Hospitality industry leaders in Kuwait are putting sustainability front and center of their development plans through initiatives that dovetail with Vision 2035, the country’s strategic development plan. Here, we shine a spotlight on how the sector’s decision-makers in Kuwait are addressing an issue that’s never far from global headlines.
Ensuring future plans and projects have sustainability at their core is non-negotiable for hospitality decision-makers today, whether that’s undertaking developments within frameworks such as the Green Key certification, or implementing initiatives like recycling and plastic reduction in day-to-day operations.
“Practical sustainability in hospitality can, in fact, be defined as minimizing waste and maximizing reuse,” said Seneca Cottom, head of sustainability, Alshaya Group.
Carving out a more secure future
Reaffirming the message that introducing sustainability initiatives is a win-win, Cottom added that the group had reduced energy costs by 40 percent across stores through LED lighting and efficient HVAC systems.
As these and other green initiatives become the norm, they are also playing a key part in changing mindsets, with hospitality industry players increasingly perceiving sustainability as an investment rather than an expense when looking at it through the lens of profit and loss. “We view it [sustainability] as a way to secure our future,” said Wolfram Alderson, executive manager – Research & Innovation, Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company
From joint business ventures to partnerships between the public and private sectors, collaboration is now recognized as a pivotal means of driving sustainability practices forward in hospitality and providing effective platforms for message-sharing.
“As a non-governmental organization, the Kuwait Water Association works closely with government entities to implement sustainability frameworks, while conducting community-wide awareness campaigns,” explained Hebah Abbas, technical advisor and chairwoman of the association’s Sustainability Committee.
Such efforts dovetail with broader national initiatives being introduced as part of Kuwait Vision 2035, which include the Shagaya renewable energy project and several sustainable waste management systems, according to Asma Al-Zemani, an industrial engineer at the Environment Public Authority. “These efforts to transition to a diversified economy with sustainable waste management systems align with international goals, making sustainability a pillar of national development,” she said.
Small changes, big results
At ground level, there are signs of growing awareness among Kuwaitis of the difference that small changes to daily routines can make through practices such as carpooling and reducing single-use plastics. The hospitality industry, like other sectors, is also seeing results from incentives like rewards programs for customers returning recyclable materials.
With these developments gathering momentum against a backdrop of public awareness campaigns and stronger regulatory and financial support expected, the hospitality industry is well placed to continue spearheading Kuwait’s sustainability efforts.
Insights from HORECA Talks 2025 at HORECA Lebanon, co-organized by Leaders Group, Hospitality News Middle East and Hodema Consulting Services. Session moderated by Nada Alameddine, managing partner at Hodema Consulting Services, and Nagi Morkos, founder and manager partner at Hodema Consulting Services.
