📢 Insights from our 2025 Summit and November Updates

The Future of Hospitality Was in the Room on 30th October 2025

Here’s what surprised us most: When we asked 200 hospitality professionals to design the hotel of 2050, nobody mentioned check-in desks.

Instead, they envisioned buildings that generate more energy than they consume, food systems with zero waste, and guest experiences where sustainability isn’t a feature—it’s invisible, embedded in every interaction.

This wasn’t a theoretical exercise. It was a room full of GMs, sustainability directors, and innovators from 80 brands actively building this future today.

What Happened at the 2025 Responsible Hoteliers Summit

On 30th October at Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel, we brought together forward-thinkers who are redefining what responsible hospitality means. Through 17 conversations and 5 hands-on masterclasses, we moved beyond “why sustainability matters” to “here’s exactly how to do it.”

The Moment That Set the Tone

Majd Fayyad from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy opened with a keynote that reframed net zero not as a distant goal, but as an immediate operational imperative. The frameworks the UAE is implementing aren’t for 2050—they’re for now.

Helena Egan, Senior Director at World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, challenged us further: “The question isn’t whether your hotel will need to be sustainable. It’s whether you’ll lead the transition or scramble to catch up.”

What We Learned (That You Can Use Tomorrow) From the Masterclasses

Food Waste Circularity (Winnow)
Hotels waste an average of 8-10% of food purchased. The session revealed how three properties reduced waste by 60% in six months—and increased kitchen profitability.

ESCO Models & Retrofits (Emirates Green Building Council, Minor Hotels, Leading Hospitality Services)
One hotel shared how an ESCO partnership delivered a 35% energy reduction with zero upfront capital. ROI achieved in 18 months.

ESG Reporting for Business Growth (Accor Hotels & Credibl)
ESG isn’t just compliance—it’s competitive advantage. Properties with verified sustainability credentials are seeing 12% higher corporate booking rates.

Responsible Sourcing (Red Sea Global & Beyond Bamboo)
Supply chain transparency is the new luxury standard. Leading brands are auditing every supplier from linens to landscaping.

Team Training for Operational Sustainability (The Alliance, Anantara Dubai The Palm, Dubai College of Tourism)
Sustainability fails without staff buy-in. Develop training frameworks that turn housekeeping teams into energy champions.

From the Best Practice Sessions:
Five brands opened their playbooks: Six Senses, Red Sea Global, ROVE Hotels, FIVE Holdings, The First Group Hospitality, and NH Collection Dubai The Palm shared what’s actually working—from guest engagement strategies to behind-the-scenes operations that cut costs while cutting carbon.

Watch Session Recordings

The Voices That Made It Real

“Congratulations, really well done! Thank you for bringing so much energy and connection to this space – truly needed!”
– Constance Maillard de la Morandais, Vice President of Sustainability – Middle-East, Africa, Asia, Pacific, Accor

“The team did a phenomenal job! This year was definitely the 2.0 version of the Responsible Hoteliers Summit and I was honored to accompany you on the journey. I can’t wait for next year!”
– Frauke Aoun, General Manager at Affini, A Tribute Portfolio Residence by Marriott International

More Than Sessions: Moments That Mattered

The CSR Activity
We concluded the Summit by partnering with Umrah4Laborworkers, packing hygiene kits for labour workers embarking on their Umrah pilgrimage. It was a powerful reminder that responsible hospitality extends beyond our hotel walls into the communities we serve.

The Creative Touch
Thanks to ImInclusive, we welcomed People of Determination to attend and celebrate their work—beautiful handmade coasters that went home as gifts, a tangible connection to inclusive community impact.

The Connections
Between sessions, delegates explored solutions from our Summit Partners—Credibl, Leading Hospitality Services, Intertek Cristal, and Winnow—turning conversations into collaborations that are already taking shape.