First Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah to achieve 30% energy reduction and 10% waste reduction

Dubai, 8 October, 2015

Fairmont The Palm was recently recognized as the first hotel on Dubai Palm Jumeirah to receive Green Key Certification for its exceptional sustainability results, including a combined reduction of 40% for hotel  and energy waste since opening in December 2012.

            With a number of environmental initiatives, a well-trained hotel team and careful planning and execution, Fairmont The Palm earned prestigious recognition from the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) - the first green building council in the Middle East and North Africa, recognized and supported by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Mark Sawkins, General Manager, Fairmont The Palm expressed his delight upon receiving the Green Key, stating: "With the continuous implementation of  sustainability initiatives and greening our operations, where colleagues and guests are committed to engage in such programs, Fairmont The Palm is a model for sustainable performance in the city."

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: "Green Key is a prestigious citation that underlines the sustainable energy, water and waste management commitment of hotels, serviced apartments and other accommodation facilities. The hospitality industry plays a key role in the UAE and it is important that the sector recognises their responsibility towards sustainability. Fairmont The Palm has placed strong efforts towards sustainable operations and green awareness activities amongst staff and guests, so it is with great pleasure that we have awarded it a Green Key certification, making it the first hotel within the FRHI Hotels & Resorts portfolio in UAE and also the first hotel on The Palm Jumeirah to be Green Key certified."

            To achieve the  Green Key Certification, the hotel was required to fulfill 100 international criteria related to environmental management, staff involvement, guest information, water conservation practices, washing and cleaning methods, waste management (reduction and recycling waste), energy conservation practices, food and beverage quality, landscaping activities and social activities, which are revised every three years.

By monitoring hotel operations and energy consumption patterns since preopening and implementing energy saving practices from 2013 to 2014, energy reduction was reduced by 30% (worth AED 1,000,000 per year when compared to the budget without any further capital investment) and a 10% hotel waste reduction. This milestone was achieved by a number of recycling programs and energy saving practices that included:

·         Installing LED lights in public areas

·         Installing water flow reducers in the bathrooms of all the guestrooms

·         Reducing the number of light fittings in the car park and putting in place timer activated decorative lights that automatically switch off for six hours in the night in the guest floor corridors

·         Offering innovative 'green' alternatives to guests without compromising on the quality and standards of the Fairmont brand.  

This certification comes amidst a string of recent green accolades, including the recognition of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts earlier this year as the first hotel company to reduce its operational CO2 emissions by 20 per cent below 2006 levels as part of the WWF Climate Savers Program. With ongoing sustainable initiatives that cover reductions in energy and water consumption, waste generation and carbon emissions, and by focusing on key areas to achieve change, National Geographic Traveler has described the brand as having the most comprehensive environmental program in the North American hotel industry.

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About Fairmont The Palm
Located on the Palm Jumeirah, the world's largest man-made island shaped in the form of a palm tree, Fairmont The Palm is the perfect luxurious family resort in Dubai that offers 381 lavish rooms and suites with modern décor and Arabic touches overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai Skyline. A choice of dining experiences await the guests including the Brazilian restaurant "Frevo", the Mediterranean seafood restaurant "Seagrill on 25° Restaurant & Lounge" and the international dining outlet "Flow Kitchen". Fairmont The Palm presents a wide range of leisure and outdoor activities including four outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pools, 450-metres private white-sand beach and a full-service state-of-the-art health club with personal training and group exercise classes. Children between the age of 18 months and 15 years, will be entertained with fun and educational activities in the indoors "Fairmont Falcons Kids Club". This hotel presents eight event areas ideally suited for social functions, corporate events and exclusive wedding parties. Fairmont The Palm is only 25 minutes from the Dubai International Airport and close to the main shopping malls and local attractions in the city.

For more information, please visit fairmont.com/palm-dubai

About Green Key
Green Key is a sustainability certification programme for hotels and accommodations that was developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Recognised by the World Tourism Organisation and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the non-profit and independent programme is the largest global eco-label relating to accommodation; which offers clear guidelines to hotels for ensuring that a certain level of sustainability is being met, and provides guests with the assurance that they are choosing an accommodation/venue that has a commitment to green practices.

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has been the National Operator of Green Key in the UAE since May 2013.

About Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts connects guests to the very best of its destinations, providing travelers with memorable travel experiences, thoughtful and attentive service and luxury hotels that are truly unforgettable. Each Fairmont property reflects the locale's energy, culture and history through locally inspired cuisine, spirited bars and lounges and distinctive design and decor. With more than 70 hotels globally, and many more in development, the Fairmont collection boasts some of the most iconic hotels in the world, including The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hotel company that operates more than 130 hotels and branded residential properties under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. For more information or reservations, please visit fairmont.com.

For more information or reservations, please visit fairmont.com.

For further information contact:
Nermin Abushnaf or Sumit Augustine
Fairmont The Palm
+971 4 457 3582/3595
Nermin.abushnaf@fairmont.com / sumit.augustine@fairmont.com

© Press Release 2015