Barcelò Hotel Group, leading international hotel chain, has implemented their innovative sustainability business model across all properties in the region – through energy and water conservation, eco-friendly cleaning products, and overall waste reduction at the group’s varying properties, pioneered by the brand’s Occidental hotels.
The Occidental properties, such as Occidental Dubai Production City, Occidental Sharjah Grand and the new Occidental Al Jaddaf set to open in February, have undertaken an impressive commitment to decrease their environmental impact and increase the sustainability of the services they offer.
Ahmad Abi Oula, Director of Operations at Barceló Hotel Group, comments, “Sustainability has always been a necessary focus for us and will continue to be so in the upcoming year. Occidental Al Jaddaf, scheduled to open in February 2021, has been designed to utilize solar panels to operate water heaters for energy conservation and will place low flow devices in public bathrooms and showers to reduce water consumption, which is just a few examples of our commitment to implementing the best sustainability practices in our hotels.”
Whether in central operations, or with lighting systems and air conditioning equipment, the Occidental properties are working to reduce energy use while sustaining and, whenever possible, enhancing the guest experience. The hotels have added a motion detector for the guest corridor light systems, public areas, and car park to save energy waste; additionally, energy saving LED light bulbs and solar security light are installed and used across many areas of the properties.
José Manuel Galafate Santos, Assistant General Manager at Occidental Dubai Production City, shares his insights, “At our property and across Barceló Hotel Group’s portfolio, it is important that we play our part in creating a more sustainable future. By implementing these eco-conscious initiatives, we are able to maintain the standards expected of us, while creating a more resilient, modern and eco-friendly experience for our guests and staff.”
Within guest rooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, and pools, the hotels continue to implement efficiencies that reduce water consumption. To highlight, all properties have a sensor tap at the wash basins located in public areas along with a drip irrigation system in the hotels’ landscape irrigation systems to reduce unnecessary water usage.
Recognizing the importance of safer products for guests and employees, as well as the environment, both Occidental Dubai Production City and Occidental Sharjah Grand have implemented cleaning products that are certified by the European Eco Label. Using eco-friendly cleaning products at the hotels have reduced environmental impact significantly and reduced use of hazardous chemical substances, packaging waste, and health hazards.
Raquel López, VP Sales & Marketing GCC at Barceló Hotel Group, adds, “We aim to be at the forefront of sustainability within the hospitality industry to ensure that our properties are not only safe for our guests at this current time, but also for the generations of travelers yet to come.The introduction of this comprehensive strategy has allowed us to lay the framework for even more sustainable initiatives in the future.”
The Group looks to 2021 with a positive outlook and promises to continue to uphold its international standards and serve as a pioneer within the sustainable hospitality space.