Hamdani: the Green Champion

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

Iftikhar Hamdani has revolutionised the hospitality industry over the past seven years with his commitment to carry out projects on environment, community and charity work. Known as the initiator of green programmes in the emirate of Ajman, he has definitely made his mark to engage hoteliers over the past couple of years.

TT Bureau

Hamdani with his 22-year experience in different hospitality brands in different positions, is currently working as Cluster General Manager to lead two hotels, Ramada Ajman and Ramada Beach Ajman, additionally he is engaged with his hotel group expansion and working as VP Development and Acquisition – R Hotels.

Hamdani is a graduate from Hailey College of Commerce Lahore, Pakistan. Hamdani is fully engaged from 2011 on environment and charity initiatives; he is on a mission to create awareness among his hospitality colleagues to do more for environment and charity within their routine life and daily operations of their hotel job. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman has developed through the initiative and determination of Hamdani.

He was known for his remarkable ground-breaking environment initiatives like the launch of Zero Landfill Project in 2012 — a waste management system of the property. Four years after the launch of the project, with the help of recycling and an inhouse composter machine, the hotel was able to reduce its landfill waste disposal by 90 per cent and divert more than a million kilogram of waste. Hamdani pioneered an Urban Farming project, where the he converted 430 square metres of its vast parking space to an urban farm, growing seasonal vegetables and crops, which can be of use in the hotel’s kitchen. He also launched an all-new Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant, which aims to recycle the hotel’s waste water by 60 per cent and target an annual savings of about AED 290,000 ($79,019).
Hamdani led various activities such as Go Green Painting Exhibition in 2013 and raised awareness to 100,000 students & parents in the Northern Emirates. Recently, Hamdani organised again an environmental awareness conference as “International Roundtable Conference by Future Leaders” with topic on Climate Change on December 2016. 22 young speakers aged between 12 to 16 years from 22 different nationalities took part in the interactive discussion, which aimed to gather insights and share the best practices that are being carried out by their respective country to address the pressing subject. Under his leadership, the Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman does its share for sustainable tourism through regular beach clean-ups and organising activities for Earth Hour, Earth Day, World Environment Day.

To step up its programmes, Hamdani the United Nations Compact in 2016, largest corporate social responsibility initiative in the He has been recognised the “Brand Ambassador Wyndham Hotel year 2012” which Wyndham management’s appreciation of all towards the environment and community. Hamdani has also been recognised as a “Highly Commended CSR Champion of the Year 2013” by the Hotelier Middle East. He has been honoured the “National Award” on April 2014 by the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) because of his good deeds towards creating better image of Pakistan. Another accolade in his kitty is the “Alleem Sustainable Development Excellence Awards” on December 18, 2014, by the Alleem Business Congress in recognition to his numerous CSR initiatives.

Additionally, he has been recognised by Pakistan Social Centre Sharjah on March 19, 2015, in appreciation to his valuable CSR initiatives during the commemoration of the March 23rd’s Lahore Resolution and the adaptation of the 1st constitution of Pakistan. The Hamdani continues to spread the cause on sustainable waste management by speaking in different forums and conferences locally and internationally. The hotel’s waste management system was featured in the China Central Television (CCTV-13) aired in China. He had represented the hotel to speak about “Responsible Tourism” and “Sustainable Hospitality” in London and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, respectively.

Over the years, Ramada Hotel and Suites Ajman, led by Hamdani, has been actively leading sustainable tourism initiatives within the UAE’s hospitality sector. As a testament to its successful green campaigns, the hotel has won several awards, citations and certifications including Green Globe, making it the first hotel in Northern Emirates to receive the prestigious certification.