Freys Hotel in Stockholm welcomed homeless people during Christmas!

Clean clothes, a warm and comfortable bed, Christmas gifts and food are not something that all people will experience during Christmas. Freys Hotel wanted to help people in vulnerable situations and welcomed homeless through Ersta diakoni at Christmas Eve. Freys gave them a chance to celebrate a warm and loving Holiday.

Freys Hotel has supported Ersta Diakoni for over six years. They offer hotel rooms to homeless and they contribute with money to various activities. This year Freys chose to give a donation to a special dental clinic which helps homeless with free dental care. The teeth are just a small part of your body, but so important to how we are perceived as humans. Hopefully fine new teeth will help them to get a job and get back into society. 

 ‘It warms your heart when we once again have had the opportunity to welcome homeless on Christmas Eve says Annika Tell’, General Manager at Freys Hotels. We also gave them clothes and gifts so that everyone would feel extra welcome. It´s amazing to see the joy in their eyes when they arrive at the hotel!

‘This year we had the opportunity to welcome Pia-Karin, one of Stockholm's many homeless, who had received through Freys and Pelarbacken completely new teeth just in time for Christmas. She was so happy and grateful’, concludes Annika.

FEE Flickr – Sharing our achievements

Beginning 2015 FEE started up a new photo database on the photo sharing app Flickr. After a comprehensive copyright process, all photos are now available to the public to download.

If you are looking for some nice pictures to showcase the wonderful work that has been done by FEE and its members, the FEE Flickr site is the place to be. The site consists of different albums representing the different FEE programmes. The Green Key album features a range of good practices and advertising pictures of Green Key sites from all over the world.

Up to now visitors to the site were unable to download the images. From today, we have set a new Creative Commons on all the images: with this license we allow others to share and adapt the pictures freely for non-commercial purposes, with the duty of giving appropriate credit for the materials used.

This amazing collection would not have been possible without our FEE members sharing their good news stories and images and giving the permission to the whole FEE network to share these pictures on our social media. A big thanks to everyone!

If you have any pictures that could fit the Green Key album, please contact liesbeth@fee.global. 

Successful first two years for Green Key in Åland, Finland

Green Key was launched on the Åland Islands in the beginning of 2014. The Åland Islands then became the first region in Finland which offered accommodations the opportunity to develop and structure their environmental work through the Green Key programme.

The programme is developing at a rapid rate in Finland, where 30 accommodations are certified and three of the certified facilities are located on the Åland Islands. Green Key Åland has an active cooperation with Green Key in mainland Finland, but the programmes are managed independently from each other. The programme has a local coordination in Åland Islands so that the accommodations are able to get support in their work in Swedish. The criteria are adapted to local conditions in order to achieve the maximum benefit for the programme on the Åland Islands.

Andersson's Guesthouse and Silverskär granted renewal of the Green Key label in late 2015 after receiving the certification for the first time a year earlier. Both accommodations have very good experience of the first year with Green Key.

"The review of our accommodations have been even more positive than in the past and we have had more guests than ever this summer", says Anette Andersson from Andersson's Guesthouse.

"Our target group is partly companies. Many companies today have an environmental policy which contains that they prefer environmentally certified facilities when they travel. We have, through our Green Key certification, been able to participate with offers to the companies since we can prove that have a structured environmental work", says Fia Karlsson from Silverskär.

The management and maintenance of Green Key Åland is made through active cooperation between the Åland Nature & Environment, Visit Åland and the Åland Trade Association. The organisations recognize Green Key Åland as a vital part of achieving the local vision of a green Åland in a blue Baltic Sea, and the vision of Åland becoming a sustainable destination. The organisations think that vision of a sustainable destination is an extremely important milestone for the governmental decision of a sustainable Åland by year 2051.

"Our work with Green Key is an important step for the local sustainability. Sustainability work itself is a basis so that Åland's attractiveness as a destination is maintained and strengthened", says Micke Larsson, Chairman of the Ålands Natur & Miljö.

"The development of a structured environmental work can be compared with WiFi. Available WiFi quickly went from being an added value to a hygiene factor, an important criterion for the visitor when they choose with accommodation to visit. An environmental label can in near future be a condition that the common guest takes into account when choosing the construction of the travel, says Anders Ekström", CEO of the Åland Trade Association.

"We will use the work with Green Key Åland as an inspiration so that we to a greater extent take into account the sustainability of Visit Åland's activities for the coming year. We are very pleased that a program is offered that both fit large and small accommodation in Åland, so everyone has an opportunity to develop the environmental Work", says Lotta Berner Sjölund, CEO at Visit Åland.

Åland University of Applied Sciences, Government of Åland and Green Key Finland are also involved in the cooperation by participating in the programme's steering committee and jury. Andersson's Guesthouse, Silverskär and Hotel Arkipelag are the Green Key labeled establishments on Åland. Brobacka Guesthouse, Djurviks Gusthouse and Park Hotel have an active environmental work in progress with the goal of obtaining the Green Key label.

"The interest in our bike rental at Andersson's Guesthouse has been great this year. We have informed the guests about our Åland breakfast, which has received very positive feedback. Despite the fact that we have had more guests this summer the consumption of water decreased by 6% and electricity by 15%", says Anette Andersson.

"We think of the environment's best interests in matters large and small - from our purchases to heating with solar panels and geothermal heating. For Silverskär it has always been important to burden the environment as little as possible. Since we are Green Key certified, we have an eco-label to prove it and we can communicate our commitment to our guests", says Johan Mörn on Silverskär.

This year the local Green Key work has in addition to certification fees been financially supported with the Bank of Åland's Environmental bonus.

"The first two years with the Green Key in Åland has exceeded expectations. We have a very fruitful dialogue with participating accommodations and it is incredibly inspiring to follow the installations environmental work and to get the opportunity to develop a strong, global program at the local level to a very practical contribution to environmental actions that make a difference on Åland, both as a society and tourist destination", says Karin Rosenberg, local manager for Green Key Åland.

Hotel Kämp in Finland donates blankets and pillows to Red Cross

The iconic Green Key awarded Hotel Kämp in Helsinki in Finland Hotel Kämp actively promotes sustainable development in their daily operations. This year they have refurbished many of their rooms and as part of the process acquired new pillows and blankets for the rooms. It was important for Hotel Kämp, that the old pillows and blankets would not go to waste, but live on with someone who would need them.

Mr. Elmi Salahudin, Head of Reception Center, Red Cross Finland, Ms. Milla Laine, Housekeeping Manager, Kämp Group and Mr. Juha Niininen, Logistics Specialist, Red Cross Finland.

The iconic Green Key awarded Hotel Kämp in Helsinki in Finland Hotel Kämp actively promotes sustainable development in their daily operations. This year they have refurbished many of their rooms and as part of the process acquired new pillows and blankets for the rooms. It was important for Hotel Kämp, that the old pillows and blankets would not go to waste, but live on with someone who would need them.

‘All the blankets and pillows were still usable, but unfortunately not in the hotel environment. We wanted to donate them to a partner who needed these products and could use them as such. Thus our donation would genuinely promote recycling and extend the life-cycle of the products,’ explains Kämp Group’s Housekeeping Manager Ms. Milla Laine

A suitable cause was found at Red Cross in Finland. Finnish Red Cross has recently opened several new Reception Centres and in many of these more blankets and pillows were greatly needed. All donated products will be in use.

‘We were very glad to be able to help and support the valuable work of Red Cross. In addition, the blankets and pillows will now again be in daily use and their lifecycle is extended, possibly with several years,’ says Ms. Laine.

The donation was received at Red Cross Finland by Mr. Elmi Salahudin, Head of Reception Center, and Mr. Juha Niininen, Logistics Specialist. Hotel Kämp’s aim is to continue the donations of discarded products, as long as suitable, ecologically and socially sustainable causes are found.

10 years Green Key Belgium-Flanders celebrated with 115 awards

On 14 December 2015, 115 Flemish tourism businesses received the Green Key certification. An amazing result of 10 years of hard work done by Bond Beter Leefmilieu in cooperation with Tourism Flanders. The ceremony took place in the newly awarded Hostel H in Hasselt. 

Old and new

Five sites were awarded their 10th Green Key certificate and can be considered as true Green Key experts: Baalse Hei, provinciaal recreatiedomein Zilvermeer, De Lilse Bergen, De Spaanjerd and Herenlaak.

There were also 9 new sites to be awarded their first Green Key award which supports their promise to their guests to that by choosing their establishment, they are helping to make a difference on an environmental and sustainability level: Astoria Hotel Antwerpen, Leopold Hotel Antwerp, Sandton Pillows Brussels, NH Brugge, Ramada Oostende, Buro 53, Jeugdherberg Bed Muzet, Hostel H and Logies Villa Vindina.

Continuous work

Participating establishment don’t get awarded easily. Every year the laureates have to prove their environmental efforts and dedication to an independent jury with representatives from the government, environmental organisations and the tourism industry. The Green Key criteria cover a range of environmental (water, waste, energy, etc.) and educational areas (staff involvement, guest information).

Hostel H: ‘Sustainbility matches our vision perfectly’

The ceremony took place in the new city youth hostel Hostel H, a Green Key newbie.
‘As a trendy new hostel we try to be progressive on different levels. While building the hostel we asked the architect to take all possible environmental aspects into account.’  Marjolein Vogelaers, Manager Hostel H, explains.

Green Key awarded hotels in Oman showing high commitment to social responsibility

The three Radisson hotels in Oman are actively engaged in community support through participation in efforts for less privileged people and beach cleaning events

Park Inn and Radisson Blu hotels in Muscat have just been awarded with the Green Key for the fifth year and Park Inn in Duqm for the second year. Besides complying with the environmental management and awareness criteria in the Green Key programme, all three hotels in Oman show a high level of engagement in social responsibility activities.

In September-November 2015, the two hotels in Muscat have been actively participating in the Box Appeal – an annual charity initiative aiming at having boxes filled with a predetermined list of daily essential items with the support of participating schools and companies. People interested in being a part of the charity’s initiative can pick up a box from either of the two participating hotels. Boxes can be filled with personal hygiene essentials such as disposable razors, shaving cream, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpaste, talcum powder, small hand towels, combs, antibacterial soap and shampoo and with t-shirts and caps. All filled boxes are delivered to one of the two participating hotels, and volunteers will then distribute these boxes to the underprivileged in Muscat.

“We are pleased to be part of the campaign for a second consecutive year, and thanks to our sister hotel Radisson Blu Muscat as well to our partners who have given their support to the initiative. We have encouraged people across Oman to come forward and collect, fill and return these boxes. Living and working in Oman involves more than just day-to-day operations at the hotel. Having been able to fill more than 4000 boxes for this year’s campaign, responsibility to the community is proving to have been integrated into our thinking.” Rabih Zein, Cluster General Manager for Park Inn Muscat and Park Inn Duqm.

Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm is one of Radisson’s relatively few beach resort hotels. As part of the social commitment of the hotel, a team of employees (staff and management) got together in July 2015 to help clean up the waste left behind by beach visitors in beach area of Duqm.

Starwood issues its sustainable seafood position statement

Starwood, Green Key's international hotel chain partner, has produced a statement on how the chain will use sustainably sourced seafood

The values of Starwood guides their sources of seafood. The hotel chain uses the "triple bottom line" of environmental, financial and social concerns with the best available science to form thier decisions. Starwood then empowers its associates to put plans into action while maintaining the high level of guest experience for which they are known.

Starwood is committed to supporting its Communities - from the local communities around their properties to the global ecological ecological community supporting everyone.

In sourcing seafood, Starwood will address the following throughout the different regions in which they operate:

Wild-caught seafood

• Stock status of the target species
• Fisheries management
• Bycatch of target and non-target species, including protected, endangered, or threatened species

Farmed seafood

• Resources used, including nursery/seed stocks
• Wastes released from the farm
• Health management of the farmed fish

Wild-caught and farmed seafood

• Broader ecosystem impacts (i.e. damage from fishing gear used in wild fisheries, impacts to wild populations from farms)
• Efficient use of resources (i.e. energy intensity of wild fishery distribution networks, feed conversion ratios of farmed seafood)

Starwood has set goals to gudie and track the progress in the long-term and the hotel chain is developing ways to measure the progress towards those goals in the short-term.

Starwood acknowledges that achieving these goals is a continuous endeavor, but are committed to collaborating with their suppliers, partners, and others in their seafood supply chain to advance the efforts.

Communicating Sustainability to Guests

If you have some great environmental or social initiatives at your hotel, you may well want to tell people about them. But how to do that? A challenge which all of our Green Key sites face on a daily basis. Green Hotelier published a Know How Guide with useful tips to help you get your message to your guests more effectively.

A few tips.

-         Don’t just list what you do. So you do stuff, so what? What difference does it make? Why should anyone care? Answering the ‘so what’ is key, in particular for the guests who care about these issues. Environmental initiatives are often just a list of details, but if you want to engage your guest, tell them what you are doing to reduce your impact and then invite them to help support that effort. Don’t make the guest feel guilty or that all responsibility lies with them.

-         When communicating about your carbon footprint, or citing other figures, bear in mind who your audience is - 31kg CO2e means nothing to most people. We love this communication from Westin where guests can really appreciate the difference they and the hotel are making. It also shows you have done your homework and know what you are talking about

-         Make it visual or relate facts and figures to something tangible, e.g. the equivalent number of trees planted, the number of cars taken off the road, 5 Olympic-sized swimming pools, etc.

-         And always remember that if you want to be credible, no numbers without stories, no stories without numbers…

-         You need to place your messages where the people you are wanting to engage are most likely to read them. You also need to think about which communication platform is best suited to each message and how best to present that message. When will guests realistically have time to read lots of info, when would an image be more powerful and where are infographics most hard hitting?

Read the full Guide here.

Green Key Manager Survey 2015

In 2015 Green Key conducted a survey amongst Green Key site managers to learn more about why they choose the Green Key label and their view on the programme. With a response rate of over 30% of all the Green Key sites, the results give a representative understanding of why site managers choose the Green Key label, the impact it has on their business and also entails a small evaluation of the programme.

Some interesting findings of the survey:

•          The main reasons for joining Green Key was to get support to comply with national legislation, increase sales and increase customer binding.

•          The main outcome of joining Green Key was the improvement of environmental performance followed by the improvement of the image of the establishment and increased employee engagement.

•          Around 92% of all managers indicate that Green Key has helped increase the sustainability at the establishment.

•          The strengths of the Green Key programme are the criteria, the onsite audits and the focus on environmental education.

•          Around 35% of the respondents answered the question on what is missing in the programme, and with especially visibility/marketing as the main working point. Something Green Key will invest time and money in during the next years.

•          The managers find it manageable to comply with the criteria. The most challenging criteria section is “food & beverage” (17% finding it hard to comply).

The full report can be read here.