A total of 23 hotels have been shortlisted for the 'Dubai Green Tourism Award' which recognises the best contribution of the hospitality industry towards the environment protection.

Launched in 2009, the award is aimed at reducing hotel carbon emissions by 20 per cent. The award submissions were extended to include two-star hotels and standard hotel apartments this year, said a statement from Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

The award programme has been a big success with 104 hotels and hotel apartments applying for the second edition of the award, remarked Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM executive director business development and media relations and general supervisor of the award.

'Hotels and hotel apartments are assessed for a wide range of environmental, economic and social issues, including energy saving, nature conservation and community involvement,' he stated.

The judging panel includes Majid Al Marri, director of hotel classification, Satish Bhaskaran, DTCM executive director, administration division,  Dr Waleed Hamza, Prof at the Biology Department, Faculty of Science, UAE-University, Dr Radhiya Al Hashimi from UAE Prime Minister’s office, Hamdan Al Shaer, director of environment at Dubai Municipality, Amal Koshak, senior manager, demand & tariff management at Dewa, Ida Tillisch, acting director general WWF and Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of EEG.

Rahman pointed out that the significant increase in the number of applications reflected the keen interest of the key tourism industry players in sustainable tourism and their commitment towards maintaining international standards.

From the shortlisted properties, the judges will further evaluate the submissions in various criteria to pick up the winners, he said.

The annual recognition programme was expected to see participation of more hotel establishments in the coming years considering the response from the hospitality sector the second edition of the  programme and the adoption of environment-friendly practices by hotels and hotel establishments, he added.

Shaikha Al Mutawa, DTCM director of business development and chairman of the organising committee for the award, said the selection process has been made multi-tiered in order to recognise the best practices and make the programme one of the best in the world.

She pointed out that the competition had proved to be tough, especially in the five and four-star hotel categories, going by the submissions received for award scheme since its inception.

Al Marri said the submission process has been made electronically in order to ensure highest levels of transparency, professionalism and accuracy.

'This is also in line with the international best practices in terms of recognising the best contribution of the hospitality industry towards the environment protection,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service