World’s first Green Key awarded winery

Located in Slovenia, Klet Brda winery turns the uniqueness of the Brda local wine into a success story.

Klet Brda unites 400 families who have been working together for over half a century, capturing in their wine the uniqueness of the Brda terroir. Their vineyards planted on demanding terrain and steep slopes cultivation relies almost only on manual labour. This kind of production known as heroic viticulture enhances deep respect for nature and its cycles in the winery day-to-day activities.

Klet Brda wine makers know that nature is their strongest ally. As they see sustainability as the only right way forward, the vineyards are cultivated according to the principles of integrated production.

Moreover, guests from all over the world come to enjoy Klet Brda’s wine tasting tours and guided tours of the winery. From the vineyard to the bottle, guests can discover Klet Brda’s sustainable wine production. They can have a tour of the small viticulture and wine making museum created to commemorate the winery’s 60th anniversary in 2017.

“Our guests can learn about our history and they can see that viticulture has been present in Brda for over two thousand years. We show them how we work with the land that we were given, how we take from it, and how we give back to it. In fact, this is true for every renowned wine region in the world. Wine reflects the terroir and the people who live there and that makes for a great tourist attraction,” summarised Silvan Peršolja, CEO of Klet Brda.

Klet Brda’s passionate wine makers also pay a lot of attention to their responsibility towards territory and people by passing the traditional know-how from fathers to sons. In that way, the winery contributes to the richness of cultural landscape and to sustainable development of remote rural areas.

First Independent 5-Star Hotel in Ethiopia Awarded Green Key

Capital Hotel and Spa has been recognized for its sustainability efforts and has become the first of the independent hotels in Ethiopia to achieve the Green Key award in this category.

© Capital Hotel and Spa, Addis Ababa

Capital Hotel and Spa is an independent 5-star hotel in Ethiopia that proved compliance with Green Key's criteria.

The hotel is well known for its environmental and social engagement. The hotel donates  various items to Mekedonia Foundation which takes care of elderly and disabled people, and to nearby public schools such as Dr. Hadis Alemayehu Secondary School, Environment protection club The establishment also supports the plantation of trees every year for Green and Clean City Project and builds infrastructure for local community. Moreover, it follows fair trade principle and over 98% of its supplies are locally produced. These are few of the success stories that made the hotel appreciated and certified by the local government.

Learn more about the hotel here.

©Capital Hotel and Spa, Addis Ababa

©Capital Hotel and Spa, Addis Ababa

©Capital Hotel and Spa, Addis Ababa

New Radisson hotel awarded Green Key in Asia Pacific

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney received the Green Key certification for the first time for its commitment to sustainability.

From left to right: Terry Oomens (Director of Sales & Marketing), Jean-Bernard Raousing (Chief Engineer), Stefanie Peters (Front Office Manager), Annika Spaans (HR Manager), Cecilia Gutierrez (Assistant Housekeeper), Peter Tudehope (General Manager), Mitchell Turner (Hotel Manager), Jeffrey Wong (Financial Controller) & Sahil Sabhlok (Executive Sous Chef)

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney has several responsible business initiatives fitting consumer demand and concerns about our impact on the environment. The establishment follows Radisson’s Responsible Business strategy.

Regarding energy consumption and savings, the hotel aims to source 100% renewable energy for the property in 2020 thanks to a new initiative and industry partnership. It included water-saving showerheads to save water and the staff awards bonus Radisson Reward points to guests who opt out of daily housekeeping.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney is going plastic-free and got rid of plastic straws by replacing them by biodegradable straws. Furthermore, it is the first hotel in Sydney to install a Waste to Water system, a food waste processing unit using microorganisms to minimize waste and allowing the hotel to have less than 5% of food waste going to landfill.

The staff and leadership team support the local community and are involved in many activities to make a difference. They participate in Soap for Hope, a programme re-purposing used soap cakes from the hotel into new soap for local disadvantaged people in the community. Thanks to their last event, over 200 new soap bars were produced and distributed to a charity helping people in crisis housing. Moreover, they raised money during the hotel’s last annual Gala Dinner to provide educational assistance to local children. They also support drought victims in rural Australia by raising funds through several outlets during the Christmas period.

General Manager, Peter Tudehope said, “It is exciting and satisfying to see how the Radisson brand’s commitment to Responsible Business influences our own staff’s actions. Our employees are able to get involved as well as suggest new ways we can improve our dedication to being an eco-friendly hotel.”

Staff is playing a key role in the hotel’s Responsible Business principles. Thanks to the latter’s input, the hotel has been using microfiber cloths in housekeeping since 2007 and in this way reduced the need for harsh cleaning chemicals and equipment. 14.4 million litres of water have been saved due to this initiative.

It is great to see that a hotel can produce such an inclusive workspace culture with teams creating initiatives to contribute to a great range of causes!

First Green Key awarded establishments in Colombia

Four NH hotels located in Colombia’s capital city, Bogota, have just been awarded the Green Key.

Green Key is proud to add NH Collection Bogota Royal Teleport, NH Collection Royal Andino, NH Collection Royal Hacienda and NH Collection Royal WTC to the list of Green Key awarded establishments. The four hotels confirmed their commitment to sustainable development by complying with Green Key criteria and implementing various initiatives and policies to save energy/water and reduce food waste while contributing to local communities.

Regarding energy and water savings, the establishments invite their guests to forego that sheets and towels are washed daily. The money saved thanks to this initiative is donated to the Amiguito Royal Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting nutrition and development for children. This Foundation also receives items that are no longer used by the hotels.

NH Collection Royal WTC Bogota

NH Collection Royal WTC Bogota

NH Collection Royal Teleport

NH Collection Royal Hacienda

In the restaurants of the hotels, organic, seasonal, local and fair trade products are highlighted on the menu as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes. Hotels are also active on avoiding food waste by collecting and composting the waste. They also encourage guests to carry away food and the hotels provide environmentally friendly carton containers for the purpose.

When the streets and avenues of Bogota are closed to encourage sport and use of alternative and sustainable means of transport, the hotels support these initiatives by informing the guests about public transports, sites of bicycle rental or agencies offering walk in nature. In this way, the staff also provides information about the city’s safe routes or bikes path to travel.

Green Key is delighted to see the growth in South America and more and more establishments worldwide committed to reducing the environmental impact while raising awareness amongst guests about sustainable initiatives.

One of Stockholm's most famous landmarks Green Key awarded

Green Key awarded STF af Chapman & Skeppsholmen hostel is located in Stockholm city, Sweden, on the small island of Skeppsholmen. You can stay in the Craftsmen’s building from 1832 or on ‘af Chapman’ – a fully rigged ship anchored to the island and one of the most famous landmarks in Stockholm. 

The hostel offers families, couples, backpackers and experienced travelers of all nationalities the opportunity to experience the hostels friendly atmosphere and unique accommodation. Many of the guests often return to enjoy the pleasant and scenic environment, but also to take advantage of the superb location close to Gamla Stan (the Old Town) and the Royal Palace. For excursions a little further away, the hostel sells tickets to public transportation and offer guests bikes to discover the city.

STF af Chapman & Skeppsholmen hostel was awarded with Green Key in 2018, and has rapidly become a forerunner in sustainability. The hostel has focused on increasing its social and environmental commitment by planting flowers that are beneficial for bees and other insects, and by supporting the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation’s project “Save the bees”. Through the Swedish Labour Office’s project "Make space", they have employed staff with special needs.

 The hostel offer a great deal of organic food for breakfast, such as organic coffee, milk and muesli, and buys on average a total of 40% organic food per year. The hostel is registering food waste from breakfast and takes actions to reduce it through visible information to guests as well as ideas on how to use ‘nudging’ on the buffet to decrease food waste. The establishment encourages and informs its guest about the excellent drinking quality of tap water in Sweden and does not sell any bottled water at all.

 Through a rewarding cooperation with the property owner, the hostel has managed to decrease the energy consumption significantly with 14% by, among other things, changing thermostats on all elements as well as switching to new windows with insulating glass.

Green Key keeps reaching new countries: welcome Suriname!

Green Key is delighted to announce that The Torarica Group is the first company with Green Key awarded establishments in Suriname and South America.

The largest hotel brand in Suriname now counts three Green Key awarded hotel properties. In that way, the Torarica Group provides unprecedented sustainable hospitality and guest experience in its 357 guestrooms. Located in the city of Paramaribo, Torarica Resort & Casino, Eco Torarica and Royal Torarica are offering a breathtaking view of the Suriname River.

The three awarded establishments stretch their imagination regarding sustainable initiatives implemented on the properties. Indeed, they are using eco-friendly takeaway packaging (Styrofoam free) and serving biodegradable eco-friendly straws upon guest request only. The plastic issue is taken very seriously with collection bins placed on all properties to be recycled.

We cannot imagine a world without Green! All steps matter! Go Green! Go Green Key! Caring for our environment is a structural part of our business objectives.” says the Torarica Group’s General Manager, Dave Boucke

Their commitment to sustainability can also be found in the kitchen. The establishments manage to avoid food waste by giving leftovers such as potatoes, vegetables, food and bread waste to the Paramaribo Zoo on a daily basis. Moreover, they are recycling cooking oil to ensure a clean and safe environment by not deposing it into the water or the environment.

They are not outdone neither regarding eco-friendly energy consumption. Initiatives such as the reuse of printed paper, the recycling of used printer cartridges or a paperless guest experience survey involve both guests and staff into the process. LED lighting and water sensors have also been installed around the properties to reduce energy and water consumption. In the guestrooms, an energy saving card activates lights and air conditioning in order not to overconsume energy, and the patio furniture is made from recycled material.

Furthermore, the staff is encouraged to commute to work by carpooling, using public transportation, biking or walking. The Torarica Group Corporate Responsibility connect the establishments with various charity organisations. In that way, they are donating bed linens, bath towels, bedsheets to local hospitals and homeless shelters.

About The Torarica Group

With more than fifty-five years of experience, the Torarica Group is a true Surinamese landmark and stands for unprecedented hospitality and guest experience. Suriname is located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America bordering French Guyana to the east, Guyana to the west, and Brazil to the south.

Planning your next trip? Please visit torarica.com for ways to connect and make your next hotel reservation: reservations@torarica.com

 Facebook: ToraricaGroup

 Instagram: ToraricaGroup

First Green Key awarded hotel in Nigeria

Green Key is pleased to announce that the first establishment in Nigeria, the Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja, has been awarded the Green Key!

The team of the Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja proudly presenting their Green Key award.

Green Key keeps growing on the African continent, our newest member being the Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja in Nigeria.

As a safe and healthy environment is top priority to the hotel, achieving the Green Key award has been a milestone in its sustainability work.

To name a few of the hotel’s initiatives, it is working in partnership with the cleaning product company Diversey and SOS Children Villages to recycle soap in the frame of the “Soap for Hope” programme, an initiative to reuse unfinished soap bars from hotels. Children and caretakers in the SOS Children Villages learn how to recycle them and distribute the new soap bars in their community. Furthermore, the hotel has several initiatives to reduce its water consumption. Guests are asked to reuse their towel and bed linen through the “Just a Drop” initiative, low-flow shower heads and taps restrict the water flow and the hotel’s main water tanks is installed with a water float switch to stop spillage when full. In addition, the use of filtration and purification systems for the pool and fountains help the hotel to conserve and reuse water. In total, these practices save the hotel about 80m3 of water daily.

 “We as a hotel are proud to be Green Key certified, showing that we are part of the leading standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism and hospitality industry”

- Lovina Onyinye Ozoagu, Assistant Human Resources Manager

Two of Cardiff’s favourite cafés gain international environmental award

The Green Key programme in Wales goes from strength to strength as two of Cardiff’s favourite foodie hotspots are recognised for operating is a sustainable way.

Penylan Pantry and the Secret Garden café have been recognised for their sustainability efforts and have become the latest businesses in Wales to achieve the Green Key award.

Penylan Pantry is at the heart of the community in Penylan and so much more than an average café. They are also a corner shop and deli that promotes local producers, the community and the environment. They are passionate about the wonderful produce available in Wales and are proud to support their local producers, bakers, makers, farmers and dairies.

The team at the Pantry are also responsible for another of Cardiff’s iconic cafés. Last year they took on a lease to run the Secret Garden Café in Bute Park’s walled garden as well. They operate this establishment in the same responsible way.

Owner Mellissa Boothman says:

As a business owner and employer, it’s my responsibility to run my business as sustainabily as I can for the future of our planet, and the next generation. Receiving a Green Key award is a huge achievement for us all at the Pantry, and we are super super pleased. This award is an acknowledgement that sustainability is at the heart of Penylan Pantry, and to be recognised as a sustainable business means a lot to us. 

She adds:

The future of our natural world is in our hands, sustainable practice needs to become the norm. Businesses can play a vital part in this, they are perfect for setting a good example, leading the way in sustainability, inspiring, sharing ideas and promoting sustainable tips on social media platforms, with customers, and in advertisement 

Businesses throughout the sector in Wales are eligible to apply for Green Key. This includes bed and breakfasts, hotels, self-catering accommodation, camp sites, conference centres, restaurants and attractions.

Nick Ashby, Green Key Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy says:

We’d like to congratulate Penylan Pantry and the Secret Garden Cafe on their success. We’ve seen mounting concern about the damage that’s being caused to our natural environment, so it’s important to recognise and celebrate Welsh businesses that are taking the lead on sustainability.

An important part of Green Key is education of both customers and staff and it’s great to see the Pantry staff taking this to heart by organising trips to help improve their knowledge of green issues, they recently visited a local recycling centre to better understand how their waste is handled and what they can do to prevent waste going to landfill.

 For more information, visit the Green Key website www.greenkey.cymru.

Park Inn Duqm wins Sustainability Hotel of the Year Award

Green Key is proud to announce that the Park Inn by Radisson Duqm Hotel & Residence in Oman has been named the “Sustainability Hotel of the Year” at the Leaders in Hospitality Awards.

The annual industry award is organised by the Hotel & Catering News Middle East magazine. The “Sustainable Hotel Award” demonstrates an excellence in sustainability practices across energy efficiency, waste management and social responsibility. 

Faiza Al Balushi Cluster HR Manager for Park Inn Hotels in Oman says “We are committed in educating and facilitating for our employees and to make a conscious decision in favor of environmental, ethical and social issues in their private and work lives. In addition, we Inform and make it easy for our guests to participate in responsible business and environmental activities at our hotels.

 “We creating awareness as environmental credentials are becoming more and more important to travelers when they are trying to decide on a place to stay. We will maintain and continue what we have started to provide the best service and facilities to our guests and employees.” Nuno Neves, Cluster General Manager for Park Inn Hotels in Oman.

 In 2017 Park Inn by Radisson, Muscat hotel, picked up at the same award and was the only hotel in Oman nominated in competing with the other hospitality industries in the Middle East. Both Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Oman are actively engaged in Radisson Hotel Group’s Responsible Business programme.