Hotec EMEA advisory board talks sustainability, green challenges

Questex Hospitality (the parent company of Hotel Management) has launched an advisory board of hoteliers and suppliers to guide the direction of the upcoming Hotec EMEA conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 21-24 at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal. 

Taking the place of the former Hotec Europe, Hotec EMEA is an expanded event for hotel chains, purchasing companies and interior and architectural design firms from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For two full days, these buyers will meet one-on-one with domestic and international suppliers representing products and services.

The buyers on the advisory board are Emilie Baraton, Southern Europe director at Astore Equipment & Projects​; Gwendoline Theodet, regional director at Campbell House; Christine Woltmann, managing director, Coperama Central Europe; Jane Moyses, director of strategic sourcing, EMEA at Hilton; Liviu Raulea, director international procurement at Marriott International​; Gail Thomson, managing director at Purpose ID​; Maria Madrid, VP strategic sourcing EMEA, Radisson Hotel Group;​ and Philip Halanen, head of sourcing & sustainability at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

The suppliers on the board are Julian Cubero, director general and CEO at Alarwool​; Lee Piddock, global sales manager at Demista; Holger Jung, global corporate account director at Inpacs; Geoff van Wijk, director of sales & marketing at J.T. Kalmar; H. David Murray, founder and chairman at MGroup​; John Foley, VP of sales at Safemark Systems​; and Michele Crociani, international sales director at Wall & Deco.

Buyers, Suppliers & Sustainability

During the initial meeting of the advisory board, while discussing what the September conference would involve, the attendees noted the growing demand for sustainable practices among both suppliers and hospitality buyers and discussed the challenges faced by both sides in going green.

Thomson said sustainability is not a trendy issue, but will be “key” for the foreseeable future. “We need a lot of support from brands and suppliers as to how we can specify [sustainability] consciously and not be told that something is sustainable when it really isn't,” she said. “How can we get proof of green credentials? Because when we put this in front of the hotel operators and owners, we have to justify the additional cost.” 

Raulea cited a company called EcoVadis that certifies sustainable businesses. “Every country has different certification  [standards],” he noted, adding that businesses like Marriott need help understanding certifications and knowing what partners have good practices. A vendor might present some kind of certification, but buyers might not have time to spend verifying how the certification was achieved. EcoVadis assesses vendors, reviews certificates and can confirm if a business is truly sustainable or not. “Sustainability is one of our main pillars for 2022—and definitely forward,” Raulea said. “But we need to do it right.”  

Foley noted that sustainability can only be enforced if banks refuse to approve development loans unless a project has a certain environmental, social and governance score. Blackstone, he added, has started divesting from the oil and gas industries. (According to industry website WorldOil.com, the firm’s next energy fund will not back these industries, and its credit arm is similarly rejecting loans.) “Everything they're doing from here on out is green,” Foley said.

Raulea noted that the certification is increasing costs for buyers. “It's a bit of a hassle to do it every year,” he said, but acknowledged that as more corporations and governments set sustainable standards, selecting eco-conscious business partners is good practice for the future. After 2025, he estimated, Marriott will likely have to disqualify partners who are not properly certified. “If you’re not prepared, in the next few years [you] might not be able to get it,” he said. 

Beyond sustainable manufacturing, Piddock emphasized the challenges of staying green while shipping materials from one location to another. “If that's the case, your [sustainability] score is gonna drop through the floor,” he said. “The company could be super green, but so long as you truck it on a Boeing, you’ve just unleashed 750 tons of [carbon dioxide] to ship it.”