Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in Brussels and GROHE Group, the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings, convened a one-day workshop at GROHE headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany, to bring together, for the first time, partners from hospitality, sanitary fittings, technical systems, architecture and building design to holistically examine how water is used in the hotel industry. Participants of the first holistic Water in Hospitality workshop included Carlson Rezidor, GROHE, Grundfos, Purcell Miller Tritton and Studiebureau Boydens.
Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource globally, not least in emerging markets where Carlson Rezidor continues to grow rapidly. All involved partners of the workshop share the same goal to use water responsibly and to look at a hotel as a system to identify best practice and synergies.
The workshop looked at the challenges of water sustainability, current and future innovative technology solutions and, above all, ways to enrich the guest experience while minimizing the water footprint of the products and services offered. Discussions focused on three main areas: design for sustainability in new builds, retrofitting to optimize existing property, and changing behavior and consumer expectations.
After a day of exploring this complex subject, all partners agreed that it is vital to celebrate water and to work together to put water sustainability center stage. Cooperation and co-creation in design will be paramount in this process.
“There are numerous new technologies which contribute to sustainability and by engaging in this cross-industry exchange, we can learn best practice from each other,” said Michael Rauterkus, GROHE, chief sales officer, EMEA and Americas.
Moving forward, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its partners will create an interconnecting Water Task Force to enable holistic auditing of hotels to minimize water use while maximizing guest comfort. The Task Force will investigate the potential to maximize water sustainability in selected hotels looking at all elements from the room and building design, to the bathroom fixtures, kitchen, pumps and maintenance of the systems.
On this common journey, the group will also work with other partners to define an ideal vision of water sustainability in hotels, drawing on all expertise to define together a best practice for water in hospitality.
“We want to be recognized as the most innovative and responsible hotel company,” said Olivier Harnisch, chief operating officer of the Rezidor Hotel Group. “This Water Workshop brings together the best minds in business to innovate the top solutions in water sustainability. We look forward to working together with our partners to deliver the finest guest experience in the most responsible manner. The Water Workshop will continue to evolve with more influential partners and stakeholders coming on-board to join our shared vision of saving water in hospitality.”