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The post What is the way forward for independent hotels in GCC to achieve Net Zero emissions? appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

Nadia Ibrahim, Associate Director of Consultancy & Sustainability at Farnek, has revealed how all hotels throughout the region can create a bespoke roadmap to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.

“Reducing energy output, water consumption and waste, will save a hotel operation money through lower utility bills and landfill costs. Moreover, 81% of travellers that responded to a 2021 booking.com survey said that they wanted to stay in sustainable accommodation and a further 49% claimed there was not enough choice,” said Ibrahim.

During her webinar presentation in conjunction with the Swiss Business Council, Ibrahim highlighted the fact that some international hospitality brands may already have strategies in place to achieve their Net Zero ambitions. However, many independent hotels, particularly three and four-star properties would require external support from consultants to design, plan and execute a carbon neutral roadmap.

“Major international hotel brands such as Accor, Hilton and Marriott have the necessary resources to achieve their sustainability goals, but many privately-owned independent hotels will not have the means to access dedicated internal support.

“There is also general confusion about what Net Zero means and the process and actions required to make a corporate commitment and how a hotel’s carbon footprint can be measured and reduced without affecting the operation or guest experience,” said Ibrahim.

“It is impossible to become carbon neutral by reduction methods alone, so hotels will need to offset a certain percentage of their emissions, by supporting certified carbon offset projects, such as providing clean cooking fuel to isolated communities in Africa to help prevent deforestation,” added Ibrahim.

“It is essential that hotels start to plan their environmental strategy now if they are to play their part and support the overall Net Zero goals of their respective governments, particularly those in the UAE, who will host the COP 28 meeting in Abu Dhabi next year,” concluded Ibrahim.

The post What is the way forward for independent hotels in GCC to achieve Net Zero emissions? appeared first on Travel Daily.

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The post Central Railway to make vistadome coaches popular on Mumbai-Goa route appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

The Central Railway is planning to increase the popularity of the wider view vistadome train coaches in the picturesque Mumbai-Goa Konkan belt, after receiving a huge response on the scenic Pune Western Ghats section. The vistadome coaches, which have huge windows and transparent roofs allowing a hindrance-free view of the surroundings, have become popular among passengers on the 21 km long Bhor ghat section between Mumbai and Pune.

This is one of the steepest ghats in the country with 28 tunnels and provides a breath-taking view of the Sahyadri mountains, the Ulhas river valley and surrounding areas. Now, the Central Railway (CR) is planning to attach one more vistadome coach to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Madgaon Tejas Express, one the premium trains on the Mumbai-Goa route, before this year end.

Whether it is the breath-taking views of valleys, rivers and waterfalls along the Mumbai-Goa route or the spectacular views of the Western Ghats along the Mumbai-Pune route, these coaches with glass rooftops and wide window panes have proved to be a hit, CR’s chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said.

The vistadome coaches also have other attractions like LED lights, rotatable seats and pushback chairs and electrically operated automatic sliding compartment doors. The viewing gallery having big glass windows on three sides is one of the biggest attractions of these coaches, according to railway officials, and passengers love to click photographs and selfies from it.

The Konkan belt offers a stunning view of waterfalls, rivers, valleys, tunnels, lush green fields and creeks.
The CR had introduced its first vistadome coach on the Mumbai-Goa route in 2018.The CSMT-Madgaon Janshatabdi Express was the first train to run with the vistadome coach attached at its rear end.

After its huge popularity, the CR attached vistadome coaches to the Deccan Express train on the Mumbai-Pune route from 26, June, 2021. Looking at its success, the railway recently attached such coaches to the Deccan Queen and Pragati Express on the Mumbai-Pune route. Currently, the CR operates five pairs of trains, including the Janshatabdi Express, with vistadome coaches, as per railway officials.

According to the CR, nearly 32,000 passengers have enjoyed travelling in the vistadome coaches of trains on the Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Pune routes in the current financial year 2022-23, adding a revenue of INR four crore till 10, August 2022.

The post Central Railway to make vistadome coaches popular on Mumbai-Goa route appeared first on Travel Daily.

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