Local products become a source of sustainability at Rocche di Montexelo holiday house and spa

Green Key has been awarded to Rocche di Montexelo holiday house and spa in Italy for its sustainable management and extensive work on the use of local products

Rocche di Montexelo holiday house and spa is located in the Italian municipality of Monticello d'Alba – a UNESCO heritage site and renowned around the world for its hazelnut trees and abundance of truffles.

The choice to be sustainable respecting both the environment and the community was integrated right from the beginning with innovation and use of natural eco-fuels are the main features identified in the management system.

The owner, Irene Ghiazza, has decided to transform hazelnut shells, the main resource of the surrounding area, into a source of heating. The hazelnut shells are considered waste for farmers but are collected and used to feed the boiler.

The establishment has done a range of other sustainability initiatives: solar-thermic energy exchange panels to warm up water for heating system and bathrooms; rainwater  collection for irrigation and toilet flushing; lighting entirely LED to guarantee very low energy consumption in all areas; air conditioning lock system by opening doors and windows maximizes efficiency and minimises waste; charging stations supplying bicycles and electric cars; purchase and use of local food; opportunity to consult a wide range of information material on routes to discover the surrounding territory and nature, etc. The establishment is acknowledged as a “net-zero energy building”.

The establishment is located in one of the most ancient villages of the Roero, at the foot of Monticello d'Alba Castle, where guests can enjoy the view directly from the entrance of their apartments. Respect for the environment is one of the priorities of the Rocche di Montexelo holiday house and in this respect, the message sent to all guests is that "You are helping the environment with us!"

For anyone wishing to have a green experience in this period when the truffle season is approaching, try Rocche di Montexelo holiday house and spa that from today is Green Key eco-labelled.

100 companies and organisations in tourism to reduce plastic waste on holiday destinations

Green Key is joining over 100 companies and organisations from the tourism sector in signing the International Tourism Plastic Pledge today. In doing so, Green Key expresses its commitment to reducing plastic pollution at holiday destinations worldwide.

Every year, more than eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the sea. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. The tourism sector also contributes to this. Think of bottles, straws and bags used by tourists. Research has shown that hotel room visitors generate much more plastic waste than a normal household in the same region.

The signatories include TUI Group, Radisson Hotel Group and Hostelling International. Together they represent around180,000 employees and 50 million holidaymakers. In the coming months, a plan will be developed to reduce the use of plastics and to prevent plastic pollution at destinations. This will be a collaboration with the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), UN Environment and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. MVO Nederland (CSR Netherlands) is the initiator and guides the companies towards further steps.

As a signatory of the International Tourism Plastic Pledge, Green Key recognizes the urgency and the need to work together to reduce plastic pollution and keep our holiday destinations plastic pollution-free. We will continue our efforts to promote alternatives to single-use plastics by exchanging knowledge, best practices and tools for the hospitality industry in particular.

Signing the Tourism Plastic Pledge is another step forward to implement sustainable practices within the tourism industry. Green Key criteria are taking into account the establishments’ commitment to educate and provide their guests with alternatives to single-use plastic. Each action (or inaction) matters and we will continue our work to preserve our planet from plastic pollution.

- Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director

Resources regarding best practices such as stories and news about eco-friendly initiatives from the 3,100 Green Key awarded establishments can be find on our website. For example, Green Key strongly supports world’s leading hotel companies which recently banned bathroom miniatures from their rooms such as establishments introducing alternatives to single-use plastic bottles to their guests.

Check the complete list of signatories of the International Tourism Plastic Pledge here.  Other companies from the tourism sector are also welcomed to participate. You can also sign the Tourism Plastic Pledge here: www.tourismplasticpledge.com.

Marriott Hotel saves water and energy by bringing laundry in-house

The London Heathrow Marriott saved 1.7 million litres water per year by opting for an on-site laundry

Hospitality establishments have to deal with dirty laundry every day. 76% of them hand it over to expensive outsourced laundry business where laundry doesn’t always come back as clean as they would like. Moreover, an off-premise laundry emits carbon emissions from both washing operation and transport. That is why bringing laundry in-house could have multiple wins for both the establishments and the guests.

The London Heathrow Marriott has seen a return on investment within 8 months after installing a Hydrofinity washing machine in-house. The latter uses up to 80% less water, 50% less energy and 50% less chemistry than a conventional machine. By bringing laundry in-house, the hotel reduced its outsource costs, energy and water bills such as generated long-term savings in under one year. The 1.7 million litres of water saved would be enough to refill a reusable water bottle for 3.4 million Heathrow passengers every single year!

An on-premise laundry has several benefits that could push establishments to choose it instead of off-premise laundry. First of all, it can be quicker and easier, which also means more efficient. Investing in commercial laundry equipment permits to avoid breakdowns and downtimes of the domestic ones, just as reducing running and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it just requires a space with an access to services and plumbing so in the end would probably take up less rooms than expected. 

The London Heathrow Marriott commitment to sustainability also goes through two electric car charging stations, rooftop solar panels and reusable glass water bottles in-room and meeting room. The hotel’s practices are based on performance, guest satisfaction and sustainability.

Source: https://www.hydrofinity.com/blog/roi-8-months

NH Hotel Group is reducing its carbon footprint worlwide

The first Spanish hotel chain has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 20% by 2030, thus avoiding the emission of over 70,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

According to a recent press release, NH Hotel Group’s target is to cut direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 20% with respect to those registered in 2018. The project has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a leading alliance mobilizing the world of business to take action against climate change. SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). In early 2019, the Group earned a score of A- from CDP Climate Change (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project). Furthermore, this goal is aligned with the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting the rise in global warming to under 2ºC.

We have been actively supporting climate change mitigation since 2007, since when we have managed to reduce our operations' carbon footprint by 67%. Moreover, in the last year, 70% of all of the energy we consumed came from renewable sources. However, now is the time to be even more ambitious with our sustainability targets”

- Said Rufino Pérez, Chief Operations Officer & Global Transformation Leader at NH Hotel Group

With more than 370 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide, this new commitment framed by NH Hotel Group’s new Business Plan is another step forward to spread eco-friendly strategies within the hospitality industry. We are delighted to have 46 Green Key awarded NH hotels which will be part of this plan and in this way contribute to a large-scale transformation involving the entire hotel chain.

The end of single-use toiletries?

With the growing concern about plastic pollution worldwide, the world’s leading hotel companies are banning bathroom miniatures from their rooms.

Now that the hotel industry has embraced bans on plastic straws, travel-sized toiletries seem to be the next plastic items targeted by hotel chains.

In July, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that its establishments with almost 843 000 guest rooms will remove bathroom miniatures in favour of bulk-size amenities. The brand, which owns Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Kimpton, hopes for a complete transition in favour of bulk-size amenities by the end of 2021. This switch to larger-size amenities across more than 5 600 hotels is a big step to significantly reduce hospitality industry’s environmental impact. Indeed, such hotel chains as IGH use roughly 200 million mini toiletry products each year. By the end of the year, IHG aims to remove plastic straws from all its hotels.

For its part, Marriott International announced last month that it will get rid of single-use toiletries in favor of bulk-size pump-topped bottles by the end of 2020. The larger recyclable bottles will contain the same amount of product as between 10 and 12 tiny bottles. This initiative will save the equivalent of more than 700 000 kg of plastic, that is to say a 30 per cent reduction in the amount of plastic produced in the hotels. This is the second global initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics.

With IHG and Marriott leading the change, the era of travel-sized tubes of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel is finally coming to an end. This tried-and-tested approach is also part of the guests’ desire of more sustainable stays. However, the reduction of single-use plastics may not be optional in the future: hotel brands will have to take actions for the environment while not sacrificing the quality service and the guests’ experience. Green Key strongly supports the transition from single-use items to dispensers and other solutions and congratulates all Green Key awarded establishments that are taking the step to a plastic free future.

New global Responsible Business training programme for Radisson Hotel Group

Since the launch of its first environmental policy in 1989, Green Key partner Radisson Hotel Group never stopped paying attention to its commitment to sustainable development

Known as “Living and Leading Responsible Business”, the new Responsible Business training programme is set to be rolled out worldwide over the next 16 months. First launched in 2001, the existing Responsible Business training programme has been revamped by a global and cross-departmental team as part of a five-year strategic plan.

The new global Responsible Business training programme provides team members in the near 100 countries where the group operates with the tools they need to drive standards and best practices. Training pilots have been completed to identify how the programme can help driving Responsible Business in every hotel and corporate offices. Moreover, all the participants have the opportunity to know how to put it into practice since the programme is available in 21 languages. Radisson Hotel Group aims to have trained its 1 100+ hotels in operation by the end of 2020.

Our responsibility for People, Community and Planet is borderless, so global alignment on our Responsible Business program is a key driver for Radisson Hotel Group. The new Responsible Business training program aims to engage and align all our team members – helping them to have a stronger impact on our group targets, as well as global efforts to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.”

- Sven Wiltink, Director Responsible Business EMEA and Training Project Lead

This new strategy consists of two pillars: Living Responsible Business and Leading Responsible Business. On the one hand, all hotel team members are invited to follow classroom training. The latter deals with ethics, diversity, inclusion, community support, footprint reduction and sorting waste. More sensitive topics can also be evocated such as sex trafficking and forced labour. On the other hand, an e-learning tool permits group and hotel leaders to discover how Responsible Business can be integrated into all company departments. This part of the programme deals with footprint reduction, youth employability, responsible recruitment and sourcing, such as human rights.

This new Responsible Business training programme is such an inspiring strategy for hospitality establishments which want to be part of a more responsible and sustainable industry.

Radisson Blu Resort Jizan’s responsible initiatives to empower its local community

Radisson Blu Resort Jizan, Saudi Arabia, hosted a charity dinner for orphans during Ramadan last May

On May 29th, Radisson Blu Resorts Jizan hosted a charity Iftar dinner (the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan), welcoming 3 to 14 years old children for this event. The hotel management team joined the kids to share dinner buffet at the hotel’s restaurant after their arrival. This commitment to sharing joy and happiness during the holy month of Ramadan went on later in the evening, when the Hotel Manager, Khaled Alam, handed out gifts to the children. Moreover, a cartoon movie show was also organised after dinner.

Jizan orphanage dinner is part of Radisson’s responsible business activity strategy and its “Think community” pillar. Radisson strives to have a positive impact on its local community through initiatives such as Community Action Month or donations during times of crisis. The latter permits the collecting of clothes, furniture and serving food to the communities affected by the crisis. Thus, Radisson Hotels work to reduce food waste and increase recycling to have both global and local impacts.

The brand is committed to reducing the tourism industry’s negative impact on the environment thanks to environmentally friendly technology, thoughtful sourcing of products and responsible cleaning products. It also supports the involvement of the guests in towel reuse programme to reduce water consumption.

Radisson Hotel Group reported 32 000 volunteering hours in 2018 to benefit local charities around the world. It supports and partners with charitable organizations focusing on giving children food, shelter and a better future. Think community and environmental protection are definitely at the heart of Radisson Responsible business activity!

ACT.Global A/S and Green Key sign collaboration agreement

Green Key is happy to announce our agreement with ACT.Global. ACT.Global’s solution Premium Purity™ safely ensures low-microbial rooms and purified air while reducing the use of toxic chemicals for cleaning and disinfection, water, and plastic in the hospitality industry.

ACT.Global is a Copenhagen-based sustainable technology company that develops and advises about Premium Purity™. 

Premium Purity™ consists of ACT CleanCoat™, and the ACT ECA System™ combined with ACT Consulting and Monitoring.

 ACT CleanCoat™ is a coating based on a safe and advanced technology designed to decompose harmful microbes such as bacteria, virus, airborne mold spores, and chemical compounds such as VOCs and NOx. The coating is transparent, odorless, and can be applied to all types of surfaces. When the coating is exposed to light, a photocatalytic reaction starts, which decomposes microbes and purifies the air. Treating an area with ACT CleanCoat™ enables cleaning with the ACT ECA System™.

 The ACT ECA System™ transforms water and salt into a liquid detergent – ACT ECA Water. ACT ECA Water is produced at the client’s facility, and with ACT ECA Water there is not any need for protective gloves and masks during cleaning as the system replaces strong chemical detergents and disinfectants. The leftover will decompose, and only water and salt remain.

 More information about ACT.Global can be found on their website: www.act.global

Green Key enters collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Green Key to support the world’s largest hotel franchising company’s sustainability efforts across Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa

Green Key, the world’s leading eco-label for the hospitality and travel sector, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 9,200 hotels in more than 80 countries – today entered a new collaboration, which will see Green Key help Wyndham’s hotels in Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA) improve sustainability and environmental performance, working towards the prestigious Green Key Award.

Based on compliance with a strict set of criteria that include environmental management, environmental awareness raising and social responsibility, Green Key’s criteria for hotels are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The collaboration will support Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ continued sustainability efforts in the EMEA region, including initiatives to preserve natural resources, solutions to mitigate the impact on climate change through linen and towel reuse programmes, energy efficient lighting, recycling and water conservation. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also exploring long-term sustainability targets in alignment with the latest climate science including the encouragement of renewable energy where feasible.

Green Key’s application, audit and award process is standardised with a third-party verification of the award, a leading standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism industry. Wyndham hotels in the EMEA region will work closely with Green Key in a bid to join the eco-label’s 3,100 awarded establishments in almost 60 countries around the world.

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, said: “We are extremely proud to be an official cooperation partner of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The Company’s commitment to sustainability strongly match Green Key’s expertise and we look forward to supporting its broad range of hotels in EMEA in further advancing their efforts.”

Edwin Broers, Vice President Central Operations Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, added: “Sustainability and environmental performance are crucial for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts,  and we are committed to providing our guests with places to stay that are socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible. Many of our hotels across the EMEA region are engaged in a broad range of sustainability initiatives, and we look forward to continuing this work in cooperation with Green Key.” 

For more information, please contact:

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, e-mail finn@fee.global and phone +45 61248082

About Green Key

Green Key is the world’s leading eco-label for hotels and other tourism facilities with more than 3,100 awarded establishments in almost 60 countries around the world. The Green Key award is based on compliance with a strict set of criteria that include environmental management, environmental awareness raising and social responsibility. Green Key’s criteria for hotels and hostels are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Green Key’s application, audit and award process is standardised with a third-party verification of the award.

 About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company, with approximately 9,200 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 817,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveller, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Ramada Encore®, TRYP by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection®, Wyndham® and more. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services, with more than 400 properties under management. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty programme offers over 77 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at tens of thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.