Arabian Travel Market 2023

The origins of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance(SHA) are in the wake of the 1992 Rio Conference when 10 CEOs from global hotel companies came together in the International Hotels Environment Initiative, it became the International Tourism Partnership in 2004 and 2022, it became an independent charity under the name of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance with a commitment to Net Positive Hospitality. The SHA is now a UK-registered charity, its members are described as donors committed to making a contribution to transforming the hospital sector. The donor members benefit, as does the whole sector, with free resources on climate action, water stewardship, youth employment and human rights. As the SHA says: "The future of the tourism industry depends on protecting the locations, livelihoods and communities in which hotels are based. Our conversation will range over why this major transformation has occurred, the SHA's plans for the next five years and how people in the audience can benefit from its programmes of work and publications. There will be time for Q&A with those in the audience.

Monday 1st May 13:45 - 14:45  Responsible Hospitality for a Better World 

Both the Sustainable Development Goals and changing consumer demand require that the industry transition more rapidly to be more sustainable…”What does that mean in practice? Both the Sustainable Development Goals and changing consumer demand require that the industry transition more rapidly to be more sustainable. How do hotels engage their guests and their staff in reducing their environmental impact? How can hotels report on their impacts, both on their success in reducing negative environmental impacts and positively impacting on wages and conditions of employment, gender equality and access and employment for the differently abled?

Moderator Harold Goodwin
Julie Cheetham  Managing Director, Weeva
Inge Huijbrechts, Global SVP Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications, Radisson Hotels
Glenn Mandziuk CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Christopher Warren My Green Butler
Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary at Tourism Seychelles

Tuesday 2nd May

14:15-14:45

Technology for Responsible Tourism
Harold Goodwin in Conversation with Faizal Kottikollon Chairman Kef Holdings & Faizal and Shabana Foundation. (30Mins)

Through the Faizal and Shabana Foundation, Faizal Kottikollon based in Dubai, has developed a new clinical wellness resort, Tulah, in Kerala. This new resort offers a comprehensive healthcare programme that provides access to clinical wellness, spa services, fitness activities, wellness education and healthy cuisine. Similar "clinical wellness resorts" will be launched in the UAE and Southeast Asia. Our conversation will range across the 'wellness resorts' concept, the launch of  Technology for Responsible Tourism and the range of sustainability technology deployed at Tulah, technology which has raised the water table.

14:50 - 16:00 Green Technology for Responsible Tourism

This panel of experts will share their views on reducing carbon emissions and water consumption and dealing with waste. We will endeavour to cover the key green technologies (i) wind and solar power generation, (ii) greywater recycling,  (iv) desalination and (v) plastic sequestration – we need to do more than stop using single-use plastics. Green technology is good for the environ man and it can be good for the bottom line

Moderator Harold Goodwin
Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally
Sari Abi Haidar, MEA Area Director for Engineering & Technical Services, Radisson Hotel Group
Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager, Bahi Ajman Hotel and Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah
Srdan Susic. Chief Destination Sustainability Officer, Soudah Development
Bernadette Willemin Director General,  at Tourism Seychelles