Farnek awards Deira hotel with green certificate

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Dubai’s Radisson Blu Hotel has received a Green Globe Certification from Farnek Avireal after investing US $340,312 (AED1.25 million) in sustainable initiatives.

Rezidor, which was handed the management contract for the Deira property in 2006, has gradually brought its green policies in line with its own business programme.

Initiatives included replacing inefficient and high-power consuming air conditioning with energy efficient systems and introducing recycling programmes.

"The Green Globe Certification Audit is based on a number of environmental factors, in all we had 250 points to address. It is always more challenging for an older property to attain such rigorous standards, but considering that, it is so much more rewarding to be recognised for our achievements," said chief engineer Arthur Rodrigues.

Farnek Avireal currently has the exclusive rights to utilise the Green Globe brand, covering tourism properties within 20 different countries throughout the Middle East.

Through the company’s web-based Hotel Optimiser technology, GGC programme participants can calculate their CO2 emissions including the financial cost, which enables them to track their performance of energy and water consumption as well as non-recyclable waste production.

"The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek is a great example to prove you don't have to be a new hotel to be environmentally friendly. Independent surveys have revealed that hotel guests are becoming more environmentally conscious and prefer to stay in sustainable hotels. So embracing sustainability makes good business sense," said Farnek Avireal general manager Markus Oberlin.