Google announces travel feature to improve the booking experience for eco-conscious travellers

Google has added a new feature to its travel site, making it possible to see whether a hotel is eco-certified or not. Green Key is one of the certification programmes used by Google Travel.

The feature allows tourists to distinguish whether a hotel is committed to contributing towards sustainable methods, the hotel is aware of their environmental impact and take responsibility and participate in sustainable practices.

Whilst searching on Google Travel for a hotel to stay in, the options on the list displayed will show a tag that states "eco-certified" next to a green leaf. This leads to travellers being able to identify hotels that take upon sustainable efforts and practices.

However, not all eco-certified hotels are featured as the tool is optional for hotels that opt-in to self-reporting. The eco-certified establishments would need to adhere to a set of practices provided through an accredited independent organisation such as Green Key.

How to use the feature:

1. On google.com/travel, search for hotels.

2. Select a hotel with an "eco-certified" label.

3. On the hotel's detail page, select the About tab.

4. Scroll down to the "Sustainability" section.

5. Find hotels with sustainability practices.

Nevertheless, it is essential to note that not all establishments participating in sustainable practices are also eco-certified. Google provides a list of twenty-nine reputable green programs, which the hotel selects the one applicable to them which they are contributing to alongside adhering to external on-site audits. Next hotel staff add the hotel to the listing through the free Google My Business Profile.

This new feature enables tourists who are mindful of their environmental impacts while travelling a simpler booking experience. Among travellers desiring further transparency against greenwashing, which has become increasingly popular alongside the desire to locate eco-friendly hotels, the new feature is anticipated to be well received from tourists.

The Alex Hotel in Ireland to receive the Green Key award

The Alex Hotel is committed to ensuring guests have a comfortable stay and receive a high-end experience while still being environmentally conscious through limiting guests energy and water consumption.

The Alex Hotel in Dublin City centre is an award-winning Irish establishment with an iconic industrial and 1950s finish throughout the hotel. The Alex Hotel is part of the O’Callaghan Collection, which involves a group of five high-end and boutique hotels in Dublin and Gibraltar. All hotels have recently completed refurbishments to provide their guests with memorable stays in easily accessible locations.

Additionally, the O'Callaghan Collection are passionate about being aware of their environmental impacts. Thus, the Alex Hotel participates in sustainable practices to reduce its impact on the environment. The group is committed to reducing, reusing, and recycling, water conservation, awareness and education, reduced energy consumption, community initiatives and energy management initiatives.

The Alex Hotel is committed to ensuring the guests have a comfortable stay and receive a high-end experience while still being aware and making a conscious change to limiting guests and employees' energy and water consumption.

Furthermore, the hotel also ensures that the food they use in the restaurant is all sourced from local suppliers to reduce incurred food miles. They are similarly partnering with suppliers who partake within practising with Green policies. Another example they have shared includes using renewable energy for their electricity and using lighting bulbs in rooms and around the hotel, which are created to save energy.

 Learn more about the hotel here.

Agreement with Drinkable Air renewed to reduce water consumption and the disposal of plastic water bottles

Green Key is happy to announce the renewal of its agreement with Drinkable Air Technologies LLC. Drinkable Air products support a lower environmental footprint by reducing water consumption from other sources and minimizing the production and disposal of plastic water bottles.

Drinkable Air Technologies LLC is a US-based Emerging Growth Technology Company that designs, manufactures, assembles and distributes Atmospheric Water Generators ("AWG's"). 

The AWGs of Drinkable Air, Inc. create an unlimited supply of pure drinking water from "the moisture in the air". The purity, freshness, and taste of the water produced are superior to expensive bottled water options, easily demonstrating the cost savings. Drinkable Air products are now in 40 countries.

Today the company offers three scalable (from 10 litres to 280 litres of water per day) products that can extract humidity from the atmosphere. The technology utilizes condensation principles (the same way nature creates rain) to create water where there is no water. These units do not require plumbing or piping. The water is produced, stored and purified by a process that ensures the water is free of bacteria, viruses and impurities and has a superior alkaline value. Water is then dispensed from the units to the end-user as needed.

Further information about Drinkable Air can be found on their website: www.drinkableair.tech

Green Key England partners with Hotel360 Expo

Recently, the Green Key England team partnered with Hotel 360 in London. This partnership enabled showcasing Green Key as well as networking among others in the industry to inspire more hotels to join the programme.

Green Key England National Operators Louise Carr-Merino and Lynsey Atherton with Philippe Gonin CEO of AirDrink.

The Green Key England team were delighted to be invited back by Hotel 360 this year to partner with them once more at the event and to reconnect the industry in person. The event took place on 28-29 September at the home of world-leading events, ExCel London. The Hotel 360 Expo provided a 360 view of the hospitality industry, encompassing five topical areas: business growth (finance and marketing), technology, operations, sustainability, and design. 

Green Key national operators from England, Louise Carr-Merino and Lynsey Atherton attended with international partner Philippe Gonin from Drinkable Air in France alongside, and it was great to connect and share best practices among delegates and exhibitors alike. 

“It was great to be back at a live event and meet hoteliers and individuals from various sides of the hospitality industry in person after so long communicating only through a screen. The vibes were positive, and many businesses are ready to embrace more sustainable practices. We can’t wait to start work with the new hotels we connected with at the event and grow the number of Green Key awarded hotels in England as part of a wider national and global action to “build back better” following the global pandemic.” - Louise Carr-Merino, Green Key England National Operator, Keep Britain Tidy

Beirholm and Green Key enter cooperation agreement

Beirholm and Green Key enter cooperation agreement to increase the focus on sustainable textiles in the hospitality industry.

The Danish family-owned company, Beirholm, is the leading supplier of industrial textiles to the rental laundries in Europe, which supplies most of the European hospitality industry.  For more than 150 years, the company’s trendy, Scandinavian textile designs have brought joy and life to Europe’s hotels and their guests.

Today, Beirholm’s innovative and durable BeirTex® textiles are engineered to offer the quality, comfort and CO2e-savings desired by hotel guests while ensuring a high return on investment. And through the company’s holistic approach to sustainability, the BeirTex® textiles live up to some of the strictest social and environmental standards. For instance, the BeirTex® textiles are certified according to EU Ecolabel, Green Button, Oeko-Tex® Made in Green and Oeko-Tex® 100 standards. Combined with the company’s support of The Better Cotton Initiative, their BeirTex® textiles are sustainable from the cotton farm to the hotel room.

And don’t just take their word for it! Recently, Beirholm’s innovative BeirTex® bed linen was nominated for the German Sustainability Award (GSA). The bed linen offers revolutionary durability, a lightweight construction, and a sustainable raw materials blend of Fairtrade organic cotton, virgin- and recycled polyester generated from 20 recycled PET bottles. Consequently, the BeirTex® bed linen reduces CO2-equivalent emissions by up to more than 70% over its entire lifecycle compared to the average hotel bed linen in the industry.

The linen is woven in an exclusive, breathable, and soft satin binding quality, which is available in 13 unique designs and can be upcycled at the end of its usable life.

The goal of the cooperation between Beirholm and Green Key is to focus on using sustainable textiles in the hospitality industry. With Beirholm’s knowledge of sustainable textiles and Green Key’s 3.200 members committed to making an impact, the cooperation seeks to make the hospitality industry even greener.

To watch a brief introduction to our new partner, Beirholm, click here.

Andreas Beirholm, Business Development Manager at Beirholm, says:

“Beirholm develops sustainable and climate friendly performance textiles for the hospitality industry. This makes us a great match with the efforts done by Green Key. We are looking forward to the cooperation and to support the continued greening of the hospitality industry.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds:

“In our new Green Key criteria taking effect from 2022, we have increased the focus on sustainability through the use of environmentally friendly products, the reduction in use of resources and the recycling of material after use. Beirholm has these components well incorporated in their business structure, so we are happy to have Beirholm as a corporate partner supporting the industry.”

FEE joins celebrations of this year’s World Tourism Day on ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

On this World Tourism Day, which is dedicated to tourism’s potential to foster and promote inclusive growth, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is celebrating the achievements of its two tourism-related programmes, Blue Flag and Green Key, and their contribution to increasing inclusivity in the tourism sector.

Daniel Schaffer, CEO of FEE

Official message from the Foundation for Environmental Education’s CEO, Daniel Schaffer

As the world’s largest environmental education organisation, with members of all shapes and sizes in every corner of the world, inclusiveness is not only a core value for FEE but also a precondition for the sustainable development of our programmes. By involving multi-stakeholder approaches in our processes and including the voices of different interest groups, our programmes can ensure the long-term success of sustainable tourism development within local communities.

However, we believe that this does not only apply to our programmes, but to the tourism sector in general. Only if we strive for inclusive decision-making processes and empower all members of society can the positive economic and social benefits of tourism really be available to the whole community.

An example of inclusiveness through FEE’s Blue Flag programme is its work with accessibility organisations to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy both the economic and recreational benefits of tourism. For example, the Paradisus brand, manager of two Blue Flag awarded beaches in the Dominican Republic, implemented an inclusion programme that gives work opportunities to people with hearing, visual or motor disabilities, while the programme in South Africa initiated the “Beach Stewards” project for the development and skills-training of unemployed youth for future employment in the eco-tourism sector. Furthermore, the Blue Flag programme promotes accessibility on beaches to make sure that everyone can enjoy them safely.

Photo credit: WESSA

In light of the latest global events, we have once again realised how important the tourism industry is and how many livelihoods directly and indirectly depend on it. Sadly, we have also once again come to witness that the impact of these kinds of events is worst for the most vulnerable members of society. A thriving, strong community must practice an inclusive approach that takes all its members into account and allows them to have a stake in decision-making.  

Similar to how the pandemic affected the most vulnerable groups, so do the critical issues of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which are at the heart of FEE’s GAIA 20:30 strategy to drive positive change over the next decade. At FEE it is our mission to empower people of all ages, genders, abilities, and classes to be part of the solution and build a future that benefits everyone.

A recent example of how FEE empowers people through education is our project on Education for Sustainable Development in the tourism sector. Within the scope of this project, hospitality professionals in Cambodia received training on sustainable practices to build their capacity to create a positive impact on the local community through their businesses. It was carried out through the Green Key programme in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Changing mindsets about inclusivity and tackling the challenges presented in FEE's GAIA 20:30 strategy, through either top-down processes or through grassroot initiatives, requires educational tools and resources for many different audiences.  FEE recognises that education is an essential element for driving positive change and will continue to embed education in all its programmes and initiatives.

First of its kind methodology to measure waste in the hotel industry

The cooperation of WWF and Green View, as well as well-known hotel groups - Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International- has created an industry-wide waste measurement methodology.

Though efforts have been made to reduce waste in the hotel sector by donating items of value or by implementing inputting initiatives, there has still been a large gap in the market to measure hotel chain waste as there has been no standard measurement methodology. Recently, a new first-of-its-kind method to aid hotels to resolve this difficulty has been revealed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenview, a global sustainability consulting group to help hotels solve this problem.

The Hotel Waste Measurement Methodology has been proposed to deliver a shared approach to collecting, measuring, and reporting waste data within the hotel industry. It is developing a consistent technique for hotels and properties of different sizes to create significant targets that are tracked over time to reduce waste and landfill use. Working on robust current waste tracking strategies and implementing goals standardises numerous data collection methods and addresses any data gaps and challenges.

According to WWF, a priority is addressing the challenges of managing food waste in the various hotel operations and creating change in the noteworthy prospect of improving organisation productivity and beginning development of their social and environmental goals. 

It is agreed that to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the hotel industry is a significant partner to accomplish goals. These include 12.3, which intends to decrease food waste by 50% by 2030 and 12.5, which demands substantial reductions in waste generation throughout prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. Numerous relevant stakeholders have assessed this methodology to ensure it tackles the specific difficulties different size hotels face.

Madhu Rajesh, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, states that “By coming together as an industry, and sharing expertise, we can develop resources that are designed for the industry context and support every hotel to manage and improve their impact – wherever they are on their sustainability journey”. 

Here you can download the full methodology: https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/resource/hwmm/

The development of the hospitality industry in Slovenia

The hospitality industry in Slovenia has opposed various challenges and through determination and the support from Green Key has aided their development. Green Key National Operator for Slovenia; Boris Susmak shares his thoughts and experiences over the last three years.

Can you describe the development of the Green Key programme in Slovenia? It has been quite a development from the beginning, having challenges attracting establishments while today the programme has become popular in Slovenia. What kind of internal and external factors created this development?

In the last three years, the Green Key programme in Slovenia has had significant growth up to almost 90 facilities at this moment.

We did struggle for a few years before really starting the programme. However, we did many valuable things meanwhile such as translating application forms, preparing Green Key brochures, arranged some meetings with potentials candidates, but only the national Slovenian Green scheme with the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology's financial initiatives for the potential candidates entering the Slovenian Green scheme made a real breakthrough and started the programme three years ago.

Within the last three years, the programme's growth was so intense that we had to employ one full-time person, and only volunteering was not possible. Today we do have three DOVES-FEE Slovenia members involved, one full-time, two on a volunteer basis. We also established an excellent partnership with an NGO, Institute ROS, that organises Sustainable Tourism Workshops and help the potential candidates that decide for such support gain the Green Key status.

We do have to stress that growth occurred even with solid sustainable labels alternatives on the market. Nowadays, we are proud to be N.1 sustainable label for tourism facilities in Slovenia. The success is probably connected with the methodology/framework Green Key uses because we are on competitive levels, price-wise.

Most Green Key awarded establishments in Slovenia are in the "small accommodations" category. Why is this category so popular in Slovenia? And has it impacted the interest for Green Key from other types of establishments (in different categories)?

The small accommodation category leads, mainly because the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology's financial initiatives suit them most.

We are confident that the Slovenia Green scheme national campaign made the most significant impact on other categories. For example, in 2021, the focus is on Green cuisine, so many top restaurants join the Green Key programme. For instance, JRE restaurants, many of them also awarded Michelin.

But we do have to stress that we do have all accommodations types present already. Unforgettably, we did have the world's first winery involved in Green Key (https://klet-brda.si/) as our first attraction. The hotels started joining the programme last year, and we now have more than ten hotels involved already. On the other hand, there is a demand for a Tourism agencies/offices category that we do not have in the Green Key programme.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected the Green Key programme in Slovenia and what is your vision for Green Key in Slovenia in the coming years? Do you see the development in Slovenia having a possible impact on attracting establishments to Green Key in the wider Balkan region?

We are cautious with the projections, especially due to the Covid-19 situation and because national green initiatives will not be present or will have a different focus.

On the other hand, we noticed a change in tourist behaviour that search for clean, not so crowded destinations where you can taste almost zero km food and more actively spend your holidays in nature. Green Key facilities are and can be a reference point for this category of travellers.

We hope that the number of Green Key establishments in Slovenia and the EU (where most tourists came in Slovenia) will still grow.

We are also very confident that sustainable tourism will be a part of all booking platforms. It will attract even more establishments worldwide to join one of the sustainable or eco-labels available on the market. We are very confident that Green key, as a world-leading label, will have the best success.

The influence and growth of utilising the Green Key status for hotels in Mexico

Since its development, Green Key has ventured into various countries and in this article, we will discuss the impact that Green Key has had on the tourism industry in Mexico. Our interview partner in this article was the CEO of FEE Mexico; Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos.

FEE Mexico CEO; Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos.

When did the Green Key programme start in México, and can you briefly explain the development of the programme in México?

Green Key México began operations in 2014. During its first year, the Green Key programme awarded three hotels. The programme in México expanded from 6 to 9 hotels between 2015 and 2016.

2017 was a landmark year; the number of awarded hotels increased to 154. The key was the added value to the hotel’s operations, generating environmentally responsible operations, employing the support of audits for the different hotel chains, which we do to have greater supervision in establishments resulting, for example, in lower electricity consumption rates. On the other hand, the day-to-day accompaniment and advice resulted in an external and independent third party audit with the alliance with Green Key México.

Currently, the programme is present in 31 states, 74 municipalities with 158 hotels, more than 26,000 rooms, and about 500 collaborators have been actively getting involved around the country.

The Green Key programme in México has been very successful and popular, what do you think is the “key” to this success?

The key is the added value of the Green Key brand, which stands for independence, objectivity, and certainty, as well as the implementation of a programme of strict compliance with national and international criteria that can always be verified.

The production of friendly material, such as videos developed explicitly for the establishments, has become a successful way of continuous technical support. The environmental managers of the hotels appreciate this proximity.

Our expertise in environmental education and sharing material to raise awareness of the actual daily environmental impact of the hotel’s operations represents quantitatively measurable actions. This is to verify compliance with the criteria and implement an environmental performance improvement programme.

An essential part in the development of a Dashboard and an App to assess the compliance of the criteria in real-time, with these tools, we can obtain Big Data from our hotels and provide information for the strategy design process focused on an environmentally responsible operation without compromising the guest’s comfort. In other words, we have implemented a sustainability management system in the hotel operation focused on modernisation and supported by technological tools.

Finally, our National Steering Committee evaluates compliance with the criteria and develops an internationally recognised tool for the hotel sector. Fundamental growth of the programme in México and the commitment of our partners to care for and protect the environment through environmentally responsible actions.

After a difficult 2020-2021 for the hospitality industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic, what are your expectations for Green Key and responsible tourism in México in the coming years?

 The COVID-19 pandemic has been a new issue for our country since it has modified attitudes and tourism methods. This has forced us to seek new forms of environmental education as an effective tool to raise awareness among tourists of the need to take greater responsibility for the care of all.

In México, tourists are part of nature-related tourism activities, which should come as no surprise considering the abundance and diversity of the country’s resources. México is a megadiverse country, ranking fifth place, with 12% of the planet’s biodiversity. This biocultural richness allows unique experiences such as nature, community, indigenous and rural tourism.

So, Green Key México’s objective is the development of sustainable hospitality industry. This one should work hand to hand with the promotion and creation of circular economies within hotels. The establishments should address equitable employment and provide a platform for entrepreneurship with the local communities.

Given that the Green Key programme is particularly strong in México, as Green Key´s main area outside Europe and the Middle East, do you think that other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can build on Green Key´s success in México?

FEE México, through Green Key, has developed material that can be shared with Latin American and Caribbean countries, for example, training videos, which are available to achieve environmentally responsible operations in the establishments. Of course, we are open to keep contact with companies that have a presence in México and with those we have already worked with and those outside the country.

Green Key México always seeks to share knowledge and recognise the work done during the application process and renewals; this allows us to comply with the execution of the environmental improvement plan to achieve international goals. Likewise, training tools on compliance with the criteria will bring more establishments and hotel chains because these resources will facilitate their application.

As a new member of the FEE Board of Directors, responsible for the Green Key programme, how do you see the global development of the Green Key programme in the next 2-4 years?

Green Key is a strong label. As a global benchmark label, we must visualise changes in the tourism sector such as security, health, new barriers for globalisation, and how these issues can impact the viability of sustainable operations.

Green Key is an opportunity for the industry to be part of the defence of the environment under the implementation of a programme that represents the safety of an environmentally responsible operation without affecting the economic viability of the business.

Green Key must strengthen its marketing and be supported by the present network of awarded hotels. After the lockdown, it needs to engage with the sector in the Recovery Plan as a necessary tool for sustainability. Green Key is ready for the challenge; see Strategic Plan GAIA 20:30; Empowering Climate Action, Protecting Global Diversity and Reducing Environmental Pollution.