2013-01-22 15:34:02 - The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group recently awarded the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City with the ‘Best Responsible Business Hotel of the Year’ Award and Chief Engineer Nicholas Fernandez has been awarded ‘Green Hotelier of the Year by the Middle East Hotel Awards 2012.

“We are proud to receive the ‘Responsible Business Hotel of the Year 2012’ award from our Regional office”, says Francois Galoisy, General Manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City. “It shows that the hotel’s Responsible Business activities are well recognized and this encourages us to continue focusing on introducing additional environmental friendly activities.”

The Carlson Rezidor’s company-wide Responsible Business programme was launched in 2001 is dedicated to three main areas of responsibility. Taking responsibility for the health and safety of employees and customers, respecting social and ethical issues in the company, as well as in the community and reducing our negative impact on the environment.

The 9th annual Responsible Business Action Month (RBAM) was the most successful ever. 80% of

Carlson Rezidor hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa participated, that’s 265 hotels.

Carlson Rezidor donated more than 130,000 EUR in cash and an estimated 310,000 EUR in kind to charity organizations, in support of Carlson Rezidor’s corporate charity organization “World Childhood Foundation” as well as local community projects.

As part of the hotel’s initiative, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City put several environmental friendly initiatives in place, such as recycling bins for paper, glass and cans, energy saving bulbs in all offices and corridors, battery recycling, participation in Earth Hour, creating the first eco-friendly roundabout in Dubai Media City and the implementation of sensors in all guest hand-wash areas to avoid water wastage as well as a dual flush system in all guest toilets.

In March 2010, the team at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City have worked up a novel energy saving idea to create lighting using otherwise discarded shampoo holders. The lamps stand on a recycled stainless steel base, each comprising 16-20 shampoo holders and an energy saving LED bulb.

“Green-fingered”, Nicolas Fernandez, Chief Engineer at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City, impressed the judges of Middle East Hotel Awards, for going above and beyond his role as chief engineer when it came to green issues striving to achieve responsible business practices throughout the hotel.
Nicholas developed the hotel’s eco round- about, a onetime investment and with zero utility cost. With the help of solar lighting and recycled water from the AC condensation, the roundabout is the first eco-friendly roundabout in Dubai. This is just one of the leading examples of the hotel’s Responsible Business activities, led by Nicholas.

Nicholas designed a simple system by which the Engineering Department is able to collect the water from the hotels large air conditioning units.

Fernandez has also set up a small organic garden; serviced the AC at a local autism centre and developed the roundabout in front of the hotel, using his talents to support the local community. The judges also commended the fact that many of his creative ideas have since been rolled out to other Carlson Rezidor hotels as best practice.

On picking up his award at the stunning 1920s themed Middle East Hotelier Awards Fernandez commented: "This is the pinnacle of my career. I have so many people behind me; everybody has been pushing for it and this is the icing on the cake."

He also said he was planning to take the hotel "100% LED lit" by mid next year.

“Please join me in congratulating Fernandez for a grandiose achievement and wishing him greatest success in his future. We strongly believe that Responsible Business is getting more and more important and therefore our team regularly comes up with new eco-friendly activities,” says Francois Galoisy, General Manager.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group was also nominated in five other categories; the highest ever nominations received for one hotel group at the Middle East Hotel Awards.


NOTES TO EDITORS

Radisson Blu, operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group and Europe’s largest upper upscale brand, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards as Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can!" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes more than 260 hotels in operation or under development in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

For more information, visit www.radissonblu.com


Contact:
Claudia Klingbeil
Marketing & Communications Manager
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City
P.O. Box 211723, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel No. 00971 4 366 9111 Fax No. 00971 4 368 8961
claudia.klingbeil@radissonblu.com
radissonblu.com/hotel-mediacitydubai