Member Feature – Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill

Congratulations to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill in Nairobi for receiving the Green Key award for the 5^th year in a row! Since beginning operations in 2015, the hotel has exemplified a delicate balance between luxury and sustainability, through numerous deliberate efforts in environmentally and socially responsible operations.

Water is conserved through installation of low water flow showers and taps; dual-flush toilets and water-saving sensors in urinals, as well as collecting and using rainwater for cleaning and watering the garden. Radisson Blu has been partnering with Just a Drop – an international water aid charity- to ensure the hotel brand provides a lifetime’s supply of fresh drinking water to 12,000 children per year. Hotel guests are asked to consider re-using their towels during their stay in exchange for a donation to Just a Drop.

The hotel has solar panels in place for heating water and its lighting is 98% LED, resulting in significant savings on energy bills. A beautiful garden and live green walls create an exquisite ambience in a bustling city location. Maintaining an ethical and sustainable supply chain is key to the hotel, with an extensive code of conduct and onsite inspections for suppliers to ensure that they meet high environmental and social standards. More than 90% of the hotel’s waste is recycled – by City Fresh, a Nairobi-based waste collection company – and organic waste is composted and turned into animal feed for local supply.

The hotel is committed to supporting impactful community activities such as improving hygiene in collaboration with Diversey’s “Soap for Hope” program, which reprocesses unfinished soap bars locally into new soap bars, that are donated to local communities with limited access to hygiene and sanitation. There are also long-term sponsorship activities with SOS Children’s Village Nairobi, schools in the neighbourhood around the hotel, and clean ups with Kibondeni College. Participation in the Women for Growth programme supported by Swedfund, has resulted in the development of progressive policies that enable talent growth and increase the representation of women in decision making. Rigorous staff training on Living and Leading Responsible Business has also inculcated a healthy attitude towards environment and sustainability.

Green Key Kenya is proud to be working a pioneer like with Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi, Upper Hill! Learn more about the hotel here