Green Key certifies two hotels in the Maldives for the first time

The Sun Island and the Royal Island hotels from Villa Hotels & Resorts group have recently received the Green Key certification. The establishments, located in the Ari and Baa Atolls in the Maldives, are the first to hold the eco-label in the archipelago.

The Royal Island Premium All-Inclusive Resort is located in the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll (©Villa Hotels & Resorts).

The Villa Hotels & Resorts group from the Maldives has two more reasons to be proud of its sustainability journey: the resorts Sun Island and Royal Island have joined the Green Key network, becoming the first to hold the eco-label in the Maldives archipelago. The certifications were granted to the Sun Island and Royal Island resorts after a rigorous process, where the two establishments were assessed against a high set of standards developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). 

For the Director of Villa Hotels & Resorts group Mahamood Shougee, the Green Key certification reflects the resorts' compromise toward a more sustainable future:

"With the vision to work towards carbon neutrality and fully sustainable islands; the resorts are thrilled to be Green Key certified - a testament to the dedication and passionate efforts the resorts have made towards a sustainable future. The resorts support the ecological balance of the islands while demonstrating a commitment to achieving best practices of environmental and social sustainability. Inviting guests to support the resort in maintaining the lush natural environment while being more environmentally conscious allows guests to immerse themselves in an unforgettable adventure that brings them closer to nature and inspires a deeper connection during their vacation."

Bicycle rental services are available to guests on both resorts. (©Villa Hotels & Resorts)

Over the last years, both establishments have implemented several sustainable practices and actions to reduce their environmental impact. For example, on the Sun Island resort, located in the largest of Maldives Islands, and close to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), the focus has been on cultivating and sourcing local produce later served in the resort's restaurant. Moreover, the Sun Island resort has also replaced plastic water bottles with glass bottles and donated all plastic for recycling in a partnership with a nonprofit organization. Among other sustainable initiatives, the resort has implemented eco-friendly techniques to reduce energy and water consumption, and it also organizes regular clean-ups on the islands with staff members and guests.

Also recently certified by Green Key is the Royal Island Premium All-Inclusive Resort, located in the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. Like the Sun Island hotel, the Royal Island resort invites guests to adopt energy and water-saving actions. For example, guests are encouraged to only request towels and linen washing when needed and to recycle and reuse as much as possible. The Royal Island hotel also collaborates with the DiveOceanus dive centre, located in the resort, to promote environmentally sustainable practices. The dive centre is 95% paperless, meaning all training material and administration and registration forms are digitally provided. 

The certified Green Key establishments encourage guests to respect and protect local biodiversity (©Villa Hotels & Resorts).

Green Key congratulates the Sun Island and Royal Island resorts for their efforts toward a more sustainable hospitality industry and for being the first Green Key certified establishments in the Maldives.

Visit the Sun Island and Royal Island websites to learn more about their sustainable actions.

7 Mehmet: The first restaurant in Turkey to receive a Green Key certification

Located in Antalya, Turkey, the 7 Mehmet restaurant is a popular choice, not only for its menu of contemporary and traditional Mediterranean dishes but also for its commitment to reducing environmental impact.

For 80 years, the 7 Mehmet restaurant has been a mandatory stop for those seeking an authentic experience in Antalya, Turkey. Visitors are welcomed with an extensive menu composed of more than 600 varieties of Mediterranean fare, including several Turkish traditional dishes. Seasonality is highly embraced, meaning guests will find carefully selected ingredients and a menu that adapts and changes according to the season.

The 7 Mehmet’s philosophy towards a more sustainable and locally sourced cuisine also reflects its commitment to being a Green Key certified establishment. In fact, 7 Mehmet is currently the only certified restaurant by Green Key in the entire country. As a result, 7 Mehmet has consistently implemented sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact. On a social level, the restaurant managed by Mehmet Akdağ has supported its local community by prioritising local products from women's cooperatives to help women entrepreneurs. Moreover, 7 Mehmet has also contributed to improving the kitchen equipment used by the Gastronomy Department of Akdeniz University in Antalya while assisting the school in building larger kitchens to accommodate more students.

© 7 Mehmet

In the restaurant, there have been multiple environmental-friendly improvements, including the use of renewable energies, such as solar energy, and the adoption of many energy and water-saving devices. Waste management is also a priority for 7 Mehmet, not only through recycling but also by avoiding and properly separating food waste. Finally, the restaurant has also replaced the plastic packaging of the towels offered to guests with more sustainable packaging alternatives.

Green Key International congratulates the 7 Mehmet restaurant on its efforts toward a more sustainable hospitality industry.

Visit 7 Mehmet’s website to find out more about its sustainable journey.

New framework for achieving net positive hospitality can be implemented globally

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has recently launched its Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, a framework created to help hospitality businesses around the globe move towards a net positive tourism industry.

© Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

With climate action failure considered one of the world’s preeminent threats, it has become even more determinant to move towards net positive tourism industry. Developed by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) in collaboration with industry experts and environmental organisations, the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality is new a tool designed to help businesses that want to embark on a sustainable journey.

In addition to being free, the SHA framework simplifies the complex process of achieving net positive in the hospitality industry in four steps:

• Simple environmental actions

• Robust environmental actions

• Net zero impacts for the planet

• Net positive impacts on the planet

Through this framework, SHA hopes that hospitality businesses can move up the sustainability ladder through the different pathway stages until becoming net positive. The tool was built to be accessible to all companies, independently of their starting point in the sustainability pathway. On this matter, the chair of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Wolfgang M. Neuman has said:

“Our Pathway fills the current vacuum of a co-ordinated and focused strategic plan across the hospitality industry to tackle the urgently needed climate actions. It is a practical tool for any hotel, no matter their starting point, to obtain guidance on how to prioritise and sequence targeted and measurable climate actions. The Alliance wants to encourage all hotels to embrace the journey all the way to net positive. We are spearheading the dialogue beyond having ‘zero’ impact and setting a vision for what we can be putting back into the natural world with a lasting ‘positive’ impact on our planet and its people.”

The SHA has already released the two first stages of the pathway (Simple Environmental Actions and Robust Environmental Actions) and it is planning to launch the last two steps later in 2022. To learn more about the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality visit the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance webpage.