IN line with the government's efforts to implement sustainable, green measures across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Conrad Makkah Jabal Omar is planning to adopt a number of efficient operations that can help reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources in one of the holiest cities in the world. Through Travel with Purpose, Hilton's corporate responsibility strategy, Conrad Makkah Jabal Omar aims to introduce sustainable measures that will help the property lessen energy consumption and reduce waste with recycling. "Saudi Arabia has been investing in developing new technologies and introducing new practices aimed at preserving the environment, and small actions and initiatives by the private sector can have a big impact in achieving that sustainable goal. Since our launch a few months ago, we have succeeded in saving energy through introducing air conditioner motion sensors which switch off automatically whenever there are no guests in the room," said Ismail Sirry, general manager of Conrad Makkah Jabal Omar, a brand owned by Hilton. "We are also in discussion with Jabal Omar Development authority to launch Garbage Recycle project in 2017 that will provide nontraditional recycling alternatives for the different items the community can recycle," he added. As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom intends to boost the development of its tourism industry even further. According to STR Global, Saudi Arabia reported the most rooms in construction with 36,545 rooms in 78 hotels. More than 75 per cent of new hotel investments are in Makkah and Madinah, the fact which requires the implementation of efficient green measures to ensure that the environmental footprint is under control. "From an environmental point of view, there are many challenges which can have an impact on the wellbeing of people and the ecosystem around us. By finding sustainable solutions and operating as efficiently as possible, we can lessen the impact of those challenges," Sirry added. Launched in 2011 by Hilton, Travel with Purpose strategy focuses on advancing three priorities: creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential, strengthening local communities, and managing impacts on the environment through the measurement, analysis, and improvement of the use of natural resources. It allows to take advantage of global footprint and scale, while also realizing the need for local solutions.
