🌍 Is hospitality at a tipping point?
At the 2026 World Future Energy Summit, I had the honour of joining the panel “Hospitality at the Tipping Point: ESG, Circularity & the New Operating Model” at the Polygreen Circular Talks as UAE Senior Strategic Representative of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance).
Alongside industry leaders Dawar Hameed (GGGI MENA), Farrukh Shad (Schneider Electric), Maria Flouda (Polygreen eco), and Mark Penfield (Minor Hotels), moderated by Hassaan Ghazali, we explored how sustainability, circularity, and conscious travel are reshaping hospitality.
Key takeaways:
✅ What’s working: Circularity initiatives like UAE’s ne’ma and Winnow are transforming waste management, especially food waste.
⚠️ Challenges: Financing sustainability upgrades remains a barrier — long-term ROI is key.
🌱 Looking ahead: True sustainability balances profit, people, and planet.
As I emphasised, the mission of the Alliance with 50,000 hotels is Net Positive Hospitality; for hospitality and destinations to give back more than they take—growth with responsibility is the future. Along with that, biodiversity, regulation, and public–private collaboration are essential for lasting impact.
It’s clear: when the hospitality sector unites around sustainability, real change is possible.
✨Thank you Polygreen for hosting such an engaging panel!
We’re here to help your hotel take practical steps toward sustainability through our consulting and certification services, improving circular practices and sharing your impact with guests.
Explore our case studies for concrete examples and practical insights of how hotels are turning sustainability into action.
