xi's moments
Home | News

Future hoteliers eye for sustainability at Beijing summit

By Yang Xiaoyu | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2024-10-29 12:01

Students from Jiujiang University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University make their group presentation at the 2024 Future Hoteliers Summit, gives a welcome speech in Beijing on Oct 25, 2024. [Photo by Yang Xiaoyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2024 Future Hoteliers Summit, held at Beijing Hospitality Institute on Friday, brought together hundreds of industry executives, experts, professors and students specializing in hospitality management from both home and abroad, to delve into how the hotel industry achieves green, sustainable development.

In its 12th iteration, the summit, entirely orchestrated by students of the Beijing Hospitality Institute, serves as a platform for industry professionals and students worldwide to exchange perspectives and brainstorm solutions to the challenges faced by the hotel sector, according to Gao Songtao, the institute's principal.

Participants at the event concurred that climate change is a pressing global issue necessitating collective action. They highlighted the importance of reducing the carbon footprint in hotels, aligning with China's pursuit of sustainable economic development and the nation's "dual carbon" goal to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The group comprising students from Shenyang City University and the University of Plymouth are presented the top prize at the 2024 Future Hoteliers Summit in Beijing on Oct 25, 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A notable aspect of the summit was a competition focusing on how Gen Z hoteliers can drive innovation, implement low-carbon practices, and foster sustainable development within hotels. 14 teams of 46 students from 22 colleges worldwide addressed specific areas of hotels, such as the kitchen, the gym and swimming pool, and the guest room, identifying challenges and proposing solutions to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The group comprising students from Shenyang City University and the University of Plymouth clinched the top prize.

Guo Qing, the supervisor of two students from Jiujiang University in Jiangxi province, told the China Daily website that she had been curious about this event developed and organized by students and she was really impressed about how things panned out at the summit.

Guo's students collaborated with two peers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University to prepare for the contest, presenting strategies for hotel restaurants to offer socially and environmentally sustainable buffets.

"It's good for our students to participate in contests of this kind to broaden their horizons and hone their communication, teamwork, and logical skills," Guo said, adding that "these two students of mine plan to work in the hotel industry upon graduation. I believe this experience can give them a leg-up in job hunting."

1 2 Next   >>|
Global Edition
BACK TO THE TOP
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349