If hotels were superheroes, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island would be the green crusader—cape made of recycled linen, fueled by solar power, and swooping in to save the planet one glass bottle at a time. And now, this eco-champion has officially been crowned Sustainability Hotel of the Year at the BNC Entrepreneur Middle East Sustainability Innovation Awards 2025. Big applause, please!
On Friday, August 29, under the chandeliers of Al Habtoor Palace in Dubai, the resort snagged the award at one of the most prestigious stages celebrating eco-trailblazers in the region. Hosted by BNC Publishing’s Entrepreneur Middle East, the awards spotlight movers and shakers who are redefining what it means to go green—beyond hashtags and marketing fluff.
A Culture, Not a Campaign
Fabien Chesnais, the ever-proud General Manager, summed it up perfectly: “Sustainability isn’t a campaign for us—it’s a culture.” Translation? This isn’t about hopping on the eco-bandwagon for likes and applause. From the way they manage resources to how they partner with the community, sustainability is baked into the resort’s DNA. Guests don’t just check into a beachside paradise; they step into a living, breathing example of what hospitality with a conscience looks like.
So, What Makes Mövenpick So Green?
Here’s the highlight reel of eco-friendly moves that would make even Captain Planet blush:
- Lights Out (Almost): LED upgrades, motion sensors, and a night-lighting reduction program that dims non-essential lights after hours—because even palm trees need their beauty sleep.
- Water Smarts: Low-flow taps, smart irrigation, and proactive leak detection. Basically, every drop is treated like liquid gold.
- Bye-Bye Plastic: Since 2023, single-use plastics have been banished. Instead, an on-site bottling plant serves UV-filtered, mineralised water in chic reusable glass bottles. Hydration, but make it sustainable.
- Waste Warriors: Recycling streams for everything from paper to glass, plus upcycling drives that give linens and amenities a second life instead of a landfill ending.
- Food for Thought (Literally): Buffet waste is tracked daily, with cheeky guest nudges like “take only what you’ll enjoy”—because no one likes guilt served with dessert.
- Community Heroes: From tree-planting on World Environment Day to beach clean-ups and eco workshops for kids, the resort is rallying both guests and locals to join the mission.
- Green Stays: Guests are invited to reuse linens, towels, and even their eco-smarts during their holiday.
Why It Matters
Let’s be honest—anyone can claim to be “eco-friendly” these days by switching straws. But Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has gone beyond token gestures, embedding sustainability into every aspect of its operations. Winning Sustainability Hotel of the Year is not just a shiny trophy for the lobby; it’s proof that a five-star beach getaway and environmental responsibility can actually share the same umbrella (preferably made of bamboo, of course).
So, next time you’re planning a trip to Ras Al Khaimah, remember: you can sip your mocktail on the beach, watch the sunset, and still leave with a lighter footprint on the planet. That’s what we call a win-win.
