Ajman Saray raises the bar of sustainable building in the emirate of Ajman

(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - November 4th, 2014 - Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort, announced today that it has been awarded LEED^® Silver certification. The LEED^® rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

Nestled near the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf on a pristine stretch of Ajman’s coast where white sandy beaches dazzle in the sun, Ajman Saray, a 205-room hotel with 6 restaurants and bars is the first beachside Luxury Collection property in the Middle East. Ajman Saray achieved LEED^® Silver certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

“From its early days, Ajman Saray was conceptualized as an eco‐friendly facility”, said Kees Hartzuiker, CEO of Roya International Hospitality and Leisure Consultants, the development's advisory firm. “We carried this vision forward by creating effective designs and management strategies to minimize the impact on the surrounding environment during the construction and the operational phase of the project.”

Regionally sourced construction material containing recycled content, usage of adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings containing low or no Volatile Organic Content and diverting 85% of the construction waste from landfill were some of the points awarded for sustainable sites. The building’s high-energy performance and energy savings of approximately 2,254,500 kWh per annum is due to energy efficient lighting fixtures, the highly insulated building envelope and fitting the windows with high performance low emissivity glass in addition to the reduction of urban heat island effect through effective material selection. Efficient water-cooled centrifugal chillers, cooling tower fans and the implementation of effective energy and water monitoring systems optimize the building’s operational needs. While the reduction in potable water consumption is due to the selection of water efficient fixtures, efficient landscaping and the use of native species and drip irrigation systems.

Upon receiving the certification Michele Frignani, General Manager of Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort commented: “We are proud to be awarded with this certification as we constantly strive to make green initiatives in order to preserve the environment. There is a growing demand on ecotourism, sustainable travel and responsible tourism and travellers nowadays are more inclined to stay at hotels that are more environmentally friendly.”

LEED^® is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 50,000 projects worldwide are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED^®rating systems, comprising over 9.3 billion square feet of commercial and institutional construction space, and more than 117,000 additional residential units in the U.S. and 135 countries worldwide.

“With each new LEED^®-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED^® family of green buildings, Ajman Saray is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

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The Luxury Collection is an ensemble of more than 85 of the finest hotels around the world, spanning 30 countries, offering the brand’s signature concierge service, luxury amenities and indigenous cultural experiences. Ajman Saray will be the fourth addition to The Luxury Collection’s portfolio in the Middle East which features the iconic Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Grosvenor House Dubai and Sheraton Kuwait. The brand will expand its regional footprint with Grand Hills in Beirut, Lebanon (2014) and Al Manara Hotel in Aqaba, Jordan (2016).

For more information on Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort, please visit www.luxurycollection.com/ajmansaray.

About Roya International Hospitality and Leisure Consultants LLC: Founded in 1998, Dubai based Roya is an international specialist hospitality consultancy firm offering unparalleled expertise to the hospitality, leisure, tourism and real estate industries.  The group and its more than 55 full time international hospitality professionals offer full range hospitality, advisory, project management and asset management services with a broad portfolio of large and small projects managed from concept to turn key delivery.

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For further press information please contact:

Soraya Agha

Public Relations Manager

Ajman Saray

Telephone: +971 6 714 311

Email: soraya.agha@luxurycollection.com

ajmansaray.com

Rabih Feghali

Director – Business Development

Roya International Hospitality and Leisure Consultants LLC

Telephone: +971 4 343 2444

Email: rabih@royainternational.com 

royainternational.com

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