Millennium Hotels and Resorts invests in greener future and sustainability

An exclusive interview at SATTE 2024 with Andy Tan, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Food and Beverage, Partnerships, and Operations, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, offered profound insights into the dynamic interplay between sustainability, technological advancement, and the indomitable human spirit.

The hospitality sector, according to Tan, grapples with a triad of formidable challenges: the perennial issue of manpower scarcity, the skyrocketing operational costs, and the imperative of sustainability. Yet, it's within this crucible that Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) forges its path, not just confronting these challenges but transforming them into opportunities for growth and innovation. "Everything needs to be sustainable," he states, underscoring the dual challenge of maintaining operational viability while ensuring environmental stewardship.

Sustainability, once a buzzword, has now become a cornerstone of MHR’s operational ethos. The transition towards eco-friendly practices, though costly, is seen as an investment in the planet's future—a sentiment that resonates with the increasing environmental consciousness of today's traveller. "The cost of making things eco-friendly is a price to pay. But in the long run, we are obviously protecting the world," Tan remarks, emphasising the intrinsic value of sustainability beyond mere regulatory compliance.

An optimistic wave fuelled by the rising middle class in emerging markets has taken over the hospitality and the tourism industry. This optimism, however, demands a recalibration of service delivery to meet the expectations of a more discerning, technologically savvy clientele.