Hotels in Dubai given 18 months to meet new sustainability requirements

Hotels in Dubai will have to comply with 19 new sustainability requirements within the next 18 months, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has announced.

Part of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiative, the requirements have been developed to map out regulations for hotel establishments across all classifications.

They cover a variety of areas including sustainable management approaches, performance metrics, energy, food and water management plans, guest education, employee training initiatives, the presence of sustainability committees within hotel establishments and corporate social responsibility programmes for local communities.

To regulate compliance, Dubai Tourism will begin auditing the performance of the hotels after an 18-month implementation period which will allow hotels to finalise their operations. Hotels are already required to have the Carbon Calculator tool, which became mandatory in January 2017.

Officials said they have conducted a series of training sessions to increase awareness of the requirements, with 45 per cent of the industry trained and further sessions planned throughout Q2.

Yousuf Lootah, executive director – Tourism Development and Investments, Dubai Tourism, said: “The regulated guidelines will help promote energy conservation and efficiency, as well as encourage environmentally sustainable practices across the local tourism inventory.

“Following the grace period, these guidelines will be enforced through a structured monitoring process and reporting mechanism to ascertain the outcome of the existing efforts and to quantify what more is required to reach the agreed targets.”

The DST initiative works with public and private sector partners to position Dubai as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.

The 19 sustainability requirements include:

1	Sustainability Management Approach
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	There is a written sustainability policy, specific to the establishment that addresses relevant environmental, health, safety, responsible tourism, and community issues. The policy must have objectives and an annual action plan for continuous improvement.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
2	Performance Metrics
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment uses the DST Carbon Calculator to track totals for electricity, cooling energy, water, petrol in generators, petrol in vehicles, diesel in vehicles, diesel in generators, refrigerants, refillable CO2 gas in fire extinguishers, LPG, and waste sent to landfill.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
3	Sustainability Personnel Training
	Hotel 5-4	The establishment has an individual champion certified via training and verified by Dubai Tourism and two trained staff with responsibilities for managing the sustainability program.
	Resort 5-4
	Hotel Apartment Deluxe
	Hotel 3	The establishment has an individual champion certified via training and verified by Dubai Tourism and one trained staff with responsibilities for managing the sustainability program.
	Resort 3
	Hotel Apartment Superior
	Hotel 2-1-B	The establishment has an individual champion certified via training and verified by Dubai Tourism with responsibilities for managing the sustainability program.
	Guest House D-ST
	Hotel Apartment Standard
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
4	Sustainability Committee
	Hotel 5-4	The establishment has a sustainability committee and/or team that includes the general manager and top management staff. The sustainability committee and/or team meets on a monthly basis.
	Resort 5-4
	Hotel Apartment Deluxe
	Hotel 3-2-1-B	The establishment has a sustainability committee and/or team that includes the general manager and top management staff. The sustainability committee and/or team meets on a quarterly basis.
	Resort 3
	Guest House Superior and Standard
	Hotel Apartment ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
5	Compliance to Government Initiatives
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment must comply with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy regulations, guidelines and directives.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
6	Employee Training
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	All employees receive annual training on the establishment sustainability plan and their specific responsibilities (e.g. housekeeping, engineering, conference/banqueting, etc.).
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
7	Guest Education
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment engages with guests through clear campaigns and efforts, both visibly in public areas and rooms, and online via website, social media or email/messaging, to encourage involvement and participation in sustainability initiatives. The establishment actively monitors customer satisfaction regarding its sustainability programs.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
8	Green Events
	Hotel 5-4	The establishment offers green meeting services to event, conference and business meeting planners. Sales and marketing materials for business meetings include sustainability initiatives. The establishment provides pre-event planning for waste diversion, and energy and water conservation, and post-event reporting of performance results.
	Resort 5-4
	Hotel Apartment Deluxe
	Hotel 3	The establishment offers green meeting services to event, conference and business meeting planners. Sales and marketing materials for business meetings include sustainability initiatives.
	Resort 3
	Hotel Apartment Superior
	Hotel 2-1-B	The establishment offers green meeting services to event, conference and business meeting planners.
	Guest House D-ST
	Hotel Apartment Standard
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
9	Energy Management Plan
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment has an energy management plan to improve energy efficiency, without reducing guest comfort. The plan addresses lighting, equipment, emissions, renewable sources, building audit, or other significant energy issues. The energy management plan has reduction objectives and targets.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
10	Energy Management – Automation
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment has building management systems that optimize lighting and air conditioning in guest rooms and public areas based on occupancy.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
11	Energy Management – Transportation
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment encourages the use of clean or resource efficient transportation by guests and employees, including public transportation, shuttles, cycling and walking.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
12	Water Management Plan
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment has a water management plan to conserve water, without reducing guest comfort. The water management plan addresses plumbing fixtures, equipment, landscape and irrigation, wastewater, laundry or other significant water issues. The water management plan has reduction objectives and targets.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
13	Water Management – Towels and Linens
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment offers guests the option to reuse linens and towels with clearly visible signs in rooms and bathrooms.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
14	Waste Management Plan
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment has a waste management plan to minimize disposal to landfill and food waste, recycling, and encourage reused materials. Any residual waste disposal has no adverse effect on the local population or the environment. The waste management plan addresses public areas, food & beverage, conferences, rooms & bathrooms, hazardous materials or other significant waste issues. The waste management plan has reduction objectives and targets.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
15	Waste Management – Bathroom
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment reduces waste from toiletries such as shampoos, soaps, shower caps etc. by dispensing in bulk or recyclable packages.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
16	Air Quality Management – Smoking
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	75% of guest rooms are non-smoking. For public areas the establishment adheres to Dubai Municipality rules and regulations.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
17	Purchasing Management Plan
	Hotel 5-4	The establishment has a purchasing management plan which gives preference to sustainable, local, fair-trade and environmentally -friendly goods and services. The purchasing management plan addresses cleaning supplies and hazardous materials and prevents waste
	Resort 5-4
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Hotel 3-2-1-B
	Resort 3
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
18	Purchasing Management – Food
	Hotel 5-4-3-2-1-B	The establishment purchases food products free from endangered or protected fish, seafood or other species.
	Resort 5-4-3
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus
19	Local Communities
	Hotel 5-4	The establishment supports initiatives for social and community development as well as environmental conservation initiatives through donations, volunteering, financial contributions, or partnerships.
	Resort 5-4
	Hotel Apartment D-SP-ST
	Hotel 3-2-1-B
	Resort 3
	Guest House D-ST
	Youth Hostel; Uni Campus