Shaping a sustainable hotel sector together

Where can you actually find sustainability in the hotel? Sustainable approaches can indeed look different in the hotel sector. Together with the Dalata Group, Deka Immobilien has succeeded in successively improving the sustainability qualities of a total of five hotels in Ireland and the UK. For example, the design hotel The Gibson offers its guests various relaxing indoor and outdoor green lounge areas. On the operational side, an updated, digital building management system allows resource consumption to be recorded and evaluated. This, in turn, accordingly optimises the operation of the system technology. These and other qualities were confirmed by the first hotel BREEAM In-Use certification in Ireland.

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“Together with our hotel operators, we are actively looking for solutions to make our hotel portfolio more sustainable. The cooperation with Dalata Group shows how hotels are not only planned sustainably, but also successfully operated sustainably.”
 
Kay Strobl, Asset Manager Hotel at Deka Immobilien


Sustainable tourism meets real estate investment

Sustainability as a topic has been extremely present for many years in the hotel and tourism sector. Discussions start with the selection of the travel type and destination and extend to transport choices and the implementation of sustainability in everyday life at the destination. As Deka Immobilien, we are part of this development through our hotel investments, mainly in central urban locations, and make an active contribution together with the hotel operators. Since in the hotel asset class the operator's responsibility lies more with the tenant than in other asset classes, active cooperation between the companies and individuals involved is increasingly coming to the fore if the sustainability qualities of the buildings are to be improved.


Sustainability in operations

Dalata Group's environmental Living Green programme aims to reduce energy and water consumption as well as waste generation in its buildings. Progress is actively reported through the recognised Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) standard.

Building on the Dalata Group’s environmental programme, the first step involved teaming up with Deka Immobilien to obtain BREEAM In-Use certification for the Dublin properties The Gibson and Clayton Charlemont, both of which were certified “very good” according to the recognised green building standard.

In the second step, the Clayton Hotel in Birmingham was certified as “very good", and a rating of “good” was awarded to the Maldron Smithfield Hotel and the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin.

For the Dalata Group and Deka Immobilien, this sustainable approach to certification is of particular importance – in addition to improvements in economic criteria, progress is also achieved in terms of the feel-good climate and quality of stay in the hotel.

The Gibson is the first certified hotel property in Ireland. The hotel's operation was particularly convincing due to active management in the area of energy efficiency, the use of rainwater in hotel operations and a diversified waste concept.

In addition, The Gibson scores with natural ventilation and plenty of daylight. The hotel entrance has a three-storey atrium with a green wall. There are green spaces throughout the building, including accessible courtyards and terraces as well as a green roof area. All of these features improve the building's ecological footprint, provide habitat for native species and reduce stormwater runoff from the building, reducing the risk of flooding in surrounding areas.

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With the BREEAM In-Use certification system for The Gibson in Dublin, the following UN Sustainable Development Goals are addressed, among others:

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3 Good Health and Well-being

A green wall, green courtyards and roof terraces promote well-being
in the hotel and increase the quality of stay.

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6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Use of water-saving fittings and rainwater.

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7 Affordable and Clean energy

The building management software has been updated and relevant
consumption meters are gradually being digitally connected so that
the hotel can be operated in a more energy-efficient manner.

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11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Linking hotel operations with public transport services.

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12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Comprehensive disposal concept and reduction of single-use plastic in hotel operations.


Further insights into practice