TUI Group and Green Key entering cooperation agreement

TUI Group works with all Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognised certification programmes, and TUI Group will on some of its websites highlight Green Key awarded establishments.

Elounda Beach Hotel Viilas, Greece

TUI is the world’s leading tourism group. The broad portfolio gathered under the Group umbrella consists of strong tour operators, 1,600 travel agencies and leading online portals, five airlines with around 150 aircraft, over 400 hotels, 18 cruise liners and many incoming agencies in all major holiday destinations around the globe. It covers the entire tourism value chain under one roof. This integrated offering enables TUI to provide their 27 million customers with an unmatched holiday experience in 180 regions. A key feature of their corporate culture is the global responsibility for economic, environmental and social sustainability. This is reflected in more than 20 years of commitment to sustainable tourism.

As part of the cooperation agreement between TUI and Green Key, a Green Key database extract will regularly be sent to TUI Group, and TUI Group will on some of its websites (the TUI Nordic websites) add the Green Key logo next to Green Key awarded establishments that are included in TUI’s portfolio. TUI Group accepts not only Green Key awarded establishments, but establishments from all certification programmes recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

A pool with a view – but without any chemicals at Quinta Vale Porcacho

At the Bed and Breakfast Quinta Vale Porcacho in the Beiras, the centre of Portugal, you can plunge into a natural pool free of chlorine, salt or any other chemicals.

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho

Quinta Vale Porcacho (Tábua) is situated on the green slopes of the hills along the river Mondego with a tremendous view at the Serra do Caramulo. What is special about this place is that you can enjoy this view from their own natural infinity pool. The pool of all together 200 m2 is a natural outdoor pool completely free of chlorine, salt or any other chemicals. It is integrated in the surrounding rocks and has a spectacular view over the vally of the river Mondego and the Serra do caramulo. The water of the pool is taken from the establishment’s on well. The secret of the pool is the filtering and the circulation of the water. The first filtering takes place in three bassins filled with a kind of lava stone. From there the water is pumped to the area with special plants, where the second natural filtering takes place. The plants supply the water with oxygen and the result is a clear, clean and healthy swimming area. A biologist who tests the water on a regular bases is always satisfied with the quality of it.

Our ecological pool is one of the most appreciated attractions of our quinta and is a very good expression of our green philosophy!

- Jan van Loon, Quinta Vale Porcacho

But the accommodation has even more to offer. Quinta Vale Porcacho is a perfect combination of an ecological Bed and Breakfast and a biological farm with comfortable and luxurious rooms and healthy food. They produce biological oranges, oliveoil, wine and various fruits like strawberry, raspberry, apples and pears.  All the products of the quinta are served in breakfast, lunch or dinner. Since 2018, they have also intensified their biological vegetable garden. 50% of their fruits and vegetables are grown on the premises of the quinta. In five years, they want to increase this percentage to 80%!

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho

Radisson Hotel Group announces global plan for a future with reduced single-use plastics

Radisson Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups in the world, is launching a global roll-out plan of plastic reduction – including the introduction of bulk amenities in all hotels across the group’s portfolio by 2022.  

Radisson Hotel Group will implement bulk amenity dispensers across all brands by the beginning of 2022, replacing small bottles for common bathroom products. This action will remove 57 million miniature amenities from circulation, avoiding the use of almost 500 tons of plastic annually.

In addition, Radisson Hotel Group has a global commitment to #refusethestraw, ensuring plastic straws and plastic stirrers are no longer used in its hotels by 2021 and eco-friendly alternatives will be offered to guests upon request.

Federico J. González Tejera, President & CEO, Radisson Hospitality AB and Chairman, Global Steering Committee, Radisson Hotel Group, said:

“Plastic pollution is one of the current major global issues and our Group is proud to play a leading role in driving plastic reduction across the travel and tourism industry. We are a signatory to the International Tourism Plastic Pledge – further demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Business, in line with the targets laid out in our five-year strategic plan. Responsible Business is a key element in our approach to growth and is vital to our ambition to become one of the leading hotel companies in the world.”

The Group is also running a series of innovative pilot projects in various locations, with the aim of finding new ways to drive plastic reduction globally. These include:

• In all the Group’s properties in India, a roll-out of Commercial Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration systems to provide in-house bottled water and avoid the use of PET water bottles.  

• In Bangladesh, Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View is piloting a similar installation and is replacing PET water bottles by in-house filtered and bottled quality water.  

• Since 2011, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson offers classic diningware and silverware to accompany its complimentary, hot breakfast. The introduction of classic diningware represented an industry first among major brands within the midscale hotel segment.

• A first in Africa, making the Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport in Ivory Coast plastic neutral. The hotel is currently offsetting its footprint of PET water bottles together with the social enterprise, Coliba. Through Coliba’s community collection system for plastics, Radisson Blu ensures that its PET bottles are recycled correctly and the same number of PET bottles as used annually by the hotel, are removed from the local neighbourhood and included in the recycling process.  

• To cut down on the use of 39,000 plastic water bottles in the average hotel each year the Group offers unlimited filtered water to guests. This is already in place in selected hotels such as the Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport (England) and the Radisson RED hotel Brussels (Belgium), additionally, guests are offered reusable Radisson Rewards water bottles.  

• The upcoming roll-out of a waste collection and recycling programme of the new bulk amenity dispenser containers and soaps in North America. Beyond diverting waste from polluting our lands and oceans, this will benefit our communities: soap and bulk amenities will be sorted, processed and distributed to people in need.  

• In addition to making Radisson Meetings 100% carbon neutral, the Group is constantly striving to phase out single-use plastics in meetings and events across its portfolio and has already achieved this in over 200 of its hotels, with the aim to roll-out this initiative to other properties.

Sustainable Cooling Lagoon at The Sheraton Grand Hotel, Doha

Since almost 40 years, the Sheraton Grand Hotel is saving water and energy with the help of a cooling lagoon.

Copyright: The Sheraton Grand Hotel Doha

The Sheraton Grand Hotel in Doha is a truly iconic establishment. Opened in 1982, it was the first internationally branded hotel in Qatar. Due to its unique architecture, it has become a true landmark of the city.

But the hotel does not only impress with its long history and inimitable design, but also with its early commitment to the environment. Already during its construction it was decided to replace cooling towers for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning with a cooling lagoon right next to the establishment.

But the hotel does not only impress with its long history and inimitable design but also with its early commitment to the environment. Already during its construction, it was decided to replace cooling towers for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning with a cooling lagoon right next to the establishment.

Usually, cooling towers are needed to extract heat from water that has been used for cooling in chillers. To do so, water and air are brought into contact to lower the temperature of the hot water. During this process, water is lost as humidity while performing the cooling synthesis. This water needs to be replaced by an external water source which increases the water consumption of the establishment. Especially in dry climates, this can put pressure on the water supply.

By replacing the cooling tower with a lagoon, the external water quantity necessitate to complete condensation process in the chillers get replace with seawater.

According to the hotel, this method saves approximately 600,000 kWh of electricity and 100,000 cubic metres of water per year. In addition, there is no need for chemical treatment of the seawater.

All Center Parcs parks in Europe are Green Key certified

24 Centre Parcs in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, as well as three Sunparks parks (operated by Center Parcs in Belgium), are now awarded the Green Key. This is an important milestone for the company that has thereby demonstrated its commitment to saving the environment while maintaining guests' comfort and quality.

De Kempervennen, the Netherlands

At the end of 2019, all parks in France, Germany, eight Dutch parks and five in Belgium were Green Key certified. Now comes the certification of the Belgian park Center Parcs Les Ardennes and the Dutch Center Parcs Parc Sandur.

According to Erwin Dezeure, CSR director Center Parcs Europe, the certification shows that Center Parcs is progressive in terms of sustainability and social engagement:

I am extremely proud that all our parks in Europe are Green Key certified. Achieving this certificate was our goal for 2022, but our parks have already achieved this two years earlier. This certification is a wonderful recognition of the many "green deeds" in our parks and a reflection of the sustainable ambitions of Center Parcs.

For example, on 1 January 2020, we said goodbye to disposable plastic and all the electricity in our parks is green. Smart thermostats and efficient showerheads in our cottages also ensure significant energy savings. Our CO2 footprint has decreased by more than 50% compared to 2010. Moreover, with a biodiversity plan for each park, we focus on a good mix so that people and nature are in complete balance with each other.

Erwin Dezeure and Paul Renders, Center Parcs

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds:

We are very happy that a leading player such as Center Parcs is joining Green Key on a European level. In all its holiday parks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Center Parcs shows how seriously it takes people, hospitality, climate and environmental awareness. That is a result the company can be extremely proud of and from which all guests and the environment of the parks benefit. We hope that Center Parcs also inspires other establishments to reduce their environmental impact.

Excellent score on sustainability

Center Parcs was the first company in the recreation sector to meet the ISO 14001 and 50001 standards. After the audits, 27 certified parks now also meet Green Key's strict standards in terms of sustainability, the environment and corporate social responsibility. This includes environmental standards such as registering and saving on the use of gas, water and electricity and reducing the amount of (residual) waste. Moreover, the parks score very well on many optional criteria. These standards include, for example, sustainable measures such as the use of alternative pesticides, the provision of organic dishes in restaurants and organic products in supermarkets and the minimal use of mono-packaging. This also includes energy and water-saving measures that Center Parcs has taken in the Aqua Mundo, its activities to support disadvantaged people in the labour market and its cooperation with civil society organisations.

Strong reputation for sustainability

Center Parcs distinguishes itself through all kinds of activities for every family member in the middle of nature. They not only take care of nature but also of people: guests, employees and the community. Center Parcs works together with organisations that bring people and nature together, such as the World Wildlife Fund, to better pass on the planet to future generations. In addition, various animal species can be found in the parks and Center Parcs uses far fewer chemicals in its subtropical Aqua Mundo swimming pools than in regular swimming pools. Center Parcs brings people closer together, but also closer to nature. This is expressed in various initiatives within the "Good and Green Deeds" of Center Parcs.

Bispinger Heide, Germany

About Center Parcs Europe

For over 50 years, Center Parcs has been an expert in nature vacations throughout the year. As the founder of the short holiday close to home, Center Parcs has set a new standard in the recreation sector but also wants to continue to surprise its guests in the future. She does this by continuing to innovate and setting a new standard in the coming years in experience, stay and really being together. Center Parcs is characterized and distinguished by the countless activities for every family member because it is only really a vacation when everyone is having a good time, then you are really together.

Center Parcs Europe is part of Pierre et Vacances Center Parcs Group. Center Parcs owns 27 European parks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France. 5 million guests were received in 2018-2019 and the company achieved a turnover of 768 million euros.

For more information, please visit www.centerparcs.nl.

New national management of Green Key in Iceland

The organisation Vottunarstofan Tún has become an affiliate member of the Foundation for Environmental Education and will take over the management of the Green Key programme in Iceland

Tún is a well-known organisation in Iceland working as an inspection and certification body for organic and sustainable production and services, including tourism services. Tún will now also be in charge of the national administration of the Green Key programme in Iceland.

Two Icelandic hotels already have the Green Key certification: Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel Saga, and the number of Icelandic establishments participating in the Green Key programme is expected to increase during 2020.

Gunnar Á. Gunnarsson, managing director of Tún, the Icelandic Green Key National Operator, says: “The Green Key is an internationally respected certification scheme of high quality. It is an exciting challenge to be entrusted with its management in Iceland, a country which increasingly relies on verified environmental credentials for future economic and social wellbeing. We look forward to working with FEE and other relevant stakeholders to develop the Green Key in Iceland and we are optimistic that a growing number of Icelandic businesses will realize its benefits.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director, adds: “We are very happy to have an experienced organisation like Tún in charge of the administration of the Green Key programme in Iceland. Iceland is a country with amazing natural beauty and it is crucial that the hospitality industry contributes to the sustainable development in Iceland through a programme like Green Key.”

For more information about Green Key in Iceland, please contact the Green Key National Operator, Vottunarstofan Tún, c/o Mr Gunnar Á. Gunnarsson, phone: +354 511 1330 and e-mail: tun@tun.is.

First Green Key awarded hotel in Zambia!

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka is the first Green Key awarded establishment in Zambia, raising the number of participating countries to 65!

No matter if you are visiting Lusaka for business or to explore the wildlife in the nearby national parks, you can now base your stay in a Green Key awarded establishment. The Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka has proven that the local community and environment are their top priority.

Since the hotels’ opening in 2012, it has been focused on driving Radisson Hotel Group’s three Responsible Business Pillars; Think Planet, Think People and Think Community.

To give examples of their responsible business initiatives, the hotel is to a 100% equipped with energy-saving light bulbs, uses solar heating for the water boilers in guest rooms and separates single dose shampoos and body wash so that they can be recycled into packaging material again. Furthermore, the establishment has recently supported Zambia’s ‘Plant A Million’ tree- planting initiative and supports the local SOS Children’s Village with training and employment. Each year, 12 interns are employed each year from the SOS Children’s Village. In addition, they are donating food to the SOS Children’s Village as well. Beyond that, used linen is donated to local charity organisations.

Moreover, the hotel also supports local coffee farmers by buying their coffee for use in the hotel.

“We are thrilled to continue spearheading the hotel landscape in Zambia, not only in terms guest service, but also in terms of our sustainability as well as safety and security measures and efforts. We strive to provide a space which is environmentally-conscious and safe, placing our guests minds at ease for a memorable stay,” said Johan Klang, General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka.

Green Key is happy to welcome the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka in the programme!

Learn more about the hotel here

Green Key now has a National Operator in Colombia

La Asociación Colombiana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (ACODAL) has decided to launch Green Key in Colombia

ACODAL became a member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 2018, and the organisation has successfully implemented FEE’s Blue Flag programme for beaches in Colombia. Now ACODAL has decided to launch Green Key as its second FEE programme.

Four hotels located in the capital of Bogotá belonging to the NH Hotel Group have had the Green Key award since November 2019 (see: https://www.greenkey.global/stories-news-1/2019/11/20/first-green-key-awarded-establishments-in-colombia) and the management of these four hotels will be transferred to ACODAL.

Roxana-Paola Nieto, Green Key National Operator, says: “ACODAL is very proud to launch Green Key at the national level here in Colombia, and we encourage any hotel or other tourism facilities eligible for Green Key to contact us for more information about the programme.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds: “There is an increasing demand for Green Key in Latin America, and we are happy to have ACODAL as our representative in Colombia”.

For more information about Green Key in Colombia, please contact Roxana-Paola Nieto via e-mail banderaazul@acodal.org.co or phone +57-3118011125.

21 Nettleton first Green Key awarded boutique hotel in South Africa!

21 Nettleton attains their Green Key Award from WESSA, becoming South Africa’s first boutique hotel to achieve this accolade for its efforts in sustainability.

Dirk Jacobs of 21 Nettleton receiving their Green Key Award from Roxanne Dovey of WESSA, at 21 Nettleton.

An exciting partnership between the WESSA and 21 Nettleton has resulted in the private boutique hotel in Clifton, Cape Town being awarded the prestigious Green Key award. Green Key is a well-established global tourism industry ecolabel which recognises excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operations. Sustainability is a core focus of 21 Nettleton’s operations. The boutique hotel were able to comply with the highest environmental management standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

21 Nettleton has been described as the ‘epitome of elegance and luxury’. WESSA, with its continual focus on environmental education and development, is pleased to support the property on its sustainable journey – proving that it is possible to become sustainable without compromising on comfort and quality.

On 21 Nettleton’s Green Key award, Roxanne Dovey, Green Key National Coordinator at WESSA said “the property has set an excellent sustainability standard for boutique hotels in the country and we are very proud of the steps they have taken to meet this global standard”.

On receiving the award, Dirk Jacobs, Curator of 21 Nettleton said:

“At 21 Nettleton we have always been mindful about the impact which we have on the environment. For years I have listened to the travel trade green-wash their environmentally consciousness claims – it has become more of a trend than anything else. We wanted to have our establishment verified for its environmental efforts and we are hoping that Green Key will become the accepted standard in South Africa that it is in Europe.”

Jacobs concluded with his vision for the South African Sustainable Tourism Industry, “Due to South Africa being a long-haul destination for international travelers, it should start with us taking the extra effort to help offset the carbon footprint left behind by our guests. I hope to see less green-washed talk at trade shows and more evidence of verified sustainability programmes and initiatives.”

Green Key implements new ways of looking at the operations of tourism establishments and promotes the development of sustainable and responsible tourism through strict and progressive criteria. It is currently implemented in 66 countries, with 3 100 certified establishments. WESSA is the National Operator for this prestigious international eco-label in South Africa.

It is WESSA’s vision to grow the Green Key label throughout South Africa, and together with other reputable eco-labels, ensure that South Africa becomes one of the most recognised sustainable tourism destinations in the world.

21 Nettleton, Clifton, Cape Town, South Africa.