UAE-headquartered hospitality company, TIME Hotels Management, has added another environmental accolade to its growing roster of achievements with the announcement of its first Green Key status for most of its hotels and hotel apartments across the hospitality groups portfolio.
As a leading international standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, the Green Key award is a voluntary eco-label that represents a commitment by businesses that their tourism establishments adhere to the strict criteria as stipulated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It aims to contribute to the prevention of climate change by awarding and advocating facilities with positive environmental initiatives and, to qualify, the hotel passed an exhaustive audit.
“TIME Hotels has been committed to pursuing an active strategy of initiatives, events and programmes designed to engender a pro-sustainability culture across all our properties and in the communities in which we operate. This Green Key award is further endorsement of this commitment, and provides further motivation for us to maintain our corporate policy of putting the environment at the top of our agenda for positive change,” said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels. TIME Oak Hotel and Suites, TIME Grand Plaza Hotel and TIME Ruby Hotel Apartments were all successful in the latest round of Green Key assessments.
The annual Green Key award also promotes awareness and encourages the creation of behavioural changes in guests, staff and suppliers, as well as applauding increased use of environmentally friendly and sustainable concepts and applications within hotel operations.
The audit covered 13 key areas from water conservation, waste management systems and indoor environment to green activities, staff involvement and guest awareness. No stranger to sustainable initiatives, TIME Hotels launched The Urban Garden project early this year, which can be found at TIME Oak Hotel & Suites in Barsha Heights, Dubai. Managed in partnership with Slow Food Dubai and attracting keen interest from organic food enthusiasts across the emirates, the garden educates people on how to grow their own herbs and vegetables in a challenging climate.
TIME Oak Hotel & Suites has also recently become a member of the Emirates Green Building Council, a UAE-based organization formed in 2006 with the goal of advancing green building principles for protecting the environment through the expertise of its members. The group was also recently awarded the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Dubai Chamber) CSR Label Award.