Murray Aitken
Claire Matheson interviews Murray Aitken, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, to discover more about the property’s sustainability practices.
Talking to you, your passion for meaningful environmental change is evident. Can you pinpoint a clear turning point in your life that sticks in your mind when this passion was ignited? (Perhaps something that may outwardly be seen as insignificant but had a real impact on you?)
I had many occurrences that ignited my passion for the environment. However, one that truly stuck in my mind was an incident in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was there in the 90s when it was flooding, and we had to take a boat to a small island. I was instantly triggered by the number of plastic bottles filling up the harbour and at this point I
knew I needed to make crucial changes within my capacity in my personal or work environment.
What has been Hard Rock Desaru Coast’s most meaningful accomplishment since you joined them? What are you most proud of from the last few years?
My proudest accomplishment is hiring a qualified Sustainability Manager at the property level. We were the first hotel within the Hard Rock Hotel brand to engage in a Sustainability Manager as I believed that this position must be filled with someone fully committed to the task and taking on our sustainable efforts diligently instead of adding a “sustainability portfolio” to our existing talent’s job description which may result in non-committal initiatives.
Central to your quest for a more sustainable footprint for Hard Rock in the Asian region, you speak passionately about changing minds. Where do you feel the most significant challenge lies in changing minds? Is there a set group of people, such as corporate headquarters, local Malaysian businesses, guests, or a mix?
The greatest challenge in changing minds when it comes to being sustainable lies in overcoming people’s resistance to change. There are three factors we need to address :
Education, leadership set by example and discipline of persistence.
Education is critical in promoting sustainability as it creates awareness and empowers individuals to adopt these practices.
Leadership set by example is essential to help change mindsets. When leaders demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and model sustainable behaviours, they send a powerful message to their employees, stakeholders and communities. This inspires others to adopt these initiatives, creating a culture of sustainability.
Discipline must first be established to maintain sustainable practices to put measures into practice, followed by persistence to continue these practices despite challenges and to deal with resistance to change and many more obstacles to implementing sustained efforts. Diligence involves staying focused on the goal.
Considering the acquisition of the Hard Rock brand by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, does Hard Rock Desaru Coast have any plans to increasingly honour and include the voices and cultures of Indigenous peoples of Malaysia in the hotel? Or regionally in different parts of Asia?
Hard Rock has always respected and honoured indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ cultures and voices. We continue to follow in the footsteps of the brand’s objective at the property level. Whether it’s different genders, cultures or race – we seek to strike a balance by hiring the best person for the job.
In 2022, Forbes named Hard Rock one of America’s best employers for women for the fifth year in a row. Aside from working closely with the Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru, what other initiatives do you have to support the women on your staff and in your community, particularly regarding glass ceilings or sticky floors?
Hard Rock operates through its guiding principle, “Love All-Serve All”, which encompasses a few of the brand’s core mantras – notably, ‘All is One’, where inclusivity for women is significantly amplified. Leadership development programs and mentorship programs are among the initiatives we include, in addition to ensuring pay equity for women is made fairly compared to their male counterparts.
You mentioned your staff put together a Daily Sustainability Topic. What has been the most surprising, impactful information you learned from this initiative?
Yes, and I firmly believe that a daily sustainability topic initiative can provide staff with valuable information and insights to help them make more informed decisions and take action. What’s most surprising is that the team are very well-versed in sustainability, but very few know the impact that it has on our environment. For example, the trade story of Bees and their honey – the interconnectedness of environmental issues with social justice and human rights issues, such as the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.
One of Hard Rock’s mottos is Save the Planet. Do you think the wording of this sentiment has evolved from when it was first coined? What do you think this philosophy encompasses now?
The ‘Save the Planet’ slogan was first coined by Hard Rock in 1990s as a response to the growing concern about environmental issues. At that time, the slogan mainly focused on raising awareness about protecting the natural environment from human activities. Since then, the concept has evolved, and so has the wording and philosophy behind Hard Rock’s ‘Save the Planet’ motto. Today, the slogan encompasses a broader range of issues related to sustainability, including social responsibility, economic sustainability and climate change.
Additionally, I believe humans need saving because the planet
regenerates itself, and this was evident during Covid-19 – where mother earth took control and kept us humans indoors.
When working to put more sustainable measures in place, it can sometimes be difficult to stay positive in the face of the scope and scale of the work that needs to be done. Will it be enough? Or is more drastic action needed?
Yes, it’s true that more drastic action is needed to address the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, as it can be daunting to face the scale of the challenge ahead, but it is important to remember that progress can be made, and every action counts. The government, especially, needs to legislate policies and regulations to promote renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.
Together, we can create a more sustainable future by staying informed and engaged and take steps to promote sustainability in our personal and professional life.
And lastly, here are a couple of fun music-related questions for Murray Aitken:
What instruments do you play, and are there any you’d love to learn to play?
I play some drums. I learned it from my father as he was in a band when he was young. I’m currently trying to learn the guitar on my own and would like to master the piano. But most importantly, I like playing the fool.
Of all the pieces of rock memorabilia in all the Hard Rock establishments around the world, what is your favourite and why?
It’s the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ Bus from The Beatles – Hard Rock has owned the bus since the 90s and is the largest one-of-a-kind music piece of historical memorabilia. Last year, Hard Rock surprised Paul McCartney with the original bus at his concert.
What were some of Murray Aitken’s music firsts – the first album you ever bought? The first concert you ever attended?
My first album was Bob Marley’s Kaya album, a 180g vinyl record. The first concert was Elton John and Ray Cooper in Sun City.
What is your go-to album to listen to? The one that never fails to put you in a good mood?
An all-time must-have is my Pink Floyd Pulse on vinyl.
Murray Aitken’s coolest music moment or memory?
My coolest memory was being invited to Grace Jones’ suite room. She invited me to sit with her and her entourage. It was a great night of chatting and a midnight swim in the hotel’s pool!
Read more interviews similar to this one with Murray Aitken here, and stay up to date with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations here and here.
Yes! Save the planet!!!