75 Posadas hotels awarded with Green Key in Mexico

The number of Green Key awarded establishments in Mexico got an increase of 75 Hotels when Grupo Posadas reached their goals for environmental practices. 

The 75 Posadas hotels represent the brands Live Aqua, Grand Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Americana, The Explorean by Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn, One and Gamma. 

After an extensive evaluation covering the 13 Green Key criteria categories, such as environmental management, staff involvement, social responsibility and environmental activities, the hotels could reach the goal of gaining the Green Key award. This was achieved thanks to the sustainable initiatives, structural renovations in some of the hotels and the innovating practices and services of the hotels. The coordinated efforts of Green Key Mexico and Posadas in regard to maintenance and the accomplishment of the regulations, means that Posadas now complies with high standards in the field of sustainable tourism.

The establishments in Mexico that apply for a Green Key are awarded by a National Steering Committee with representatives from the Tourism Ministry, Energy Ministry, Environmental Ministry and The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit international organization with conservation of biodiversity and the environment as their goal. 

During the awards ceremony that took place at the Fiesta Americana Parque Toreo hotel, Enrique Calderón, Vice President of Hotel Operations at Grupo Posadas, commented: "A few months ago, we received with pride and satisfaction the Green Key certification for 3 of our hotels. Today, we are even more proud to receive this same certification, but for 75 properties; this is no more than a reflection of our goal to operate attractive, functional and environmentally friendly hotels."

Pablo Azcárraga, CEO of Grupo Posadas, said: “This is without a doubt the goal of a great effort, we must keep on working. We have to be an example for Mexico and an example on the international level of sustainability within tourism."

Prominent individuals present at the award ceremony included Enrique de la Madrid, Secretary of Tourism, Mariana Boy Tamborrell, General Manager of Urban Development of Tourism, José Salvador Sánchez Estrada, Undersecretary of Quality and Regulation of the Ministry of Tourism, and Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos, CEO of The Foundation for Environmental Education Mexico.

The awarding of the 75 Posadas hotels is a great success for Mexico and the whole Green Key programme. Mexico is now in the top 10 of countries with the most Green Key awarded establishments. 

Posadas is the largest Mexican hotel chain, with 158 hotels and more than 25,000 rooms in Mexico. 

10 years Green Key Belgium-Flanders celebrated with 115 awards

On 14 December 2015, 115 Flemish tourism businesses received the Green Key certification. An amazing result of 10 years of hard work done by Bond Beter Leefmilieu in cooperation with Tourism Flanders. The ceremony took place in the newly awarded Hostel H in Hasselt. 

Old and new

Five sites were awarded their 10th Green Key certificate and can be considered as true Green Key experts: Baalse Hei, provinciaal recreatiedomein Zilvermeer, De Lilse Bergen, De Spaanjerd and Herenlaak.

There were also 9 new sites to be awarded their first Green Key award which supports their promise to their guests to that by choosing their establishment, they are helping to make a difference on an environmental and sustainability level: Astoria Hotel Antwerpen, Leopold Hotel Antwerp, Sandton Pillows Brussels, NH Brugge, Ramada Oostende, Buro 53, Jeugdherberg Bed Muzet, Hostel H and Logies Villa Vindina.

Continuous work

Participating establishment don’t get awarded easily. Every year the laureates have to prove their environmental efforts and dedication to an independent jury with representatives from the government, environmental organisations and the tourism industry. The Green Key criteria cover a range of environmental (water, waste, energy, etc.) and educational areas (staff involvement, guest information).

Hostel H: ‘Sustainbility matches our vision perfectly’

The ceremony took place in the new city youth hostel Hostel H, a Green Key newbie.
‘As a trendy new hostel we try to be progressive on different levels. While building the hostel we asked the architect to take all possible environmental aspects into account.’  Marjolein Vogelaers, Manager Hostel H, explains.