• Food services responsible for 28% of global food waste, 2024 UNEP report reveals
  • The Future Stage at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 features thought-provoking discussions pushing the boundaries of entrepreneurship and technological advancements in travel

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: As travel companies face a growing array of challenges, from operational inefficiencies to increasing demand for sustainability, food waste has surfaced as an unavoidable issue within the travel and tourism industry.

During the “What a Waste! How to Better Manage Food Waste in Tourism” session on the Future Stage at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, experts highlighted how operational inefficiencies, shifting consumer expectations, and the growing demand for sustainable business practices reshape hospitality management.

Delegates learned that two critical areas, food waste and energy generation, offer immediate opportunities for companies to achieve significant environmental and economic benefits.

Highlighting the role of local engagement, Enas Sobhy Ali, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Tadweer, discussed how hotels can drive food waste initiatives: “I believe that one of the key challenges that facing in the hospitality industry is the disconnection between operation and impact. As the priority for the hospitality industry is customer satisfaction, this can lead to overproduction and significant food waste from hotels. One of the most effective and simplest ways to address this is to start introducing waste auditing and enhancing the system for recycling bins.”

According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, the world wasted an estimated 1.05 billion tonnes of food in the combined retail, food service and household sectors. Out of the total food waste in 2022, 60% happened at the household level, with food services responsible for 28% and retail for 12%, underscoring the urgent need for more efficient and sustainable food waste practices.

Speakers highlighted that reducing food waste can drive a circular economy in the hospitality sector. Additionally, new models for sustainable energy generation are assisting operators in lowering their carbon footprints. The session also offered practical solutions for hotel owners, operators, and investors eager to incorporate environmental stewardship into their main business strategies.

Dr. Amal Albedwawi, Senior Food Safety Specialist, UAE Food Bank, said: “As the UAE Food Bank, the main challenge we face when it comes to rescuing and recycling food from hotels and hospitality entities is the many different management approaches within the industry. Each hotel operates separately from one another, so we need to explain the merits of recycling food waste to each manager individually. We try to make them understand that we work closely with the Food Safety Department to ensure that the participating hotels will not undertake any risk by participating in our food bank programmes."

Reflecting the broader ATM 2025 theme of enhanced connectivity and innovation, the Future Stage continues to host transformative discussions on technology and entrepreneurship. Elsewhere on today’s agenda, Cassie Kozyrkov, CEO of Kozyr, delivered an address entitled “AI Adoption: From Buzzwords to Business Strategy”, exploring how travel businesses can successfully leverage artificial intelligence to drive growth and innovation.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, commented: "Sustainability challenges, such as food waste, require innovative thinking and collaboration within our industry. By facilitating practical discussions, ATM 2025 provides businesses with the knowledge and strategies they need to implement real change and safeguard their operations for the future."

The 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market continues tomorrow (30 April) at Dubai World Trade Centre, welcoming more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries. Held under the theme "Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity", ATM 2025 provides a vital platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and unlocking new opportunities for a sustainable, inclusive travel industry.

Held in conjunction with DWTC, ATM’s strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner; and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner.

The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.

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For more information, log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. The event attracted over 47,000 attendees, more than 35,000 visitors (including 6,000+ high-value buyers) and over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries. In 2025, ATM will expand to 13 halls, growing across all sectors, and will continue to be a crucial gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai

ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html

Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Start-Up Competition, Influencers' Event, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. The event also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums.

https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html  

About RX

RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors

World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are Arabian Travel Market, WTM London, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa.

WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.

Next event: 4 to 6 November 2025 at ExCel London

http://london.wtm.com/

WTM Latin America is held annually in São Paulo and attracts more than 29,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers a qualified content combined with networking and business opportunities. In its most recent edition, in 2024, WTM Latin America maintained its focus on the effective generation of business and managed to secure the early scheduling of more than six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents, and exhibitors. WTM Latin America contents are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Next event: 14 – 16 April 2025, Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brasil

latinamerica.wtm.com

WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.

Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/

About ATW Connect: 

Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.

https://atwconnect.com/

WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/

Media contact:
TRINA QUINTANA
Account Manager
Indigo Icon Tower, Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
E-mail: trina.quintana@shamalcomms.com
Website: www.shamalcomms.com
A member of the ECCO Communications Network