Barceló Hotel Group, one of the leading international hotel groups, has launched advanced initiatives to minimise its carbon emissions across its hotels globally. Committed to building a responsible future, Barceló Hotel Group aims to continue reducing its global carbon footprint in the UAE and wider region.
Barceló Responsible is the 25 initiatives taken by Barceló Hotel Group to build a better tomorrow. The eco-friendly initiatives range from using recycled materials to installing the latest energy-saving technology, as well as a comprehensive recycling strategy.
The Group has embraced several sustainable best practices across its properties, such as the Guest Room Management System that connects all of the lights in guest rooms. Lights are automatically switched off when rooms are unoccupied, and timers and motion sensors are connected indoors and outdoors to switch the lights automatically on and off at set intervals. The air conditioning systems are switched off by the building management system during non-operational hours, and LED lights are installed throughout Barceló properties, with external lighting provided by solar lights and solar-powered water heating systems.
Jose Canals, Managing Director for the Middle East, Asia, Mediterranean, and North Africa at Barceló Hotel Group says, “At Barceló Hotel Group, we strive to enhance the lives of our guests and the communities in which we operate, working towards a better tomorrow. Barceló Hotel Group consists of responsible and passionate hoteliers who are proactively working towards creating a positive impact on the planet. By launching a series of innovative sustainable practices across our properties, we want to allow our responsible and like-minded guests to participate in making the world a better place to live in.”
Barceló Hotel Group aims to reduce carbon emissions across its regional properties, including Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, Occidental Al Jaddaf and Occidental Sharjah Grand in the UAE, and Barceló Mussanah Resort in the Sultanate of Oman. Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel, is certified by ISO 14001: 2015-Environmental Management System. This is a big step, considering that Barceló properties have met all 5 of the key objectives set for ISO 14001 every year since implementation. Occidental Al Jaddaf, Occidental Sharjah Grand, and Barceló Residences Dubai Marina have established a dedicated safety committee responsible for proactively implementing and managing best practices at the properties, including policy training and eco-friendly measures for employees.
Aligning to further enhance the Group’s vision of supporting Dubai to achieve Net-Zero by 2050, Occidental Al Jaddaf and Occidental Sharjah Grand have incorporated waste management and recycling processes into their back-end operations as every Occidental unit features water and energy restrictors that minimise the use of water and light across the properties. As an added value Occidental guests and visitors are welcomed by aesthetically pleasing and picturesque vertical gardens in the hotel lobby, including renewable energy green sockets and rooftop photovoltaic panels that follow a circular economy approach.
To strengthen its commitment to the UAE’s goals and the planet, sustainable partnerships are one of the major approaches Occidental Sharjah Grand implements. The hotel participated in the Emirates Environmental Group’s paper recycling and tree planting initiatives, which resulted in the collection and recycling of 1,793 kg of paper. Other energy-saving and environmental protection measures include the installation of a water filtration system for potable drinking water for staff use; the installation of a Chiller Plant Manager system for chiller control; and the proposal to install Ionic Shower Filters in guest rooms to reduce water consumption. The property has installed new carbon filters and ammonia control systems for standard temperature and pressure, which are among the current plans.
In Oman, Barceló Hotel Group has strengthened its position as a sustainable hospitality destination with its flagship beach resort, Barceló Mussanah Resort, which worked closely with Oman Sail and the Youth World Championships to plant 50 native fruit trees in the resort’s orchard in 2021. By the end of 2022, Barceló Mussanah Resort aims to plant another 50 coconut and date palm trees. Barceló Hotel Group also supports Oman Sail’s Sustainability Strategy to incorporate eco-friendly practices into all of the company’s operations. Future plans include establishing a carbon composting facility to convert garden waste into fertilizer, and collaborations with WAKUD, the very first biodiesel plant in Oman that develops high-quality fuels from recycled cooking oil to help de-carbonization by recycling waste materials. The property has also incorporated the use of 96 solar panels to heat water across all guest rooms
Contributing to the local economy and environment, the leading Spanish hotel chain in the region has implemented a range of best practice solutions to its operational processes, to reduce plastic wastage. These include using 75 per cent of takeaway containers made from plant and paper-based containers and 100 per cent of paper-based and biodegradable bags. Making every initiative matter, the group uses environmentally friendly sanitary products certified by the European EcoLabel standard. It has also implemented the use of refillable quality toiletries, including soaps, shampoos, and body lotions, and guest rooms have incorporated the use of biodegradable coffee capsules.
Barceló Hotel Group strives to build a better tomorrow and has embarked on a series of sustainable partnerships to enhance sustainable best practices in operating communities. These include the Emirates Environmental Group’s (EEG) can collection clean up, the ‘One Root One Community’ tree planting initiative, and empowering guests to be sustainable by hosting Paper Walk, beach clean-ups, and switching off lights during Earth Hour.
For further information on Barceló sustainable initiatives, please visit: https://www.barcelo.com
