Radisson Hotel Group Poland – A Responsible Business leader

The Radisson Hotel Group in Poland pride themselves in delivering world class hospitality and exceptional service. But they don’t only think about their guests. They also care about others. 

Staff of Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel, Warsaw donates old electrical equipment to school for blind children in Warsaw.

As part of their Responsible Business programme, Radisson hotels in Poland organise an impressive set of nation-wide activities.

• On 3 April a team of 50 runners from all Radisson Hotels within Poland will participate in a Charity HalfMarathon. They will be running for a foundation that raises awareness for people with autism in Poland.
  

• On 2 April 2016 – the Day of Autism – the façade of the hotels will be lit up with blue lights to show solidarity with persons suffering from autism and raise awareness about the topic. There will also be a money collection that day.
  

• On 19 March 2016 both Warsaw Hotels are participating in WWF Earth Hour. This year local WWF is trying to protect the wolves living in wild in Poland and change the perception of this beautiful and charismatic animal among the society.
  

• In the coming week the Radisson Hotel Group from Warsaw will be visiting one of Orphanages in Warsaw together with the District Manager for Poland – Olof Karlsson – to discuss a possible sponsorship for children from the orphanage to support their vacation.
  

• All old electronic equipment, home appliances, etc. are donated to the school of blind children close to Warsaw.

Green Key highly commends these amazing initiatives and hope to see more in the future. 

Green Key contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030

In September 2015, the United Nations approved the Sustainable Development Goals to frame the global development agenda for the coming 15 years. Green Key has just agreed on new criteria that will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

When approving the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations nominated 2015 as a landmark year for sustainability. The new agenda is transformative, people-centred and with bold and ambitious targets. 17 goals and 169 targets are set to frame the global development agenda for the coming 15 years. The economic, social and environmental dimensions of the goals seek to address poverty, hunger, disease, fear and violence, education, healthcare, social protection, sanitation, safety, sustainable habitats and energy.

Green Key has just agreed on new criteria for its six categories that will be in force from 1 July 2016. Through the new criteria, Green Key has the potential to contribute directly or indirectly to the achievement of all the 17 goals. Goal 4 – Quality Education, relates to Green Key’s criteria on information, education and training of staff, guests and suppliers. Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, and Goal 13 – Climate Action, relate to the reduction of carbon emissions and lowering environmental footprint through a high level of environmental management of especially water, energy and waste, and are also central requirements in the Green Key programme.

The new Green Key criteria also focus on CSR related issues, such as job creation, local community engagement, equal opportunities for all (including vulnerable groups) etc. and many of these issues are included in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The full document describing Green Key’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Zaton Holiday Resort in Croatia involves guests in their sustainable actions

Zaton Holiday Resort in Croatia has been a Green Key awarded hotel for less than two years and already has a very impressive list of educational projects to raise environmental awareness among their guests. One of these initiatives got awarded with a 3rd place in the Green Key Best Practice competition. 

One of their actions focused on raising awareness about energy saving. Zaton Holiday Resort organised a one-day program called " ZATON ECO ElectriCoFEE. They invited guests to win free coffee by providing electricity to produce the coffee. On the promenade "Kalelarga" in front of the coffee bar, they set up a stationary bike which was connected to a dynamo. The dynamo was directly connected to the coffee machine. Pedaling on a bicycle provided electricity until the coffee was cooked. Each of the participants was able to leave his views on the project in the book of impressions separately prepared for this opportunity. During the evening activities guests were able to see pictures and videos about the activity.

 In connection with the Best Practice Competition which focused on Water, Zaton Holiday Resort organised a one-day action called "ECO ACCOUNT 2015" with the motto "WATER IS NOT FREE, LET'S THINK ABOUT FEE".

Many of us don’t want to listen when it comes to water saving. That's why staff from Zaton Holiday Resort decided to do something drastic. During the day in the beach bar they brought to guests an additional bill for the glass of tap water. The price was under 2€ per deciliter. Guests were surprised, unhappy and ready to protest. They noticed that tap water has a price, but staff immediately made it clear that this is an awareness raising campaign for water saving. Results from the action were presented to the guests at the beginning of the evening programme.

As an educational programme Green Key highly commends action which involve environmental education.

Glooby and Green Key entering a collaboration agreement

The travel metasearch engine Glooby.com highlights Green Key awarded establishments at its website.

Glooby is a Sweden-based travel metasearch engine that enables users to find and compare prices on airplane tickets and hotels, while indicating the most fuel-efficient flights and eco-labelled hotels.

Glooby consists of people with a passion to travel and discover new places, people and cultures around the world. We live in a time where the growing awareness of the sustainability challenges facing our planet is increasing. 2012 was the first year to see one billion tourists travel internationally, which will lead to a lot of carbon dioxide emissions from airplanes each year, so it is important to be conscious and make changes where we can.

Glooby do not think people should stop traveling and discovering the world, but we believe that we should reduce our carbon footprint when traveling. When choosing the most fuel-efficient flight and eco-labelled hotels, you are supporting companies that are actively working to reduce their environmental impact on our environment. Companies who care about their social and environmental responsibility for a better planet, without compromising your travel experience.

Green Key achieves 'GSTC-Recognised' status

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Green Key Standard has achieved ‘GSTC-Recognised’ status. The awarded status affirms Foundation for Environmental Education’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services.

Green Key awarded Radisson Blu Yas Island Hotel in United Arab Emirates

The Green Key Standard is a leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, representing a commitment by businesses that their premises adhere to the strict criteria set by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).  The high environmental standards expected of these hotels are maintained through rigorous documentation and frequent audits.  Green Key is available to hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, restaurants and attractions.

GSTC-Recognised means that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel in order to be deemed equivalent to the GSTC Criteria.  Additionally, an organisation that meets GSTC requirements must administer the standard.  The purpose of the GSTC programmes is to recognise and reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers.

“FEE’s Green Key Programme has long been a leader in certifications based on green, environmental measures, but has expanded the scope of their certifications to include the broader definition of sustainability that includes elements of social responsibility, which opened the door to gaining GSTC-Recognised status“ says GSTC CEO Randy Durband.

“We are pleased to receive recognition from GSTC for FEE’s Green Key Programme. Working with GSTC has proved helpful in adopting a solid framework for including social criteria and thereby linking the Green Key Programme to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. I am convinced that this achievement will strengthen the brand further for the consumers and enable Green Key to have even better impact with more establishments”, says Daniel Schaffer, CEO of FEE.

To date, 25 standards have achieved GSTC-Recognised status. The completion of these step-wise programmes rewards standard owners for their commitment to sustainability while offering the market benefit of proof that these national standards adhere to international norms.

The GSTC will continue to work with organisations around the world to provide GSTC Recognition, Approval & Accreditation of standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. GSTC-Recognised standard owners are encouraged to complete the Approved or Accreditation process in order to showcase excellence in their sustainability frameworks while further distinguishing their standards and processes amongst other certification programmes. 

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About the GSTC

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a global initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism efforts around the world. The GSTC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that works to expand understanding of and access to sustainable tourism practices; helps identify and generate markets for sustainable tourism; and educates about and advocates for a set of universal principles, as defined by the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The Criteria, a set of voluntary principles that provide a framework for the sustainability of tourism businesses across the globe, is the cornerstone of our initiative. Learn more about GSTC Recognition. For more information, visit http://www.gstcouncil.org. 

All Landal GreenParks Green Key awarded by 2017

In the last year, 22 Landal GreenParks got Green Key certified. Bringing the total up to 40 Green Key awarded Landal GreenParks. Landal aims to certify all their 76 parks by the end of 2016. 

Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim Austria - Green Key awarded since February 2016.

Landal GreenParks is a dynamic organisation managing 76 holiday parks in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Hungary.  

The decision to certify all their parks and communicate their environmental efforts to the guests came very natural. ‘We commit ourselves to nature, our guests and the society. In Landal we are developing our own circular economy when it comes to purchase and waste management,’ says Thomas Heerkens, General Director Landal GreenParks.

The company is aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2020 and wants to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030. To reach this goal all newly build bungalows in the parks are sustainable and energy neutral and since January most of the parks and offices in the Netherlands are using Green energy from Greenchoice. 

Keep Britain Tidy decides to start national management of Green Key in England

Keep Britain Tidy (FEE England) has decided to launch the national management of the Green Key programme in England, making Green Key available to all English hotels and tourism establishments.

Aloft Excel Hotel in London.

Two hotels in London, Le Méridien Piccadilly and Aloft Excel, have been Green Key awarded since 2011 and 2013. Other hotels in London belonging to the Starwood Hotel Group are working towards achieving the prestigious Green Key label.

With the announcement that Keep Britain Tidy is now officially launching the work with Green Key, the Green Key management in England will be changed to Keep Britain Tidy, and it is possible for all other hotels and tourism establishments in England to apply for Green Key through Keep Britain Tidy. 

Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director says: “I am very happy that Green Key is now offered to any hotel and tourism establishment in England through Keep Britain Tidy. I would like to thank Le Méridien Piccadilly and Aloft Excel for being important ambassadors and role models for other establishments in England.” 

Lynsey Atherton at Keep Britain Tidy has been appointed as Green Key national operator in England, and she can be contacted via e-mail (Lynsey.Atherton@keepbritaintidy.org) or phone: (+44) 01942 612602.

Green Hotelier Awards 2016

The Green Hotelier Awards 2016 are now open. The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) is looking for the hotels in Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas with the best environmental and responsible initiatives and practices.

Following the success of 2015 when ITP opened the Green Hotelier Awards to hotels all over the world, a new search has started for hotels of any size or location which are working hard to be responsible businesses by reducing their carbon footprint, their water use and their waste output; which are positively impacting their local community and have fair labour practices and good employee initiatives.

Last year’s winners were extremely diverse, ranging from a passive house designed boutique hotel in Austria to an Indonesia paradise resort island, and from an eco-lodge in Ecuador to a Cape Town airport hotel.

Editor and awards co-judge Siobhan O’Neill said, “Green Hotelier aims to be a free resource showcasing best practice in sustainability from all hotels around the world in order that other hoteliers can replicate their initiatives and become more responsible businesses with improved environmental impacts globally. Not all solutions will work in all regions of the world, but every journey is a lesson we can learn from. This is the chance for the best green hotels around the world to share what they’ve learned with us and their peers to help the hospitality industry as a whole have a collective impact.

“The applicants in 2015 were wide-ranging and their various eco-initiatives were fascinating and effective. I can’t wait to learn more from this year’s applicants and to help share their stories and their sustainability journeys to the wider industry.”

The Green Hotelier Awards 2016 are open now with a closing date for applications of Friday 4th March. Winners will be announced during Responsible Business Week starting 18th April 2016.

There will be a winner and two runners up for each of the four regions. They hope to attract entries from hotels of all shapes and sizes - whether you're a rustic island resort or inner city business hotel - if you've got a green story to tell we'd love to hear from you.

All information on how to enter the competition can be found here.

Denmark Farm sets the standard for environmental tourism in Wales

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre has made a great start to 2016 by being the first organisation in Ceredigion to gain an internationally recognised environmental accreditation and finishing 2nd in the International Green Key Best Practice Competition.

Left to right: Emily Wells from Keep Wales Tidy (Green Key), Mara Morris from Denmark Farm. 

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre is run by the Shared Earth Trust, a registered charity established in 1987 in direct response to the national decline in wildlife habitat and biodiversity of farmland. As well as offering eco-friendly self-catering lodges and campsite, Denmark Farm run a programme of events and workshops developed to engage people with wildlife, sustainable living and natural crafts, ensuring that the environment is at the heart of everything they do.

The Eco Lodge is located in 40 acres of nature reserve with trails around the site leading to wildlife watching hides, ponds, lakes, and meadows, woodland all designed to engage and educate. Rainwater is harvest for use in the toilets and the Sedum roof of the lodge creates a natural habitat for wildlife and insects. The lodges are all heated by a biomass boiler and much of the furniture is made locally.

Denmark Farm Facilities and Events Manager, Mara Morris, says:

"As a conservation charity (The Shared Earth Trust) we were attracted to gain a Green Key Award for our Self-Catering Eco Lodge because Green Key Wales is managed by the environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy. Our ongoing work on the Environmental Action Plan has helped us to consider aspects of sustainability we had never touched upon before and further develop our green offering. Many thanks to Keep Wales Tidy and Green Key Wales for running this excellent and much needed programme".

Ceredigion is known as an area of natural beauty and enjoys a rich tourism industry throughout the year. Ann Eleri Jones of Ceredigion Tourism says:

“Denmark Farm is leading the way for other tourism businesses in Ceredigion.  We hope that other Ceredigion businesses will follow their lead and gain Green Key accreditation to help put Ceredigion on the international map for sustainable tourism.”

Despite the fact that they only got Green Key accredited at the beginning of the year, they already won 2nd place in the Green Key Best Practice competition in February with their WET (Wetland Ecosystem Treatment) System. A system for treating waste water using natural processes.

A WET System has specially designed and constructed ponds and earth banks, densely planted with wetland trees and marginal plants.  As wastewater flows through, it is both purified by microbiological action and transpired by growing plants.  In the process, a beautiful, species-rich wildlife habitat is created, including a willow resource that can be used for basketry, hurdles, garden features or fuel, depending on the coppice cycle.

Additionally, a WET System requires minimal imports of resources – the site’s soil (rather than quarried gravel) filters the wastewater, fossil fuels are only consumed during construction and there is no ongoing electricity use.  In fact, the whole process increases in efficiency over time, as new soil builds up and root systems extend – both of which also increase carbon dioxide storage as biomass, whereas conventional treatment systems need regular maintenance and energy inputs.

‘This ecosystem approach fits our philosophy of working with, rather than against nature. And the beauty of it is that we have fewer costs and many benefits. So why aren’t these systems more common?  One hurdle may be lack of familiarity, which is where we come in.  Our WET System is the first in Ceredigion and one of only a few in Wales – so far!  As a demonstration site, we can show statutory bodies, trainees and visitors the potential for farms and other industries that have liquid organic waste. With biodiversity benefiting too, the future looks bright for wetland wildlife,’ states James Kendall from Denmark Farm. 

A detailed description of the system will soon be available under resources as part of the Best Practice publication.