The best players in the Middle East hospitality industry were recognised in October at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2009 with Courtyard by Marriot scooping a top prize.
With a strong shortlist of nominees from across the region, it was not an easy task for the judges to choose the deserving winners. But Wael Farouk, director of engineering at the Courtyard by Marriott & Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Green Community and Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek clinched the Green Hotelier of the Year Award.
Wael was shortlisted with four other nominees from various hotels in the Middle East. “I was truly shocked but delighted to win this award. I am proud to be part of the Marriott family that has given me drive, motivation and instilled team spirit in me since I joined in 1997,” Wael says.
Elaine Watson, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Dubai Green Community and Michelle Telfer, the director of human resources were also present to support Wael and his colleague Kumara Maddumage, the hotel driver who was shortlisted for the Unsung Hero Award.
Wael is the driving force behind the “green” initiatives of the Marriott Hotels in Dubai. He set up successful recycling and energy-saving programs in the Courtyard, Renaissance Dubai, JW Marriott and both Marriott Executive Apartments. He is also chair of the Marriott Business Council Dubai Green Hotels sub-committee.
The hotel engineering department under the leadership of Wael is very proactive in trying to reduce energy consumption and he encourages the hotel’s associates to think of new and creative ways in which to reduce their energy use.
There is a strong recycling focus within the Dubai hotels. Each week, Wael adds an update on the recycling figures to the hotel and throughout May this year he championed a hotel competition for associates to bring in items that could be recycled to be weighed each week. Another idea supported by him was to have an organic vegetable garden behind the hotel.
The judges of the Hotelier Middle East Awards were impressed with Wael’s involvement in the local community and spreading the green message. His strong, dynamic influence on others to try all environmental initiatives to green the planet has made him a true “green” hotelier.
Over the past few years, Wael has organised a number of campaigns including the “Clean up the World Campaign” for the Marriott hotels in Dubai. Often these were in conjunction with local environmental groups like the Emirates Environmental Group and Dubai Municipality.
The Dubai Government has been trying to develop more “green” areas around Dubai. Wael and the team at Courtyard by Marriott Dubai have played a pivotal role in this. In May 2008, Courtyard by Marriott planted over 100 trees in front of the hotel.
Encouraging the local community to get involved in the hotel’s green projects is important to Wael and in March 2009 he invited the local Greenfield School to plant 100 trees in the hotel area. Not only was this a fun day, but the children also got to understand the importance of going “green”.
Wael is also campaigning to install recycling facilities in the shopping mall for all Green Community residents and shoppers. In addition he is involved with the Emirates Environmental Group green initiatives.
For further information see www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/awards/
