InterContinental Sofia is the only Green Key certified establishment in Bulgaria

As the only Green Key-certified hotel in Bulgaria, the InterContinental Sofia Hotel can serve as an example for other establishments in the country that want to work on their sustainable development and be involved in the Green Key programme. 

© InterContinental Sofia Hotel

 The hotel's sustainability ambition is to go beyond the regular separate collection of waste. For this reason, the hotel has installed special glass recycling machines on every second floor, which transform glass into powder. The containers specifically designated for the glass powder are then collected by a contractor and sent directly to a glass manufacturing plant. 

The glass recycling machines are managed electronically and when full, the signal shows that its container should be replaced. The machines also register the quantity of glass collected and within several months of operation, the InterContinental Sofia hotel has delivered over 9000kg of glass transformed to powder, which can then be repurposed in several industrial applications. 

Angelo Zuccala, General Manager at InterContinental Sofia Hotel says:

“I am proud to have the honour of accepting such international recognition and for our hotel to become the only holder of the Green Key certificate in the country. We are happy to continue to contribute to the IHG "Journey to Tomorrow" program and invest in what is the most important to all of us - our guests, colleagues and owners, namely to work with care for society and to grow sustainably.”

© InterContinental Sofia Hotel

Additionally, Stanimir Georgiev, a National Operator of the Green Key programme in Bulgaria adds: 

“InterContinental Sofia Hotel proved to be a reliable Green Key applicant that not only followed the Green Key criteria but has turned the philosophy of the programme into a working style and a way of life. The support of the hotel owners, the impressive sustainability strategy of the InterContinental Hotels Group hotel chain, the ambition of the management and the dedication and commitment of the entire hotel team are a sure guarantee that the common efforts to introduce quality management with environmental and social responsibility and minimal carbon footprint inevitably lead to success.” 

Click here to learn more about InterContinental Sofia Hotel.

Center Hotels in Iceland commit to complying with Green Key criteria

On 12th of December 2022 representatives from Center Hotels and Green Key Iceland met to sign a contract committing the hotel chain to apply for the Green Key certificate for all of its eight hotels in central Reykjavik.

© Vottunarstofan Tún, who runs the Green key programme in Iceland

Center Hotels is an Icelandic hotel chain and a family-run business with a long-rooted history of accommodations in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. With the first guesthouse built in 1994 and the latest one in 2021,  the Center Hotels chain committed to meeting Green Key criteria in all of its eight hotels and using Green Key guidelines as a framework for sustainable development.

During the special event  when the contract between Green Key Iceland and Center Hotels was signed, the Chief Operations Officer of Center Hotels, Eva Josteinsdottir, shared the following:

"We are very excited about signing the contract with Green Key. […] Center Hotels recognizes environmental responsibility and welcomes the challenge. We believe that there are enormous opportunities within the hospitality business to practice sound and sustainable practices, and we, the team at Center Hotels, will do what we can to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. We are very lucky to have an incredible team that is truly dedicated and excited about taking part in all our green initiatives.”

Moreover, Sigridur Helga Stefansdottir, Director of Marketing at Center Hotels added:

"We are thrilled about the Green Key contract. We understand the importance of practicing sustainability and we know that our guests coming from all around the world feel the importance as well and want to know what we are doing in terms of sustainability practices at our hotels. We are therefore excited to have the opportunity to share the progress, the results, and the Green Key programme with them." 

© Vottunarstofan Tún

The commitment of Center Hotels is important for Icelandic tourism, including the opportunities for travellers to choose sustainable accommodation in Iceland’s capital as Center Hotels’ eight establishments, account for roughly 18% of all hotel rooms in Reykjavik. It is therefore exciting to wait while the eight hotels go through the application process before they can be Green Key certified.

Learn more about Center Hotels here.

Green Key establishments in Trinidad and Tobago were certified for the second year in a row

On November 10th 2022, the Green Key National Jury of Trinidad and Tobago unanimously agreed to recertify two tourism establishments: Adventure Eco Villas and Shepherd’s Inn Tobago, for their second consecutive year.

© Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation, Green Key certification of Shepherd’s Inn, Tobago

Each establishment proved that they maintained the Green Key standard. Not only were they able to meet the required second-year certification standards, but both establishments also exceeded the minimum required compliance with 5% guideline criteria. Owners of both establishments proved their commitment to sustainable development and their actions help to promote Trinidad and Tobago as an eco-friendly destination. 

In the words of Mr Ean McKay, owner of Adventure Eco-villas: 

“The team at Adventure Eco Villas on Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve in Tobago in the Caribbean are elated to be re-certified as a Green Key Facility. This further endorses all our sustainable endeavours which we will continue to share with our visitors and the wider public. Working together with nature.”

© Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation, Green Key certification of Adventure Eco Villas

Moreover, because of its continuous commitment to Green Key, Shepherd’s Inn Tobago was invited to participate in a pilot programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Shepherd’s Inn received 26 units of R-290 air conditioning, which proved to have the lowest climate impact, and data loggers for other air conditioning units that the establishment is currently using. 

Mr Anslem Simon, Project Manager for Trinidad and Tobago shared his thoughts: 

“Shepherd’s Inn, Tobago, was identified as one of these pilot sites, based on the establishment’s Green Key Certification and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. The project will collect data on energy consumption, which will then be used to show a comparison in energy usage and cost savings for the more energy-efficient R-290 ACs. The project is proud to be partnering with Shepherd’s Inn to promote a more sustainable cooling pathway for Trinidad & Tobago.” 

Green Key Trinidad and Tobago continue to be a partnership between the Tobago Tourism Agency and Green T&T working together to improve its services on sustainable development. 

To learn more about Adventure Eco Villas and Shepherd’s InnTobago visit their website.

The Foundation for Environmental Education is Partnering with the GIZ ICONE Programme to Develop Sustainable Tourism in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Improved Competitiveness of National Enterprises (ICONE) programme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to increase sustainable tourism in Cambodia and develop an eco-certification program for the hospitality sector in the South-East Asian countries.  

© GIZ

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the tourism industry is recovering fast after the pandemic, with an estimated 700 million tourists travelling internationally between January and September 2022. That equals 65% of international arrivals from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In Asia and the Pacific, arrivals more than tripled in the first nine months of 2022 compared to 2021.

Cambodia's tourism sector is slowly recovering from the massive impact the Covid-19 pandemic had. For 2022, the Ministry of Tourism expects about 1,6 million arrivals to the Kingdom of Wonders with its unique cultural treasure Angkor Wat. Quality standards and sustainability guidelines are becoming increasingly crucial for rebuilding Cambodia's tourism industry as they can create a competitive advantage for local tourism establishments. Against this background, GIZ's ICONE private sector development programme implements various measures to embed sustainable practices along the tourism value chain. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a major partner in this endeavour, providing valuable technical support and implementation know-how. Together, the two partners started a new project on 1st December 2022 to introduce two of the most prominent FEE programmes to the Cambodian hospitality sector: the Eco-School Initiative and the Green Key Sustainability Certificate.

© GIZ

The Green Key Certificate and Eco-School Initiative are vital instruments to enhance awareness about sustainability among the various stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sector. Under the cooperation, staff from vocational training schools, their students, and personnel and managers from the tourism and hospitality industry will be trained and supported to implement sustainability measures, including the Green Key certification. The joint project of GIZ ICONE and FEE ultimately aims to facilitate long-term structural change by, for example, ensuring that sustainability is embedded into the existing school curricula. Therefore, the project will support three hospitality schools in Cambodia to modify and expand their Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum (CATC) to integrate special courses on sustainability and climate action. The revision and adaptation of existing courses and teaching materials, together with the training of teaching staff, will ensure that up-to-date knowledge about sustainable and eco-friendly tourism is available to future generations of students and the Cambodian tourism industry at large.

Additionally, all three schools will be invited and supported to join the Eco-School Initiative. Training for teachers will be provided, and concepts, measures, and guidelines to transform into an Eco-School shall be jointly developed with FEE. The CEO of FEE, Daniel Schaffer, is excited about introducing the Eco School Initiative to Cambodia:

"Raising awareness on sustainable development and improving the strategies of the tourism and hospitality sector to develop a higher level of sustainability comes at a crucial time. It is vital to integrate climate education into national school curricula. We must ensure that everyone, both young and old, is equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to deal with climate change. That goes without saying also for hospitality schools and stakeholders from the tourism sector."

At the same time, the internationally acknowledged sustainability label Green Key represents a unique opportunity for Cambodia's tourism and hospitality sector to reinvent itself as a provider of high-quality, sustainable and eco-friendly tourism products. This is why one of the hospitality schools will be qualified as a pre-auditor to consult companies from the hospitality and tourism sector on the certification requirements and help prepare for the subsequent audit by a certifying body. GIZ ICONE will support the label's introduction to the Cambodian market by screening local market demand and developing a communication strategy for sustainability certification and the Green Key program. FEE will help evaluate the applicants in Cambodia and organize workshops and conferences on sustainability in tourism and hospitality. The events will also be open to individuals and organizations from other South-East Asian countries.

Dr Stefan Hanselmann, director of GIZ ICONE, points out:

"Pandemics change perceptions. Travellers are now looking for offers that focus on authenticity, adventure, nature. A sustainability-based approach will help preserve Cambodia's natural resources and tourism assets. It will give travellers an authentic experience. With FEE and its Green Key Certificate and Eco-School Initiative, we have the right partner and excellent tools to promote sustainability in Cambodia's tourism and hospitality sector."

Radisson Antananarivo WaterFront, Madagascar receives the Green Key certificate

Rebranded from Tamboho Boutik Hotel to Radisson Antananarivo Waterfront in January 2022, the hotel receives the Green Key certificate for its incredible work towards sustainability. 

© Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

The hotel is located near the business area of Ankorondrano, by the tree-lined area of Tana Waterfront. It has 30 stylish rooms and suites in traditional Malagasy architecture, an on-site restaurant Tamboho, an outdoor terrace, and green gardens, and also offers the possibility of hosting private events.

Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront is working on various sustainability initiatives including a campaign among the Radisson Hotels called “Own your energy” which is a joint pledge for employees aiming to increase their involvement in energy saving, reduction of energy bills and minimizing the carbon footprint. By committing to a pledge, the employees engage themselves to respect and apply their pledge in the different areas of the hotel.

Another great sustainability initiative is the hotel's Urban vegetable Garden, where the employees are engaged in growing a variety of herbs and vegetables which are then offered to both guests and hotel employees. Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront also encourages its guests and collaborators to no plastic usage, to create a habit which will lead to reduction of plastic usage on the establishment's side and living in a zero-plastic environment. 

© Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

Moreover, through their ongoing Reforestation Programme with Bondy, an enterprise that helps companies to control their impact on the world, the hotel is working on solutions on how to encourage its guests to be more responsible and limit the impact of their consumption during their journey in the hotel.

François van Rens, a General Manager at Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront added few words on the importance of sustainable development and the Green Key certification for the establishment:

“The Radisson Waterfront Antananarivo team takes pride in lowering our footprint, doing our part to promote sustainable tourism in beautiful Madagascar and contribute to Radisson Hotel group’s objective to be net-zero by 2050. With Green Key we raise awareness, create enthusiasm, involve our guests and partners, and empower the team to “think planet” and be creative, our vegetable garden being one of our finest examples.”

Click here, to learn more about the Radisson Antananarivo Waterfront, Madagascar.