Members of Team ALGI at the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge awards
Members of Team ALGI at the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge awards

UWL students win Public’s Favourite award at Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai

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A team of three University of West London Hospitality Management students have won the Public’s Favourite Award in the finals of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC) at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. 

The team were one of seven from around the globe presenting their innovative concepts to a distinguished panel of 19 industry leaders and investors. 

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Members of Team ALGI alongside University of West London lecutrer Jayanti Jayanti at the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge awards

Rahul Dahiya, Marco Palamara and Andrei-Mihai Iftimie, or Team ALGI, have developed an algae-based ventilation system for hotels that purifies the air, reduces energy consumption and provides real-time data tracking of room air quality for guests and hoteliers. 

Air quality in hotel rooms is important, not just for the best possible customer experience but also for guest health. The industry spends 20-30% of operating energy costs on ventilation; however, indoor air quality in rooms is poorly monitored. 

After excelling from the qualifying round in February to the semi-finals in May, Team ALGI not only impressed the judges and investors with their innovative and sustainable solution but also the public, winning the Public’s Favourite Award through the first-ever online voting process in SHC history, which attracted over 5,000 votes globally. 

Team Algi’s travel and accommodation was covered by the Help To Achieve Fund, which provides financial aid to students either struggling with necessary costs like rent and purchasing equipment, or to pursue academic opportunities such as the Future Hospitality Summit. The Fund is supported by generous donations from alumni and friends of UWL. 

Following their success in Dubai, representatives from each of the seven finalist teams, travelled to Perth, Australia, to present their concepts at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. They showcased their innovations to the highest-level jury that SHC has ever assembled, featuring influential leaders from the world’s top hospitality and investment firms, positioning themselves for transformative investment and widespread implementation of their ideas. 

Thank you to the founders of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge for creating an incredible platform for students to bring their impactful sustainable ideas to life and advance sustainability in hospitality,” 

commented Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management Jayanti Jayanti. 

Thank you also to UWL’s Westmont Enterprise Hub, Westmont Hospitality Group, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business Development) Suresh Gamlath and Dean of the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism James Edmunds for their unwavering support to Team ALGI.” 

The 'Public's Favourite' award presented to Team ALGI

Marco, of Team ALGI, spoke about presenting at the WTTC Global Summit in Perth,

Standing in front of top leaders in travel and tourism, we received not only encouraging but incredibly insightful feedback for our project. 

This experience has solidified our confidence and provided the direction we need to take ALGI to the next level. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we are more committed than ever to creating a lasting impact on the industry.”

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