily life since childhood or they had to be creative in recycling everything due to their living conditions. Based on this, most of them have embraced this green culture with enthusiasm.

You have said Crowne Plaza Dubai's aim is to provide eco-friendly "great hotels guests love". How will you do this?

Our guests love our hospitality; they love our employees, the service and the product they are provided with. This is why they come back to us, as their liking has developed into love over the years.

Our guests also have environmental best practices in their companies or at home and talking to them, we realise they really appreciate what we do as they also share their ideas with us. They are as concerned as we are and they would definitely appreciate these initiatives, knowing that they can participate in the betterment of our world.

What is Crowne Plaza Dubai's next step? What is at the end of the road?

At the moment we are developing a master plan with our team, to introduce numerous actions in the hotel that will be developed and implemented over the next few months and years.

This is a never ending process that will take us to a better and greener living setting.

There has been a lot of talk about the environment and green issues in the Middle East hotel industry of late, to what extent is it all just hype and hotels just jumping on the trendy eco-bandwagon?

I do not think that it is just a trend, it is the responsibility of everyone to take care of what our ancestors have passed on to us for the future generations. I personally come from a family where these values have been anchored in us and the education process was done since our childhood.

So I don't think that there is anything new but I believe that we have all realised in all different industries that we had to do something now before things turn to the worst.

How will Crowne Plaza Dubai react to the DTCM's recent announcement that it would launch a scheme to encourage hotels to reduce carbon emissions?

Well, we can only encourage this type of initiatives. The more we are involved, the better we will improve and live in a better environment.

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