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.

Resorts in Mauritius receive the Green Key certification for the first time

Four of the idyllic Veranda Resorts (Pointe aux Biches, Paul & Virginie, Palmar Beach, and Tamarin Hotel) have now joined the Green Key network of certified establishments. The resorts are part of the Rogers Hospitality group, that has also ownership over two Heritage Resorts units, in Maldives, that have been receiving the Green Key label since 2017.

The Veranda Tamarin unit is one of the newly certified Green Key establishments in Mauritius.

The Rogers Hospitality group has taken even more significant steps towards a more sustainable hospitality sector in Mauritius. After successfully renewing the Green Key certification for two of its Heritage Resorts units (Le Telfair and Awali) since 2017, the hospitality group decided it was time for another of its hotel brands to comply with the high environmental standards set by Green Key International.

For the first time, four out of the five units of the beautiful Veranda Resorts have entered the Green Key network of certified establishments, namely the Veranda Pointe aux Biches, Veranda Paul & Virginie, Veranda Palmar Beach and Veranda Tamarin Hotel. On the importance of receiving the Green Key certificate, the Sustainable Development Coordinator of Veranda Resorts Pooja Etwah has said:

"[…]I am truly proud of our first Green Key certification. Upon the recruitment of full-time sustainability officers in all our resorts, there has been a smooth implementation, follow-up and engagement across all our hotels in undertaking sustainability principles to a higher level. Our teams are committed to protecting the environment through best practices and innovative measures and including the local community and guests in all activities related to sustainable development.[…] By embarking on the Green Key program, we are sure to be following strong international standards as well as provide our stakeholders with a high level of transparency and credibility in our actions. […]".'

According to the Veranda Resorts' Sustainable Development Coordinator, following the Green Key criteria has allowed the hotels’ teams to develop and revise their operational procedures. In addition, extra training has been provided to the Veranda staff to raise awareness on the importance of integrating environmental and social factors into operations. 

Sustainable development has been embedded in Rogers's Hospitality DNA for several years. The hotel's strategy has focused on five pillars: energy transition, biodiversity preservation and restoration, a circular economy model for better waste management, inclusive development and vibrant communities. For each of its pillars, the Veranda Resorts have adopted specific measures. For example, in the energy transition pillar, staff is asked to verify whether new electronic equipment is energy-efficient before proceeding with the purchase. Moreover, there is regular monitoring of the lighting systems at the resorts to ensure that all LED lamps are correctly functioning and that external lighting is only used when necessary. 

Guests are also involved in the different Veranda Resorts strategies targeting sustainability. For example, visitors at the Veranda Pointe aux Biches unit are invited to switch off their room lights for 1 hour to help reduce energy consumption. In all resorts, the visitors are also encouraged to enjoy nature activities, including sea activities, bike-riding or visits to natural parks.

Waste management is also essential to the Veranda resorts' sustainable programme. Each hotel's team is responsible for sorting all waste before sending it to recycling stations. In addition, the concerns about waste management are also transmitted to the younger generations of visitors through upcycling workshops offered at the resorts' kids clubs. More recently, the Veranda resorts have committed to work towards eliminating single-use guest-related plastic items from operations, such as wet bathroom amenities, that have now been placed in recyclable and reusable containers.  

Finally, the Green Key-certified Veranda resorts also work closely with the local community in Mauritius. Donations and healthy food are distributed among vulnerable families, and literacy classes are also offered to the hotels' staff. In addition, the hotels make sure to include local seasonal food in their menus and support local businesses. 

Green Key International congratulates the four certified Veranda Resorts for their incredible strategy and initiatives that target the reduction of environmental impact while helping to promote more literacy and knowledge on sustainable tourism development in Mauritius. 

Green Key's partner helps to reduce single-use bottled water from international hotel chain

Green Key’s corporate partner Purezza Premium Water has signed a global partnership agreement with one of the world-leading hotel groups in hospitality, Accor, which wishes to adopt more sustainable water consumption solutions.

The hospitality industry historically has had a dramatic impact on the environment, which has led to many hotel groups adopting sustainable practices and aligning them with their operations. One of the most effective actions that hotel groups can take is to reduce their consumption of single-use materials and products, such as plastic bottles.

As a global provider of freshly dispensed drinking water solutions that has direct supply and distribution in more than 60 countries, Green Key’s corporate partner, Purezza Premium Water, has played an important role in helping tourism businesses to adopt more sustainable water dispensing solutions, as well as reusable bottles. By making simple choices regarding guests’ and staff’s water consumption, hotels can reduce their negative impacts on the environment and save on delivery costs.

With over 5,000 hotels around the world, Accor is one of those hotel groups that have built a strategy around sustainability to include initiatives which aim to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. A top priority for Accor is to remove single-use packaging from its hotels and this includes single-use bottled water. The hotel’s chain has now chosen Green Key’s partner Purezza Premium Water as a preferred global supplier to assist them in removing single-use bottled water from the supply chains of their hotels.

Purezza provides water dispensers, which filter tap water, as well as reusable, glass branded bottles, in still and sparkling variants. By switching to this alternative solution, a hotel can remove hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic water bottles from all areas of their hotel operations every year!

Scott Mitchell, Global Head of Purezza Premium Water, says: “We are pleased to be partnering with Accor and supporting them in their sustainability initiatives. Our shared goals of eliminating single-use packaging and reducing waste complements our strategic partnership.”

As consumers continue to actively select their accommodation based on the sustainability practices and performance of the properties, it is essential for hotels to build a strategy around sustainability and partner with sustainability-minded suppliers.

To learn more about Purezza Premium Water solutions, visit their website here.

Green Key featured in FEE's annual report of 2021

Every year, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) shares the main highlights and decisions from the organisation and its network in the annual FEE report. Amongst others, the report includes various achievements from FEE’s five programmes. Therefore, milestones and other important highlights of the Green Key programme are also displayed in the report.

After a challenging 2020 for the tourism industry, with many hospitality businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, at the beginning of the year 2021, the Green Key programme was busier than ever. As part of its COVID-19 strategy and to assist its members during this difficult time, the Green Key programme extended the certifications from establishments affected by the pandemic. In addition, Green Key recognised the efforts of accommodations that were able to comply with the strict set of criteria, and therefore received the certificate despite the circumstances in 2020.

In 2021, the Green Key programme also achieved other milestones, such as:

• Welcoming two new countries to its network, Madagascar and Trinidad & Tobago, which are now also amongst the countries having Green Key certified establishments;

• Establishing and renewing cooperation agreements with enterprises that work closely with hotels and other accommodations worldwide. One of these partnerships was signed with Beirholm, a company that produces environmentally friendly textiles. In addition, Green Key also prolonged its collaboration with Drinkable Air, which works with Atmospheric Water Generators technology to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles;

• Being represented at COP 26 in Glasgow;

• Being highlighted as a robust example of a sustainable tourism scheme by the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés (HOTREC) in its publication Towards sustainable Tourism in Europe (2020);

• Launching its first course on FEE Academy, which inspired the development of a training project for a hospitality school in Cambodia;

• Revising its criteria. Green Key’s new standards for 2022-2025 have been recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and can be found here.
  

  To read more about Green Key’s highlights of 2021 featured in the FEE annual report click here.
  

Green Key certified establishment joins group of climate partners in Denmark

The conference hotel Kolle Kolle is one of the organisations joining the Furesø Klimapartner working group. The project aims to encourage business owners in the Furesø municipality, in Hovedstaden, Denmark, to compromise with climate action and adopt strategies to reduce environmental impact. 

Located in the Furesø municipality, a few kilometres of distance from the Danish capital, the Kolle Kolle hotel has long been a Green Key certified establishment. Inside the conference hotel, attention is given to food waste, recycling, and knowledge sharing about sustainability issues between staff and guests.  More recently, Kolle Kolle’s compromise with reducing its environmental impact has transcended the hotel's frontiers.

Since 2019, the establishment has been involved in the creation of Klimapartner, a project developed by several local businesses in collaboration with the Furesø municipality. Although the COVID-19 pandemic put the project on hold, the working group has now restarted the course of action. Inspired by SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 13 (Climate Action), the Klimapartner initiative hopes to involve local businesses and encourage them to share knowledge and work together in areas such as waste management, heat and energy supply and green mobility. The goal is to inspire all 4,000 companies in Furesø to take action against climate change and join efforts as a community.

The general manager of Kolle Kolle Berit K. Leth considers that the Klimapartner objectives align with the hotel’s goals of raising awareness of environmental issues:

KolleKolle sees Klimapartner as a very important task and we hope to contribute with ideas and knowledge, from our long history of working with environmental issues and most important our membership of Green Key. We hope to be able to help other companies in our local community with environmental questions and how they can turn even small things into reality. We of course also hope to get new ideas and knowledge, which can contribute to our never-ending work to improve KolleKolle’s contribution to a greener world.

Green Key International praises Kolle Kolle’s efforts and compromise toward a more sustainable hospitality world. Visit Kolle Kolle’s website to learn more about its sustainability actions.

Green Key certifies two hotels in the Maldives for the first time

The Sun Island and the Royal Island hotels from Villa Hotels & Resorts group have recently received the Green Key certification. The establishments, located in the Ari and Baa Atolls in the Maldives, are the first to hold the eco-label in the archipelago.

The Royal Island Premium All-Inclusive Resort is located in the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll (©Villa Hotels & Resorts).

The Villa Hotels & Resorts group from the Maldives has two more reasons to be proud of its sustainability journey: the resorts Sun Island and Royal Island have joined the Green Key network, becoming the first to hold the eco-label in the Maldives archipelago. The certifications were granted to the Sun Island and Royal Island resorts after a rigorous process, where the two establishments were assessed against a high set of standards developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). 

For the Director of Villa Hotels & Resorts group Mahamood Shougee, the Green Key certification reflects the resorts' compromise toward a more sustainable future:

"With the vision to work towards carbon neutrality and fully sustainable islands; the resorts are thrilled to be Green Key certified - a testament to the dedication and passionate efforts the resorts have made towards a sustainable future. The resorts support the ecological balance of the islands while demonstrating a commitment to achieving best practices of environmental and social sustainability. Inviting guests to support the resort in maintaining the lush natural environment while being more environmentally conscious allows guests to immerse themselves in an unforgettable adventure that brings them closer to nature and inspires a deeper connection during their vacation."

Bicycle rental services are available to guests on both resorts. (©Villa Hotels & Resorts)

Over the last years, both establishments have implemented several sustainable practices and actions to reduce their environmental impact. For example, on the Sun Island resort, located in the largest of Maldives Islands, and close to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), the focus has been on cultivating and sourcing local produce later served in the resort's restaurant. Moreover, the Sun Island resort has also replaced plastic water bottles with glass bottles and donated all plastic for recycling in a partnership with a nonprofit organization. Among other sustainable initiatives, the resort has implemented eco-friendly techniques to reduce energy and water consumption, and it also organizes regular clean-ups on the islands with staff members and guests.

Also recently certified by Green Key is the Royal Island Premium All-Inclusive Resort, located in the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. Like the Sun Island hotel, the Royal Island resort invites guests to adopt energy and water-saving actions. For example, guests are encouraged to only request towels and linen washing when needed and to recycle and reuse as much as possible. The Royal Island hotel also collaborates with the DiveOceanus dive centre, located in the resort, to promote environmentally sustainable practices. The dive centre is 95% paperless, meaning all training material and administration and registration forms are digitally provided. 

The certified Green Key establishments encourage guests to respect and protect local biodiversity (©Villa Hotels & Resorts).

Green Key congratulates the Sun Island and Royal Island resorts for their efforts toward a more sustainable hospitality industry and for being the first Green Key certified establishments in the Maldives.

Visit the Sun Island and Royal Island websites to learn more about their sustainable actions.

7 Mehmet: The first restaurant in Turkey to receive a Green Key certification

Located in Antalya, Turkey, the 7 Mehmet restaurant is a popular choice, not only for its menu of contemporary and traditional Mediterranean dishes but also for its commitment to reducing environmental impact.

For 80 years, the 7 Mehmet restaurant has been a mandatory stop for those seeking an authentic experience in Antalya, Turkey. Visitors are welcomed with an extensive menu composed of more than 600 varieties of Mediterranean fare, including several Turkish traditional dishes. Seasonality is highly embraced, meaning guests will find carefully selected ingredients and a menu that adapts and changes according to the season.

The 7 Mehmet’s philosophy towards a more sustainable and locally sourced cuisine also reflects its commitment to being a Green Key certified establishment. In fact, 7 Mehmet is currently the only certified restaurant by Green Key in the entire country. As a result, 7 Mehmet has consistently implemented sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact. On a social level, the restaurant managed by Mehmet Akdağ has supported its local community by prioritising local products from women's cooperatives to help women entrepreneurs. Moreover, 7 Mehmet has also contributed to improving the kitchen equipment used by the Gastronomy Department of Akdeniz University in Antalya while assisting the school in building larger kitchens to accommodate more students.

© 7 Mehmet

In the restaurant, there have been multiple environmental-friendly improvements, including the use of renewable energies, such as solar energy, and the adoption of many energy and water-saving devices. Waste management is also a priority for 7 Mehmet, not only through recycling but also by avoiding and properly separating food waste. Finally, the restaurant has also replaced the plastic packaging of the towels offered to guests with more sustainable packaging alternatives.

Green Key International congratulates the 7 Mehmet restaurant on its efforts toward a more sustainable hospitality industry.

Visit 7 Mehmet’s website to find out more about its sustainable journey.

New framework for achieving net positive hospitality can be implemented globally

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has recently launched its Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, a framework created to help hospitality businesses around the globe move towards a net positive tourism industry.

© Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

With climate action failure considered one of the world’s preeminent threats, it has become even more determinant to move towards net positive tourism industry. Developed by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) in collaboration with industry experts and environmental organisations, the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality is new a tool designed to help businesses that want to embark on a sustainable journey.

In addition to being free, the SHA framework simplifies the complex process of achieving net positive in the hospitality industry in four steps:

• Simple environmental actions

• Robust environmental actions

• Net zero impacts for the planet

• Net positive impacts on the planet

Through this framework, SHA hopes that hospitality businesses can move up the sustainability ladder through the different pathway stages until becoming net positive. The tool was built to be accessible to all companies, independently of their starting point in the sustainability pathway. On this matter, the chair of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Wolfgang M. Neuman has said:

“Our Pathway fills the current vacuum of a co-ordinated and focused strategic plan across the hospitality industry to tackle the urgently needed climate actions. It is a practical tool for any hotel, no matter their starting point, to obtain guidance on how to prioritise and sequence targeted and measurable climate actions. The Alliance wants to encourage all hotels to embrace the journey all the way to net positive. We are spearheading the dialogue beyond having ‘zero’ impact and setting a vision for what we can be putting back into the natural world with a lasting ‘positive’ impact on our planet and its people.”

The SHA has already released the two first stages of the pathway (Simple Environmental Actions and Robust Environmental Actions) and it is planning to launch the last two steps later in 2022. To learn more about the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality visit the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance webpage.

Green Key International signs UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge

By signing the UNESCO and Expedia Group’s Sustainable Pledge, Green Key further strengthens its mission of promoting sustainable travel, community resilience and heritage conservation globally.

©Eddy Billard

Green Key’s endorsement of the UNESCO Pledge means a further 3,200 properties across more than 60 countries will become part of the UNESCO Pledge, taking the total to more than 9,000 properties worldwide. The Green Key eco-label initiative is overseen by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and its national member organisations. Its priorities include increasing the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable methods and technology to reduce resource waste and helping to create sustainable behavioural change in the hospitality and tourism industry. It rigorously audits the high environmental standards expected of its sites, which include hotels, hostels, and holiday parks and other categories in the hospitality sector.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact travel can have on local environments, economies and individuals. A recent survey from Expedia Group revealed that nearly two in three (59%)1 travelers are willing to pay more to make their trip more sustainable. The willingness to spend extra on sustainability shows that the environment is top of mind for many travelers.

Since its creation in 2019, the UNESCO Pledge has expanded, with major hotel groups and independent hotels signing up and committing to concrete, transparent and achievable action. Participating hotels support the reduction and elimination of single-use plastics and waste, the conservation of energy and water, and promote sustainable community engagement. They receive a ‘We signed the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge’ certificate, renew their commitment every year, and report on progress achieved. They also receive increased visibility with a badge on multiple travel booking sites across the Expedia Group marketplace.

Jean-Philippe Monod, SVP Government and Corporate Affairs, Expedia Group, said: “The number of organisations, hotels and properties signing up to the UNESCO Pledge is increasing at an astonishing pace, with more than 9,000 properties now committed to the cause. We are delighted to partner with Green Key - a champion of sustainable tourism - and this announcement demonstrates that more and more travel businesses are willing to make concrete and transparent commitments to sustainability as the threat of climate change becomes more real by the day.”

Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, said: “The UNESCO Pledge provides a framework for action on the ground to improve livelihoods and chart a path to a more sustainable future for travel. The commitment from Green Key International represents a significant milestone, and we are pleased to welcome more than 3,000 new properties as advocates of the UNESCO Pledge. We urge others to sign up to the Pledge and commit to progress around these essential sustainable tourism priorities, from reducing single-use plastic to saving water and energy usage, and strengthening the engagement, benefit and resiliency of local communities.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, said: “With Green Key being a leading standard of environmental and sustainable operations within the tourism industry, we are happy to enter a partnership with UNESCO and Expedia Group to support that thousands of properties across the world implement sustainable and resourceful practices to reduce the industry's overall environmental footprint."

The UNESCO Pledge is available on the Expedia Group and UNESCO global site.