Sustainability is not driven by one person, its embedded into our daily operations and mindset: Chesnais
The publish Sustainability is just not pushed by one particular person, its embedded into our each day operations and mindset: Chesnais appeared first on TD (Journey Day by day Media) Journey Day by day Media.
Journey Day by day Media related with Fabien Chesnais, Basic Supervisor, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island to search out out extra about his lodge’s operational efficiencies, sustainability initiatives, family-oriented packages and readiness for MICE and weddings.
Journey Day by day Media (TDM): Being honoured on the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Excellence Awards throughout 4 main classes—together with “Excellent GM” and “Platinum Inexperienced Resort Sustainability”—what key operational practices or workforce methods do you consider contributed to this multi‑award-winning efficiency?
Fabien Chesnais (FC): It actually comes right down to how we run the property day-to-day. Each workforce whether or not it’s entrance workplace or engineering is aware of precisely what they’re working in the direction of. We observe the fundamentals swiftly: visitor suggestions, turnaround instances, vitality and water use and extra. Common inter-department conferences guarantee a seamless communication stream, enabling operational alignment throughout all capabilities. Sustainability, for instance, isn’t pushed by one particular person—it’s embedded into our each day operations and mindset throughout the board. Alongside operational effectivity, we place sturdy emphasis on advertising and PR integration, guaranteeing that our initiatives whether or not service enhancements or sustainability milestones are communicated strategically throughout media, digital platforms and guest-facing channels. This constant storytelling helps reinforce our positioning available in the market and preserve top-of-mind consciousness amongst each customers and business stakeholders.
TDM: After profitable the 2025 Worldwide Sustainability Award with accomplishments like eliminating single-use plastic, launching an in‑home water bottling plant, and lowering meals waste by over 32 tons of CO₂ in simply two months, how do you intend to scale these eco-initiatives additional? What’s the following “huge objective” in your sustainability roadmap?
FC: Our subsequent main precedence is enhancing vitality effectivity throughout the resort. Whereas we’ve already made important progress in lowering plastic utilization and meals waste, our present focus is on optimizing vitality consumption in high-usage areas resembling laundry operations and HVAC methods. Key initiatives embody the set up of CPO water-cooled chiller crops, VFDs on condenser pumps with upgraded management logic, and the optimization of FAHUs and AHUs via scheduling and controls based mostly on indoor air high quality and relative humidity. We’re additionally transitioning to photo voltaic vitality by way of Photo voltaic PV crops, changing LPG tanks with energy-efficient warmth pumps and increasing our meals composting program to help waste discount and on-site landscaping. Fairly than remoted inexperienced campaigns, we’re embedding sustainability into each day operational choices—from menu planning and housekeeping schedules to vendor sourcing—guaranteeing our dedication is each measurable and constantly utilized throughout all visitor and back-of-house touchpoints.
TDM: The resort already has kid-friendly actions and amenities. What are the next-generation enhancements you envision for attracting extra households? How do these mirror your philosophy of holistic household hospitality?
FC: Households journey in a different way now—there’s not a one-size-fits-all mannequin. Some dad and mom search structured actions to get pleasure from with their kids, whereas others choose their children to be independently engaged to allow them to unwind. We’re designing packages that cater to all age teams, giving households the flexibleness to decide on how concerned they wish to be. From cooking workshops that oldsters and children can get pleasure from collectively to relaxed, drop-in exercise hubs for teenagers, our choices are constructed round alternative. We’re additionally enhancing scheduling instruments to assist households plan their day with ease and with out stress. Constructing on this method, we’re launching FAMEX (Household Expertise Enhancement Program) in This fall this yr, a resort-wide initiative centered on enriching the expertise of households touring with kids—from pre-arrival engagement to in-stay touchpoints. This system goals to raise each stage of the household journey via considerate, age-appropriate enhancements and customized visitor experiences.
TDM: On its third anniversary, the resort hosted a children’ artwork competitors, “My Dream Island Escape,” and a social media giveaway, together with magic performances and themed culinary occasions. How do you curate these CSR and guest-engagement occasions to help each model id and significant group influence?
FC: We attempt to maintain it easy—something we do on the CSR or engagement aspect has to really feel related to our friends and helpful to the group. The youngsters’ artwork contest was a very good instance. It gave our younger friends one thing enjoyable and interesting to do and in addition join with the area people via colleges. We hosted the winners’ households on the resort and put their art work on show. It felt real and with a goal.
TDM: You’ve spoken about positioning the resort as an elevated house for a vacation spot marriage ceremony, particularly for Indians. What initiatives and partnerships are you planning to additional this imaginative and prescient within the subsequent 2-3 years?
FC: We’re working carefully with marriage ceremony planners in India as a result of we’ve discovered that the success of a vacation spot marriage ceremony begins effectively earlier than friends arrive. Meaning serving to {couples} plan logistics from day one—comfy keep, meals preferences, floor transport and extra. We’re upgrading a few of our occasion areas to allow them to transition shortly from one perform to the following, particularly once we are internet hosting a multi-day Indian marriage ceremony. We’re additionally coaching our workforce in regional customs and languages for easy functioning.
TDM: You’ve emphasised creating bespoke FIT (Free Unbiased Traveller), MICE, and marriage ceremony choices for Indian travellers. Are you able to share a signature expertise or upcoming program you’re launching particularly to attraction to Indian friends in 2025?
FC: We’ve got seen a constant demand for well-structured weddings, celebrations, and household journey experiences from India. We’re constantly evolving in these areas. For weddings, we have now put collectively a modular package deal that covers every thing from pre-wedding capabilities to ceremony and reception, supported by a devoted occasions workforce that understands cultural specifics, dietary wants and visitor expectations. For FIT travellers, we’re introducing versatile keep choices and curated eating experiences with Indian vegetarian menus, that align effectively with Indian households.
TDM: You led the resort from pre‑opening in 2021 to profitability inside three months, and shortly after, obtained over 18 business awards. What have been the highest three strategic levers you carried out throughout pre‑opening to speed up efficiency so shortly?
FC: We have been very clear on our market earlier than we opened. We recognized particular gaps notably within the household and Indian journey segments and constructed our providing to immediately meet these wants. We additionally assembled a workforce that might multi-task and instinctively anticipate visitor expectations. From the beginning, we prioritized digital and tech integration, guaranteeing a seamless expertise from reserving and cost to check-in and in-stay providers. In parallel, we invested in strategic advertising and PR, establishing sturdy visibility throughout key supply markets via curated campaigns, influencer collaborations and high-impact media placements. This method helped us construct speedy model recognition and belief, positioning the resort as a most popular vacation spot for each native and regional travellers.
The publish Sustainability is just not pushed by one particular person, its embedded into our each day operations and mindset: Chesnais appeared first on Journey Day by day Media.