Green Key establishment, Sani Resort, publishes their Environmental, Social and Governance Report

The Sani Resort continuous its tireless work to minimise its environmental footprint, by dedicating their work to the protection of local biodiversity, supporting the local community, and setting a triple Zero Goal: net zero of carbon emissions by 2030 zero single-use plastic and produce zero waste by 2024. In 2020, it therefore became the first certified carbon neutral resort in Greece running in 100% renewable electricity

As part of the Sani/Ikos hotel group, the Sani Resort is encompassing five hotels spread across a 1,000-acre ecological reserve on the Kassandra Peninsula. It is surrounded by seven kilometres of Blue Flag beaches, 20km of forest trails and 270 acres of wetlands, encouraging guests to reconnect with nature within a sustainable mini self-contained world.

In 2020, Sani Resort became the first certified carbon neutral resort in Greece running in 100% renewable energy and was recently awarded as the World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort at the World Travel Awards for the second year in a row. From its commitment to the local community, to its dedication to biodiversity and its efforts to operate sustainably, Sani works tirelessly to minimise its environmental footprint. With sustainability at heart, in 2008, Sani Resort has launched “Sani Green”, a programme focusing on improving the sustainability performance of the resort, from energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources to water conservation and sustainable procurement. Each Sani Green initiative is supported by well-defined policies and measurable targets, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Therefore, the resort is powered by 100% renewable electricity, energy consumption has been reduced by 3% in 2019, water consumption per guest has been reduced by 48% since 2016, and 2,000,000kg of materials have been recycled in the last five years, with a recycling performance of 290,000kg planned for 2021.Furthermore,the Sani Resort has set a triple Zero Goal; net zero of carbon emissions by 2030, zero plastic and produce zero waste by 2024. As a result, the Sani/Ikos group has already banned the EU single-use plastic list. Furthermore, electric car charging stations with are offered within the resort, and all club cars are electric. In addition, Sani is reducing food waste via AI technology and launching its first zero waste restaurant, the Tomata restaurant at the Sani Marina.

The pollinator hotel of the Sani Resort

Over 60% of Sani’s products come from within 100miles of the resort, with in-resort botanical gardens supporting the farm-to-table approach of its restaurants. Sani’s food and wine range, Land of Grace, produced exclusively by local artisans, is available to taste or purchase-all profits donated to local food banks for vulnerable communities. Guests immerse in nature through guided eco-activities like Sani Wetlands, birdwatching, forest walk, beekeeping, olive harvesting and day farm trips. Home to 225 bird species (total 456 species found in Greece), the complimentary birdwatching tours in Sani Wetlands have seen a 680% increase in participation since 2013.

The Sani Resort furthermore actively works on the protection of the local biodiversity. Together with the not-for profit organisation, Bee Camp, the Sani Resort just launched the largest Bee Spot in Greece, to give shelter to pollinators and host educational activities about the importance of bees in the local eco-system. Adults and kids have the chance to have an eco-trip to the bee spot and learn more about the importance of the pollinators in the local eco-system. In addition, Sani teamed up with ISea to monitor the resident dolphin population and create the first catalogue of cetaceans in Halkidiki. Teenagers and kids participate in educational activities about the rich biodiversity in the Greek seas and the human interaction. Finally, Sani supports further biodiversity projects, such as the Sani Wetlands Project and tree-planting, as well as encourages local farmers to farm more sustainably.

On the importance of receiving the Green Key certificate, Eleni Andreadis, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility explains;

"For more than 50 years, Sani Resort has placed sustainability at the center of its activities. We have been recipients and supporters of the Green Key award since its early days. Our cooperation has helped us build and develop our commitment to sustainability as a vital part of our philosophy in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals that serve as a blueprint for a better and more sustainable hospitality industry in Greece."

The hotel group’s recently published Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2021, which summarises all their environmental and social sustainability actions in greater detail, can be downloaded here. For more information about the Sani Resort in general, please visit their website, by clicking here.

Sani Resort Properties

Sani Resort Natural Reserve

Sani Resort Rooms

Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria in Egypt keeps setting high standards in environmental and social sustainability

The Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria in Egypt has again been certified with the Green Key. With that achievement, the hotel has now been part of the programme for the seventh year in a row!

The Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria

The Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria has entered the hospitality market with a well-thought-out strategy to meet the needs of a variety of target groups while maintaining high standards of environmental and social sustainability. This includes continuously reducing the energy and water consumption of its guests while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. The Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria is part of the Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands and more than 1,700 hotels in operation or under development in 120 countries. The group's overarching brand promise is "Every Moment Matters" with a signature service ethos of "Yes I Can!".

After opening its doors in 2010, the owners of the establishment have worked hard to achieve the Green Key certificate for the first time in the year 2015. Since then, the establishments efforts to go the extra mile for our environment has not stopped, which is why they now achieved to be certified with the Green Key for the seventh year in a row.

Sustainable development has therefore been part of the hotel’s strategy since the beginning. As a result, the Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria regularly joins different activities focusing on environmental or social sustainability. For example, in the past years, the hotel joined hundreds of cities around the world that turned off their lights for one hour during the international Earth Hour to show that global warming can be reduced by joint efforts of individuals, companies, and politicians. In 2022, the Radisson BLU Alexandria furthermore organised a bike day for their team members to promote the use of sustainable means of transportation amongst the staff.

On the importance of receiving the Green Key certificate, the General Manager of the establishment explains;

“We are passionate about helping others, and that extends beyond the boundaries of our hotel. We believe in acting ethically in everything we do and strive to be a thriving, sustainable and responsible business for people, the community and our planet.

Our team members live Responsible Business every day alongside their hotel colleagues and in their local communities, where we work to create a better future and a better planet for all.”

Please visit the Radisson BLU Hotel Alexandria’s website to learn more about the establishment.

Green Key International and Reza Hygiene enter collaboration agreement

The new Green Key corporate partner Reza Hygiene specialises in a high-quality range of products and services, which can be used by the hospitality sector. Their main products include food and beverage processing, ambient scenting, catering, fine dining, and fabric care.

Credits: Cottonbro (Pexels)

With almost 25 years of experience in providing hygiene and cleaning solutions for all industries, Reza Hygiene is a company with a strong regional heritage in Saudi Arabia that takes a highly responsible approach to chemical production. In line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims for a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation, Reza Hygiene has also strengthened its sustainable commitment through several international accreditations. In addition, the company has invested in a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant that produces more than 40,000 tones of hygiene chemical products per year under license from leading international partners.

Furthermore, Reza Hygiene has pioneered the use of effective green chemical machinery and products in the housekeeping sectors, some of which include LEED accreditation. As part of its commitment to a more sustainable future, Reza Hygiene favors local and regional manufacturers whenever possible, as well as more natural bio-based and less harmful raw material substitutes. In addition, all products used by the Saudi Arabian company are packaged with locally sourced, recyclable materials. The packaging waste is then separated, returned and recycled by Reza Hygiene.

Finally, the enterprise has also been focusing on reducing its energy consumption through implementing long-lasting LED lights in all its facilities, as well as solar-heated water systems and solar-powered lighting.

The company's cooperation agreement with Green Key International aims to inform about the services and products Reza Hygiene can offer to the hospitality industry in the Middle East, but also to raise awareness about the Green Key certification programme in the Kingdom. Green Key International recognizes Reza Hygiene's high quality services and products for hotels, hostels and restaurants, covering areas such as food and beverage processing, room fragrancing, catering and fine dining, and textile care. About the partnership with Reza Hygiene, the Green Key International Director Finn Bolding Thomsen says:

"Green Key International is happy to enter a collaboration agreement with Reza Hygiene to increase the sustainability in the hospitality sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East.”

Please visit our partner’s website to learn more about the services and products offered by Reza Hygiene.