With a score of 90%, the Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort&Spa has been awarded the prestigious Green Globe certification, following an extensive sustainability audit conducted by sustainability experts, Farnek Consultancy.

This five-star, 361 rooms and 182 serviced apartments , Polynesian island themed resort is the first to be Green Globe certified on Palm Jumeirah, and it is the first within the Accor group, which is one of the world`s leading hotel operators, with more than 3,500 hotels, 450,000 rooms and over 160,000 employees.

“We are very proud to receive Green Globe Certification, which is the result of many months of preparation and hard work by the management team and all members of staff, highlighting our true commitment towards sustainability. We will continue reducing our impact on the environment and creating a better workplace,” said Christophe Schnyder, General Manager, Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort&Spa.

Opened in July 2013, the hotel already had key energy efficient systems incorporated in its original design, clearly indicating a commitment to sustainability at very early stages. Solar panels are installed on the roof, covering 530 square meters, and providing 50% of the hotel`s hot water. Condensation from the air conditioning units is drained and recycled to irrigate the hotel`s 27,000 square meters of land. The irrigation system itself is monitored by a state-of-the-art weather control system, which allows the hotel to operate its sprinklers more efficiently. All public area taps are fitted with water aerators, saving the property 6,000 cubic meters of water. 80% of the resort`s 24 hour lighting is equipped with LED bulbs, which saved more than 290,000 kilowatt hours of energy in less than four months. Low energy lighting in guest rooms will be phased in this year.

The hotel also has a comprehensive waste separation program: paper, plastic, cardboard, and cooking oil is collected by a local waste management company for recycling. The indirect savings alone are remarkable, in just six months the hotel could save the equivalent of 759 trees, 187,446 kilowatt hours of energy, 25,505 liters of oil, more than 1.1 million liters of water and 2,678 pounds of air pollutants.

Creating awareness and implementing best practices is of paramount importance. Commenting on the hotel`s impressive staff activities, empowerment and recognition program, Sandrine Le Biavant, Divisional Director at Dubai based Farnek Consultancy said:

“All employees are passionate and creative about the property`s sustainability initiatives. Energy and water saving updates are provided on a daily basis, and the green team organizes monthly meetings, where the hotel management recognizes sustainable achievements and encourages staff members to submit their thoughts and ideas on improving the green measures implemented.”

Rohit Salunke, the hotel`s Director of Engineering, is very enthusiastic about the positive effect that the international recognition will have on the hotel`s sustainability strategy. “The certification process provided us with a perfect framework to create awareness about sustainability throughout the resort. This will support our plans for further investment in energy efficiency,” said Salunke.

As a permanent “green” reminder to guests and staff alike, the hotel has covered parts of the interior with a unique collection of 24 vertical gardens with 170 different types of plants. The “green wall” was designed by renowned French botanical expert Patrick Blanc, and covers 600 square meters.

“It seems very appropriate that a French luxury hotel brand should embrace sustainability with such a chic display,” added Schnyder.