May 26 – The British American Tobacco Company, Egypt (BAT), along with the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) in Cairo, have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will provide hotel guests in Cairo with designated non-smoking and smoking areas.
The idea comes from BAT’s global ‘Respecting Choices’ initiative. This is the third agreement of its kind that has been taken up by BAT in Egypt, the first being a MoU signed with the South Sinai Governorate in February 2009 followed by a similar partnership with EHA in Hurghada and Alexandria in late 2009.
“We have seen the success achieved by the project in Hurghada and Alexandria, and we are very excited about what it can accomplish in Cairo,” said Waseem Mohiedin, President of the EHA in Cairo. “The partnership allows for us to cater to all of our guests, in a way that is convenient for both non-smokers and smokers.”
Public smoking remains a bone of contention in Egypt. Through this project, it is hoped that the issue will be somewhat resolved as signs will be provided in hotels for smoking and non-smoking areas in Egypt.
