The group’s founder Chanut Piyaoui explains: “In the early 1900’s, King Rama VI envisaged a wondrous utopia, a “town in heaven” he called Dusit Thani. For over 60 years, it has been the inspiration for all we do.”
Dusit is striving to stay on top in many areas.
Dusit International’s global director of sales Simon Burgess said concerns for the environment had changed lifestyles, “the way we do business and the way our clients do business. As such, expectations and choices of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) destinations and experiences have also evolved.
“Meeting planners have altered their behaviour by choosing or partnering with hotels that share the same environmental values – to reduce their carbon footprint. At the same time, they are also looking for venues that combine sustainability with unique and exceptional experiences.
“According to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, MICE industry operators are now seeking ways to minimise operational costs while satisfying the market needs and maintaining event vitality. Many organisations are growing increasingly aware of the environmental consequences of their activities. In adopting a green concept, many MICE operators are applying a reduce, reuse and recycle element to their operations,” Burgess said. “In addition to introducing measures to reduce the carbon footprint, we are also looking at measures to contribute to the well-being of the communities in which we operate.”
The Green Credentials for Meeting Planners programme includes a wide range of environmental initiatives to save energy and natural resources:
l Meeting room refreshment water is presented in pitchers with glasses and no plastic bottles;
l Air-conditioning is set at a minimum of 24C;
l Energy-efficient light bulbs are used and unnecessary lighting reduced;
l Recycle points are available in meeting rooms for glass, paper, plastic and aluminium items;
l Recycled-paper note pads are available on request;
l Energy-saving menus are featured;
l Boxed-lunch containers are made of recycled materials;
l Menu items and organic options are locally sourced and seasonal;
l Group Purchasing protocols are used to promote Green Credentials;
l Eco-friendly cleaning products are used in the hotel and meeting facilities; and
l All properties will be EarthCheck certified.
Burgess said Dusit International’s hotels and resorts in Thailand, the Philippines, Dubai and Cairo were undertaking the EarthCheck programme to become green certified hotels by next year.
The EarthCheck programme is widely regarded as the world’s most scientifically rigorous for the travel and tourism industry. It measures key environmental indicators such as energy and water consumption and total waste production as well as community commitment.
He said that using the EarthCheck tool, Dusit hotels were committed to benchmarking local environmental and social issues, including biodiversity conservation, environmental investment and enhanced community socio-economic benefits.
More information on the EarthCheck programme can be found on www.earthcheck.org, or visit www.dusit.com/csr