Radhika Arapally: A Visionary Leader Driving Change
In the realm of sustainable hospitality, few names resonate as profoundly as Radhika Arapally. As the founder and chief consultant of Sustainability Kiosk, Radhika has transformed her passion for environmental stewardship into a movement that is redefining industry standards. Her journey from a nature enthusiast to a leading figure in sustainable hospitality serves as an inspiration for businesses and individuals alike.
A Life-Changing Moment in Bali: Call to Action
Radhika’s commitment to sustainability was ignited during a visit to Bali, where she witnessed the stark reality of environmental degradation. Diving into what she expected to be pristine waters, she was confronted with bleached coral reefs—a vivid indicator of the pressing climate crisis. This experience served as a catalyst, compelling her to take decisive action.
“The urgency of addressing climate change for our kids’ future became clear to me. That moment in Bali wasn’t just a turning point—it was a call to action to reshape the hospitality industry,” Radhika recalls.
Founding Sustainability Kiosk: Transforming the Industry
Motivated by her experience, Radhika established Sustainability Kiosk, a platform dedicated to guiding hotels toward sustainable operations without compromising financial viability. What began as a passion project has evolved into a recognized leader in sustainable hospitality transformation. The platform collaborates with governments, global organizations, and top hotel brands to integrate sustainability into core business strategies.
Sustainability Kiosk offers a comprehensive marketplace of vetted solutions across key areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and eco-friendly services. By bridging the gap between regulations, hotel operations, and supplier solutions, the platform creates a blueprint for long-term, profitable sustainability strategies.
A Dynamic Career Path and Industry Influence
Before founding Sustainability Kiosk, Radhika’s career spanned multiple industries, including retail, banking, and marketing. However, it was her time in the hospitality sector that truly ignited her passion for sustainability.
“Hospitality is about creating memorable experiences, which is truly heartwarming. It’s also where my passion for sustainability found its place,” Radhika shares. By merging guest experiences with meaningful environmental action, she has influenced operational strategies at scale, from hotel brands to tourism boards.
As a recognized thought leader, Radhika has spoken at global industry summits, including the Responsible Hoteliers Summit and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance forums, where she actively shapes the conversation around sustainability in hospitality. Her insights are influencing regional policies, helping hotels navigate regulatory expectations, and defining industry best practices.
Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Solutions
Every success story comes with challenges. One significant obstacle Radhika faced was launching a sustainability initiative without fully understanding the operational constraints of hotels. The program initially struggled to gain traction, leading to an important realization: solutions must be designed for practical implementation at scale.
“I worked closely with my Customer Success Partner, Stella Pinto, who has 20 years of experience in hotel operations. Together, we refined our approach, ensuring that our sustainability programs are not only impactful but also commercially viable and easily adopted by hotels,” Radhika reflects.
This lesson has been critical in expanding Sustainability Kiosk’s role beyond traditional consulting to become an industry-wide change enabler.
Expanding Impact Through Innovative Programs
Radhika’s vision is clear—to make sustainability the default approach for every hotel. She is expanding Sustainability Kiosk’s impact with a range of scalable, on-demand tools and programs that empower hospitality stakeholders, including:
- The Sustainability Stories Podcast: Amplifying industry success stories to inspire widespread adoption.
- HOST (Hotel Operational Sustainability Training): A hands-on program helping hotels integrate sustainability seamlessly into operations.
- The Responsible Hoteliers Summit: A flagship annual event uniting industry leaders to drive tangible sustainability commitments.
“These initiatives are designed to make sustainability an accessible, commercial, and competitive advantage for hotels. Our goal is to equip hotel brands with data-driven insights, operational solutions, and strategic frameworks to make long-term sustainability commitments successful,” Radhika explains.
In the coming years, Sustainability Kiosk aims to scale these solutions across the UAE, GCC, and Africa, helping hotel brands integrate AI-driven sustainability reporting and operational optimization tools.
The Power of Collaboration: Driving Systemic Change
For Radhika, collaboration has been a defining pillar of success. She believes that sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation—it requires a collective approach across government bodies, hotel owners, management companies, and solution providers.
“I’ve learned that progress happens when we break silos, engage stakeholders, and align sustainability goals with commercial realities. It’s about meeting businesses where they are and helping them see that sustainability is not a cost but a strategic advantage,” Radhika says.
Her ability to bridge conversations between regulators, hotel executives, and suppliers has positioned Sustainability Kiosk as a key partner in driving regional sustainability policies forward.
The Road Ahead: Building a Legacy of Sustainability
Looking ahead, Radhika has an ambitious vision for Sustainability Kiosk:
By 2030, Sustainability Kiosk will be the leading sustainability accelerator for hospitality across the Middle East and Africa, helping hotels reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and achieve Net Zero goals through strategic, scalable solutions.
“I want to be remembered as someone who helped hoteliers embrace sustainability as a commercial opportunity rather than an obligation. My goal is to make sustainability the competitive advantage that drives profitability, guest loyalty, and long-term brand value,” Radhika reflects.
Her message to the industry? “The time to act is now. Sustainability is no longer optional—it’s essential for business survival in a rapidly changing world.”
Join the Movement
Sustainability Kiosk is actively seeking collaborations with hotel groups, investors, and policymakers to drive meaningful, industry-wide sustainability transformations. Do connect on Linkedin.
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