📢 January Updates: Networking, Webinars, New GSTC Hotel Standards

💌A Note from the Kiosk team

As we step into a new year, we’re focused on what we do best at Sustainability Kiosk: bringing the right people together, sharing practical knowledge, and supporting hotels to turn sustainability ambition into action.

January set the tone — with meaningful conversations, industry collaboration, and insights shaping what responsible hospitality looks like in 2026.

We kicked off the year with a Saint-Gobain Facility Tour & Networking Morning, bringing the Kiosk community together for open dialogue on responsible hospitality.

The session showcased Saint-Gobain’s innovative building materials and retrofit-friendly solutions, demonstrating how thoughtful design can improve energy performance and strengthen long-term operational resilience.

It was great to connect with Kiosk community members from DNATA, Minor Hotels and across our wider ecosystem, exchanging insights and practical ideas that can be directly applied on property.

From the Kiosk community:
“The Saint-Gobain session gave us practical retrofit ideas we can actually apply this year.” — Rajeev Nair, Cluster Director of Engineering, Avani + Palm View Dubai Hotel and Suites, La Suite Dubai Hotel & Apartments

The 3rd Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp (DST) audit cycle for 2025 has concluded, with hotels assessed across 19 sustainability criteria, including energy, water, waste, and staff engagement.

DST Version 2, launching this year, is expanding to 27 points and raising sustainability standards across Dubai’s hospitality sector.

👉 What are we seeing across Hospitality?

Hotels across the region are moving beyond compliance-led sustainability and focusing more on operational efficiency, resilience, and guest trust. Early conversations around DST Version 2, circularity, and retrofit solutions show a clear shift: sustainability decisions are increasingly being driven by long-term value, not just certification.

This is where practical guidance, peer learning, and tested solutions matter most.

💌 We are here to support hotels throughout their DST journey.
Explore our certification support services.

🏆 2025 winners will be announced by the end of Q1 2026. 
View the 2024 DST winners

💨 Cleaner Air for Healthier Hotels

We’re proud to renew our partnership with Au Pure, delivering indoor air quality solutions that help hotels improve guest comfort, reduce energy use, and create healthier environments.

👉 Explore Au Pure solutions

   

💧Episode 46: Water Stewardship

On this episode of Sustainability Stories, we deep dived into water and water stewardship with Alicia Dauth from Water Security Collective, to discuss practical strategies for effective water stewardship in hospitality.

👉 Listen to the full episode

🥤 UAE Single-Use Plastic Ban

From 1 January 2026, the final phase of the UAE’s single-use plastic ban came into effect. For hotels, this presents an opportunity to reduce emissions and strengthen circular practices.

• Plastic cups, lids, cutlery, plates, straws, and stirrers

• Styrofoam food containers

• Single-use plastic bags under 50 microns in thickness. Some exemptions apply, such as export bags and certain recycled-material products.

👉 Read Dubai Municipality guidelines on the ban

🔗 Browse the Kiosk Marketplace for emission reducing solutions