With summer officially in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to cooler temperatures and cozier destinations—whether you’re packing it up to glimpse fall foliage in New England, hit the pavement with an urban getaway, find a charming cabin on a mountain or in the woods, or jet-set to tropical places to stop summer from ever ending.
The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023 kicks off in Abu Dhabi in just under two weeks’ time
14.09.2023 - 06:17 / breakingtravelnews.com / Haitham Mattar
The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023 kicks off in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time, with ESG and sustainability-related discussions high up on the action-packed agenda.
With 2023 being the UAE Year of Sustainability, COP 28 taking place in Dubai this winter and ESG becoming more and more important to investors and customers, what are the key trends, challenges and priorities for the region’s hospitality sector, according to industry leaders?
Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer of FHS host sponsor Miral Group, says that the path to sustainability across the UAE’s leisure, entertainment, and tourism industry has been charting promising transformation in recent years, emboldened by visionary national strategies towards clean-energy and net-zero objectives.
“A heightened focus on climate action is guiding leading players across the industry, including our efforts at Miral. Our ambition to accelerating the realisation of the Emirate’s tourism growth and contributing to the industry’s ecosystem is underpinned by a commitment to creating value for our customers, partners, and society, and positively impacting the communities in which we operate. Ultimately, the key to balancing growth with sustainable development lies in collective action, strategic partnerships, and long-standing investments. This is how we – and the industry at large – will define success in the years to come,” he added.
In the run up to FHS, five industry stakeholders have shared their views on what the sector is already doing – and what must be done in the future – when it comes to investing in, developing and executing effective ESG strategies. Read on for insight from Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Richard Williamson, COO of Considerate Group; Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, MEA; Paul Stevans, COO, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye at Accor; and Elie Milky, VP Business Development, Radisson Hotel Group.
What are you currently witnessing in relation to the hospitality sector’s investment in ESG and sustainability?
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG Hotels & Resorts: With a massive footprint across the globe, the tourism and hospitality sectors play an important role in working towards a sustainable future. At IHG, we embrace our responsibility and opportunity to make a positive difference, and helping to shape the future of responsible travel. In 2021, we launched “Journey to Tomorrow”, a 10-year action plan of clear commitments to drive change for our people, communities and planet, aligned with our purpose of True Hospitality for Good and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Journey to Tomorrow embodies IHG’s
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