Relections from The Hotel Show Dubai
By Radhika Arapally
Founder, Sustainability Kiosk
“Procurement is no longer just a cost center—it’s a climate lever.”
This was one of the many powerful sentiments shared during my panel session at The Hotel Show Dubai on 29th May, where we tackled a pressing question for the region:
Is the GCC truly ready for sustainable and ethical procurement?
As I moderated the session surrounded by peers and leaders in hospitality, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come—and how much further we need to go.
Procurement’s Expanding Purpose
Once viewed as gatekeepers of pricing and logistics, hotel procurement teams now hold a different kind of power: the ability to influence entire supply chains toward sustainability.
They can:
- Ask the right questions about supplier impact
- Drive adoption of verified green solutions
- Educate suppliers on impacts of waste and encourage take-back, circularity driven solutions.
This shift isn’t optional—it’s inevitable. But how fast we move depends on leadership.
What we discussed:
The panel titled “Sustainable & Ethical Procurement – Is the GCC Ready for the Green Shift?” explored key tensions and opportunities:
- Green Technology Exists— what’s holding us back is adoption and education.
- Certifications like EcoVadis, ISO 14001 are useful tools – but a living sustainability plan should be the destination
- External auditors provide necessary objectivity to avoid greenwashing.
- Leadership, not policies alone, is what transforms supplier culture.
- The triangle of people, planet, and profit must be rebalanced for resilience.
Panelists Who Brought This to Life
I had the pleasure of moderating this conversation alongside two exceptional leaders:
- Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager, HMH Hotels
→ A known sustainability influencer in the region, bringing hotel operator insights to the table. - Michael Butler, Founder, Captivate Culinary Connections
→ Offering a fresh procurement lens, focused on leadership and supplier relationships.Each shared examples of the quiet shifts already happening, and the bolder moves still required.
🔍 Personal Reflection
When I launched Sustainability Kiosk, I believed the right technology and data could change how hospitality thinks about sustainability.
What I’ve learned is this: Change only sticks when people care enough to act.
That’s why panels like this matter. They’re not just conference moments—they’re movement milestones.
📅 What’s Next?
This conversation will continue, and deepen, at the upcoming
Responsible Hoteliers Summit 2025
📍 Anantara Downtown Dubai
🗓️ 30 October 2025
We’ll bring together procurement heads, sustainability leads, and suppliers in a more focused setting, where action—not just awareness—takes center stage.
If you’re ready to move from conversation to implementation—this is your room.
Join us, register your interest here.
