9 minute read
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER
Singapore puts sustainability first
Country looks to meet next-generation traveller demand for authentic, smart and planet- iendly destinations
Responsible destinations with a clear-cut sustainability vision will succeed in attracting the next-generation traveller. at was a key message put forward by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) at the Singapore Reimagine Global Conversations (SRI GC) series at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Designed to spearhead top-level discussions among industry gamechangers on the revival and reimagination of the global tourism sector and at the same time, showcase how Singapore has reimagined itself through fresh and innovative experiences, the event shed the light on opportunities to reshape travel according to new trends and traveller behaviours.
“For example, based on ndings from a report shared by WGSN, our data partner for SRI GC, there is a rise in travellers known as the ‘Mindful Explorers’ – those who are conscious of the environment and seek sustainable choices during their travel journeys”, explains Beverly Au Yong, Area Director Middle East, STB.
“Sustainability is now a top-of-mind concern for many travellers and as a responsible destination, Singapore is incorporating its sustainability vision into its tourism o erings to achieve its vision of becoming a City in Nature.”
The Singapore Green Plan 2030 STB has developed a destination sustainability strategy and roadmap for the tourism sector in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 (SGP30), with a focus on environmental sustainability and sustainable management.
Technology and urban design play a crucial role, according to Au Yong.
STB and its partners have already launched initiatives encompassing this ethos.
For example, the Singapore Hotel Association set up a Hotels Sustainability Committee to drive industry-wide adoption of sustainability practices and as a result, new and existing properties are minimising their environmental footprint across design, construction, and operations, while enriching guest experiences with concepts such as farm-to-table dining and preserving their natural environment.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s resort island, Sentosa, aims to set new benchmarks as a globally recognised, certi ed sustainable tourism destination that is carbonneutral by 2030. “STB will also work towards positioning Singapore as a choice location for companies seeking to launch
sustainable products and experiences, or to test-bed sustainable tourism solutions,” explains Au Yong.
“ e smart use of technology is crucial to our e orts,” she adds, highlighting the STB’s Tourism Transformation Index (TXI) initiative – “a self-diagnostic tool for companies to understand where they are in their transformation e orts, providing targeted advice to companies to help them become future ready”. e STB’s Singapore Tourism Accelerator programme has also helped to match good tech and sustainability solutions with tourism businesses. For example, local start-up Lumitics helped Millennium & Copthorne International Limited reduce food waste and lower costs through its solution, which combines AI, data analytics and image recognition so ware.
“ rough these e orts, we hope to work towards making Singapore a sustainable urban destination, providing opportunities for companies to testbed their sustainable tourism solutions. e sustainability journey is a two-way conversation, where we will take into consideration feedback from the industry and learnings from destinations that have successfully implemented their sustainability strategies,” says Au Yong.
Sustainability is Singapore’s future Singapore businesses are also becoming “more innovative in incorporating sustainability into product development”, which improves the city’s reputation as a sustainable, responsible travel destination.
Stand-out examples include Pan Paci c Orchard being redeveloped into Pan Paci c Hotel Group’s rst zero-waste hotel, with a rainwater harvesting system, a recyclable water system, and a compactor that turns food waste into compost to fertilise its sky gardens. “More than just a bustling metropolis, Singapore also boasts local farms providing sustainable food and produce, and restaurants o ering farm-totable dishes,” says Au Yong.
For example, SCALED by Ah Hua Kelong, Singapore’s rst sh-farmerowned restaurant, serves locally farmed seafood and Labyrinth, a Michelin-starred restaurant, known for its ‘new Singapore’ dining experience, sources 90 per cent of menu ingredients from and around Singapore, thanks to its close relationship with local farmers, shermen and shery ports. ese initiatives cement Singapore’s status as a sustainable and innovative urban destination. visitsingapore.com
Singapore is stepping up is sustainability e orts
Etihad intensi es sustainability ighttesting regime
UAE carrier conducts week-long programme of research and testing on more than 30 flights to further reduce carbon emissions
ETIHAD AIRWAYS has marked another sustainability milestone after undertaking a programme of intensive research and testing on more than 30 flights.
The airline tested operational e iciencies, technology and procedures designed to reduce carbon emissions during a weeklong initiative that took place at the end of April, coinciding with Earth Day (April 22), and as part of its ongoing sustainability flight testing regime.
Etihad partnered with SATAVIA, a UK-based green aerospace company, to test contrail avoidance technologies on 20-plus commercial flights operating across its network.
The carrier also operated 13 dedicated ‘EcoFlights’, testing a range of flight and engine optimisation initiatives, with successful trials to be incorporated into regular scheduled operations.
Etihad’s fleet of fuel-e icient A350 and B787 aircraft, spearheaded by the ‘Etihad Greenliner’, and its newest aircraft, the ‘Sustainable 50’, were used to conduct these tests, which focus on flighpath optimisation, including optimised climb and continuous descent, optimal departure runway, last minute engine start-up, single engine taxi procedures network wide and fight deck technology solutions.
“Etihad has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability over the last three years, leading the industry through realworld testing and application of technology and processes that provide incremental environmental benefit every time we fly,” said Tony Douglas, Group
CLOCKWISE FROM
RIGHT: Etihad Greenliner; Etihad’s new ‘Sustainable 50’ A350 aircraft; Etihad and SATAVIA tested contrail avoidance technologies Chief Executive O icer, Etihad Aviation Group.
“The tests we’re conducting this week are just the latest initiatives in our long running and comprehensive sustainability programme, because for us, sustainability is a priority every day, not just once a year when it’s convenient and expected. The results we develop will add to the body of work and knowledge base we’ve built to support the aviation industry on its journey to decarbonisation.”
The majority of tests conducted were part of a yearlong partnership with SATAVIA to enable contrail prevention, integrating atmospheric modelling with operational flight planning to prevent contrail formation. Aircraft contrails, or condensation trails, are clouds made up of aircraftgenerated ice crystals, which cause a net surface heating e ect globally by trapping atmospheric heat. Contrails cause up to 60 per cent of aviation’s total climate impact, the equivalent to two per cent of all human impact.
Dr Adam Durant, CEO of SATAVIA, said: “Our understanding of contrails rests on decades of atmospheric science, which can now be combined with highperformance computer modelling to identify contrail formation zones and optimise flight plans for contrail prevention. Following these tests, we will work with Etihad to quantify the climate benefit arising from contrail prevention on a flightby-flight basis. This will lay the groundwork for future conversion into tradable carbon credits incentivising widespread adoption of contrail prevention across the aviation sector.”
In contrast to many green aerospace initiatives, contrail prevention is a software solution that can be implemented in the near-term through technical integration with flight operations.
“By working with SATAVIA to implement contrail prevention in day-to-day activity, Etihad is taking the lead on an important issue facing the entire industry,” said Douglas. “We have to think about aviation’s indirect, nonCO2 e ects as well as direct climate impacts, and contrail prevention is the key to making swift progress in this field.”
ETIHAD ISSUES ITS FIRST SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Etihad Airways also released its first Sustainability Report on Earth Day 2022. This publicly available report documents the previous two years of the airline’s sustainability e orts – from ground-based electric tractors to airspace e iciency improvements, and even experimental test-flying with NASA and Boeing. It reveals the progress made towards Etihad’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and halving net emission levels by 2035.
Introducing Premier Inn Barsha Heights
Ask anybody to name a great British hotel brand and the chances are they will immediately think of Premier Inn.
Firmly established in the Middle East as the hotel brand of choice for high value, high quality accommodation, Premier Inn, the UK’s largest, award-winning name in hospitality recently opened its 11th hotel in the region, Premier Inn Barsha Heights, achieving 100 per cent occupancy on opening night.
The showcase for the evolution of the already deep-rooted Premier Inn brand in the region, the 219-room hotel brings a new style of quality, contemporary accommodation, a diverse range of dining and leisure offerings and the best of British hospitality to one of Dubai’s most vibrant urban neighbourhoods.
The 11th Premier Inn in the MENA region and the seventh in Dubai, Premier Inn Barsha Heights boasts redesigned guest rooms, a new look lobby and fresh concepts in F&B. Its opening is a key milestone in Premier Inn’s continued expansion in the Middle East and reinforces the company’s commitment to the region and to playing its part in contributing to the Government of Dubai’s tourism goals.
Premier Inn Barsha Heights bears all the hallmarks of the muchloved brand – an enviable location, excellent value, exciting places to eat and drink, the best breakfast in town and of course, the good night
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The outdoor pool and Lillie's Pad rooftop garden bar; Mr Toad's Pub & Kitchen; family rooms are available; the welcoming lobby area with Costa outlet; the stylish reception; the hotel is well located; a re-designed Premier Inn twin room
guarantee – with a stylish new twist. With high quality accommodation offering a great night’s sleep, tasty dining options including Premier Inn’s famous Mr Toad’s breakfast, and modern fitness and leisure facilities, the hotel appeals to a diverse range of guests, including business travellers, family holidaymakers, local residents and nearby businesses.
Strategically located, within easy reach of Dubai’s world-famous attractions, key business areas, shopping malls and beaches, the hotel offers 219 stylish, redesigned guest rooms, comprising family, twin, double and interconnecting options, as well as rooms designed to accommodate people of determination. In addition to Mr Toad’s Pub & Kitchen, dining venues include the Lillie’s Pad rooftop garden bar, and a Costa café. There’s also a spacious, reimagined lobby area, 10th floor swimming pool and terrace, well-equipped gym, male and female prayer rooms, and meeting rooms. Guests also enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, underground parking, and shuttle services.
Room prices start from AED169 per night. For more information and bookings, visit mena.premierinn.com or call +971 600 500 503.
