Clubwise: July 6, 2002

Every week, we bring you the latest on the UAE's clubs, associations and groups. We choose one each time and profile it, highlighting its purpose and activities.

This week: The Abu Dhabi Green Hoteliers group

The Abu Dhabi Green Hoteliers group (ADGH) was formed with the intention of preserving the finite resources of the UAE so that the country's booming industry did not affect the remarkable environment of the place. The group works in close association with the Food and Environmental Control Centre (FECC), Abu Dhabi Municipality.

Set up in 1996, its main aim was to emphasise the importance of ecotourism both among the residents as well as tourists visiting the UAE. Together with FECC, the ADGH is now involved in training and creating awareness programmes among the staff and clients of hotels across the region, and also in negotiating eco-friendly logistics of various initiatives with the appropriate Municipality departments. Regular meetings are held, the location of which rotates from hotel to hotel.

ADGH is also in the process of developing an environmental management system for the hotels and looking into ways of achieving ISO 14000 certification, together with preparing and implementing programmes and projects relevant to hotels that aim at sustainable development. It has been highly successful in sharing its efforts on environmental compliance issues as envisaged in local, federal and international regulations concerning hotels.

As an initiative of The Sheraton, all the hotels in the city were invited to the screening of the Going Green Makes Sense video. ADGH's directives have now been carried forward in the form of setting up of water-saving devices and techniques in many of the Abu Dhabi hotels.

"Most of our hotels follow numerous practices that help save a lot of energy and, in the process, our precious resources," said Najib Ben Souda, chairman, ADGH. "The fact that many hotel managements and owners have accepted these points and are actually committing themselves to ensure the support of everyone involved, is encouraging," he added.

To mark the International Earth Day on April 22, ADGH, along with FECC and ADNOC Distribution, had organised a one-day awareness campaign to promote the use of unleaded petrol. Around 20 ADNOC gas stations took part in the campaign during which customers were briefed on the benefits of using unleaded petrol. Informative leaflets were also distributed.

On June 5, ADGH, along with FECC, held a palm-tree planting ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Tourist Club to celebrate World Environment Day.

"We're now taking steps to globalise our efforts," informed Ben Souda. With the UN having declared this year as the International Year of the Mountains and Ecotourism, ADGH plans many more activities to live up to the UN spirit. An informative newsletter highlighting their goals, initiatives and various aspects of ecotourism is to be out shortly.