Remarkable news from our very own Sustainable Hospitality Challenge
With the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge having reached the grand finale at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai beginning of October, the finalists travelled to join the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit from 8 – 10 October, in Perth, Australia.
There, the teams could present their groundbreaking solutions to a distinguished panel of hospitality and investment leaders. The finalists represented the University of West London (UK), VinUniversity (Vietnam), Instituto Professional Duoc UC (Chile), Cornell University (USA), and the University of West Indies (Jamaica). Their ideas are innovative solutions to tackle sustainability challenges such as plastic pollution, renewable energy, food waste management, and cultural tourism.
A new initiative at the WTTC Global Summit is the Investor’s Nest, which aims to support emerging talent and foster innovation to address the sustainability challenges facing the hospitality industry.
Nguyen Thao Van, from VinUniversity won the first Investors’ Nest competition at the 24th WTTC Global summit. Nguyen Thao Van’s winning project, Dynapath, captivated industry leaders and investors alike with its ingenious use of plastic waste to create kinetic tiles that generate electricity from foot traffic using piezoelectric technology. This solution reduces plastic pollution and provides a renewable energy source, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as hotels and airports. Dynapath has the potential to set new sustainability standards for the Travel & Tourism sector.
"Dynapath exemplifies the kind of out-of-the-box thinking we need to drive our sector forward."
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO
Dynapath secured an investment of six-figures from Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO of VFS Global, to launch their project. This investment is a significant step towards realising their vision and demonstrates the confidence that industry leaders have in their innovative approach.
"These students are the change agents of their generation, and their ideas are exactly what the travel industry needs to progress."
Greg O’Hara, WTTC Chair and Founder of Certares Management LLC
"2024 marks a significant milestone for SHC but it’s only the beginning. We are excited about the future, where we will continue to foster inspiration and innovation, building initiatibes that open doors for young talent. Our focus will always be on empowering those with bold ideas to shape the future of sustainable hospitality."
Paul Griep and Stella van Toor, the visionaries behind SHC
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