Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) hosted Qatar Sustainability Week’s (QSW) first ‘Focus Day’ on Sunday titled ‘Green Hospitality for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’ to guide and encourage sustainable operation practices in FIFA World Cup 2022-related accommodation and hospitality sectors.
The focus day highlighted the ongoing efforts among local stakeholders in promoting a greener hospitality sector in Qatar and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a legacy driver for the sector. It also provided comprehensive guidelines for obtaining Green Key certification and meeting the National Tourism Council’s requirements.
Held in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, the conference encouraged sustainable operation practices in hospitality establishments and event management agencies in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Engineer Issa al-Mohannadi, QGBC chairman, said: “Qatar has committed to hosting a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This momentous undertaking presents an excellent opportunity to accelerate and effectively drive the implementation of sustainable practices in Qatar and produce a tangible and lasting impact on several business sectors, particularly the hospitality sector.
“It pleases me that we can present this conference despite social distancing protocols to help members of the hospitality industry contribute to delivering the carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Nasser al-Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar LLC, said: “Sustainability was central to Qatar’s successful bid in 2010 and has remained at the heart of our planning and preparations over the last ten years. As the country’s attention shifts from infrastructure delivery to operations and fan experience, delivering sustainable hospitality solutions to the 1.5mn traveling fans will be one of our major focuses over the next two years.
“This year’s event focus with QCBG is more important than ever as we aim to collectively deliver on our promise of hosting a sustainable FIFA World Cup. Thanks to our partners at QGBC for delivering another successful event.”
The opening executive panel included engineer Bodour al-Meer, Environmental and Sustainability Senior manager, SC; Berthold Trenkel, chief operating officer, Qatar National Tourism Council; Mark Simnett, projects director - Architecture, Katara hospitality; and Meshal al-Shamari, director, QGBC.
The panel discussed the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in the context of being the first carbon-neutral tournament, the challenges and opportunities in greening the hospitality sector in Qatar, stakeholders’ responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism sector, and Qatar as a greener tourist destination pre, during and post FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The speakers also addressed questions from the audience at the end of the discussion.
Al-Meer said, “The carbon emissions resulting from fans, officials and teams staying in their accommodation is one of the biggest contributors to the FIFA World Cup carbon footprint. Through this partnership with QGBC, we aim to reduce these emissions. Additionally, hotels will continue to welcome guests long after the tournament’s final whistle, so we see this as an opportunity to contribute to a green legacy of the tournament.”
Trenkel said, “What I envision is that green practices and the achievement of the green key will become a must for any new property that will be built in Qatar. What we will do is work with the players that are ahead of everyone else to educate what they did, how they did it, and what the impact was because it’s always easier to hear the success stories. It would be good if we can also rally other sectors and start pushing behavioural change. All of us collectively probably have to step up and have to change our own behaviour.”
Dr Khalid al-Neama, manager – Engineering Projects and Construction, Katara Hospitality, said: “Our current priority is to focus on the impact of our hotels and resorts. We have increased our focus on understanding the environmental impact of our activities by adopting environmentally preferable business practices and innovative technologies.”
Al-Shamari said, “So many developments have started with the concept of green buildings, but the Green Key have benefits goes beyond the building and saving energy. It talks about capacity building, health and wellbeing by providing a healthy environment.”
The focus day highlighted the ongoing efforts among local stakeholders in promoting a greener hospitality sector in Qatar and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a legacy driver for the sector. It also provided comprehensive guidelines for obtaining Green Key certification and meeting the National Tourism Council’s requirements.
Held in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, the conference encouraged sustainable operation practices in hospitality establishments and event management agencies in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Engineer Issa al-Mohannadi, QGBC chairman, said: “Qatar has committed to hosting a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This momentous undertaking presents an excellent opportunity to accelerate and effectively drive the implementation of sustainable practices in Qatar and produce a tangible and lasting impact on several business sectors, particularly the hospitality sector.
“It pleases me that we can present this conference despite social distancing protocols to help members of the hospitality industry contribute to delivering the carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Nasser al-Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar LLC, said: “Sustainability was central to Qatar’s successful bid in 2010 and has remained at the heart of our planning and preparations over the last ten years. As the country’s attention shifts from infrastructure delivery to operations and fan experience, delivering sustainable hospitality solutions to the 1.5mn traveling fans will be one of our major focuses over the next two years.
“This year’s event focus with QCBG is more important than ever as we aim to collectively deliver on our promise of hosting a sustainable FIFA World Cup. Thanks to our partners at QGBC for delivering another successful event.”
The opening executive panel included engineer Bodour al-Meer, Environmental and Sustainability Senior manager, SC; Berthold Trenkel, chief operating officer, Qatar National Tourism Council; Mark Simnett, projects director - Architecture, Katara hospitality; and Meshal al-Shamari, director, QGBC.
The panel discussed the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in the context of being the first carbon-neutral tournament, the challenges and opportunities in greening the hospitality sector in Qatar, stakeholders’ responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism sector, and Qatar as a greener tourist destination pre, during and post FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The speakers also addressed questions from the audience at the end of the discussion.
Al-Meer said, “The carbon emissions resulting from fans, officials and teams staying in their accommodation is one of the biggest contributors to the FIFA World Cup carbon footprint. Through this partnership with QGBC, we aim to reduce these emissions. Additionally, hotels will continue to welcome guests long after the tournament’s final whistle, so we see this as an opportunity to contribute to a green legacy of the tournament.”
Trenkel said, “What I envision is that green practices and the achievement of the green key will become a must for any new property that will be built in Qatar. What we will do is work with the players that are ahead of everyone else to educate what they did, how they did it, and what the impact was because it’s always easier to hear the success stories. It would be good if we can also rally other sectors and start pushing behavioural change. All of us collectively probably have to step up and have to change our own behaviour.”
Dr Khalid al-Neama, manager – Engineering Projects and Construction, Katara Hospitality, said: “Our current priority is to focus on the impact of our hotels and resorts. We have increased our focus on understanding the environmental impact of our activities by adopting environmentally preferable business practices and innovative technologies.”
Al-Shamari said, “So many developments have started with the concept of green buildings, but the Green Key have benefits goes beyond the building and saving energy. It talks about capacity building, health and wellbeing by providing a healthy environment.”
