Participate in the 2017 Green Lodging Trends Report powered by Greenview

The Green Lodging Trends Report is the lodging industry's annual exercise to assess and catalyse green innovation, best practices, and awareness regarding the state of sustainability across hotels worldwide. 

Over 100 best practices benchmarked for trends and highlights in 10 areas of hotel sustainability and social responsibility

Green Key is supporting the Green Lodging Trend Report 2017 powered by Greenview, a leader in advancing hotel sustainability, and managed by Green Lodging News, lodging's leading environmental news source. Green Key awarded establishments are encouraged to participate in the survey and to take advantage of many benefits related to the report.

Why should you participate in the 2017 Green Lodging Trends Report?:

• Get a free compare report! - Find out where your property is aligned with the best practices and where it is behind with peers locally and globally.
• Discover new innovative practices that hotels are implementing.
• Use information to improve and ultimately outperform your competitors.
• Highlight your innovations to showcase to the world in the annual trends report.

Sign-up Process:

• Click sign up to register your property on the Greenview Portal.
• Property details (step 1) and contact details (step 2) are required.
• Select free (survey) option (step 3) to complete registration.
• Receive login credentials from support@greenviewportal.com.
• Login here with your credentials.
• Go to Green Surveys Menu => Green Lodging Trends Report 2017.

Submit by 15 June 2017!

EKOenergy for the hospitality sector

Green Key's partner, EKOenergy launches a new campaign to introduce EKOenergy certified renewable energy to businesses in the hospitality sector

EKOenergy is the only international ecolabel for renewable energy. It is an initiative of 45 environmental organisations from 35 countries.

With its newest campaign, EKOenergy wants to encourage the hospitality sector to improve their sustainability score and switch to EKOenergy.

Green Key also suggests green energy, therefore EKOenergy wants to help tourism establishments fulfill this requirement and do even more. Because EKOenergy not only guarantees 100% renewable and environmentally friendly energy due to set environmental criteria, it also supports new renewable energy projects and ecological restoration through its Climate and Environmental Funds.

In addition, international standards such as CDP and Greenhouse Gas Protocol recommend EKOenergy, and switching to EKOenergy can score you extra points with LEED.

A growing number of hotels in Europe have already switched to EKOenergy and include the EKOenergy logo in their communication with their guests. Follow their lead and go the extra mile. For more information go to www.ekoenergy.org.   

Green Key launches its Best Practice Competition 2017!

This is the second year Green Key is running its best practice competition to find the Green Key Sustainability Champion 2017.

                      Hotel Chef visiting a local market in Switzerland

As 2017 has been designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the UN to "support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals" Green Key has decided to dedicate this year's best practice competition to the topic: 

"PARTNERSHIP AND LOCAL ENGAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

Green Key awarded establishments are encouraged to share their activities, initiatives and best practices that promote sustainable social, cultural, environmental or economic developments in their local area. 

More information and the guidelines for participating in Green Key's Best Practice Competition can be found here. The deadline for submitting the story is 1 September 2017. The winner will be announced publicly on the World Tourism Day, 27 September on the Green Key website and in Green Key's social media. 

Read about last year's winner here

Good luck to all Green Key awarded sites that participate in the Best Practice Competition 2017! 

Two top hotels in London recognised for their green credentials

Keep Britain Tidy presents its first international Green Key awards to two top London hotels – the Sheraton Skyline and Le Meridien Piccadilly.

Mohamed Rahemanji (Chief Engineer, Sheraton Skyline), Paul Todd (Accreditations Manager, Keep Britain Tidy), Lynsey Atherton (Green Key National Operator, Keep Britain Tidy), Thierry Henrot (General Manager, Sheraton Skyline)

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is delighted to have presented its first two Green Key awards after taking on the management of this international award for the hospitality sector in England.

The Sheraton Skyline and Le Meridien Piccadilly now join more than 2,550 Green Key establishments across 55 countries. The Green Key is the leading standard of excellence for environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism sector.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “We are delighted to be presenting our first Green Key awards to two such deserving recipients. When you choose to stay in a Green Key accredited hotel, you know that you are reducing your environmental footprint by staying in an establishment that makes more sustainable choices.”

During the rigorous judging, each hotel is assessed against criteria including staff involvement, guest information and sustainable management of energy, waste, water, cleaning and food and drinks. Through making greener choices each establishment is able to significantly reduce their environmental impact, reducing the consumption of energy and water, and improve their guests’ experience.

Thierry Henrot, General Manager at Sheraton Skyline, said, “It is such an honour to receive this prestigious award and we, at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel, are very proud to have been recognised and awarded with Green Key for this year.

“We are very committed to providing the most environmental friendly and sustainable establishment for our guests and we are very passionate in training and educating our employees to maintain our sustainable practices throughout the hotel.

“It is our goal to ensure that our guests are happy and their needs are met through our environmental practices and the values we strive to achieve.”

veline Noort (General Manager, Le Meridien Piccadilly) and Lynsey Atherton (Green Key National Operator, Keep Britain Tidy)

Eveline Noort, General Manager at Le Meridien, said, “We are really proud to receive the Green Key label for the fifth consecutive year. Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel is committed to preserving the environment and playing an active role in keeping Britain tidy.

“Since February 2012, Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel set up its own Green Team made up of hotel associates whose aim is to develop, implement and oversee numerous sustainable initiatives. The results of our efforts and determination were recognised in November 2012 by becoming the first hotel in the UK to receive the Green Key Award, a step-by-step environmental management programme specifically designed for the hospitality industry. This award marks the fifth consecutive year Le Méridien Piccadilly has received the Green Key.

“Thanks to the hotel’s guests’ and associates’ efforts, Le Méridien Piccadilly is continuously achieving significant environmental achievements. In 2016 the hotel managed to save an estimated 2,190 m3 of water, the equivalent to an Olympic-sized swimming pool”

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

In connection with United Nations having declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, Green Key would like to highlight its contribution to the achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. 

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.

In July 2016, new Green Key criteria for its six categories took effect. 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. In the coming months, Green Key will in more detail present its commitment to each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Pennsylvania Suites in Mexico City is going green!

Green Key awarded Pennsylvania Suites have embedded green initiatives in a very visible way

Pennsylvania Suites is a business hotel located centrally in Mexico City. The establishment has implemented many environmental initiatives while joining the Green Key programme: the hotel uses LED lighting everywhere, there is a waste sorting system for guests, and the hotel has established a collaboration with companies that can receive recyclable waste. A range of food 

roducts in the breakfast come from local sources, and the establishment is considering solar panels as the next step in the continuous improvement of its environmental performance.

The most obvious symbol of the environmental thinking in Pennsylvania Suites is however their “green wall” that is visible from all guest rooms. Besides its beautiful appearance, the green wall assists in a healthy microclimate by keeping humidity and it is a perfect space for attracting birds in the middle of Mexico City. 

Ecobnb and Green Key entering into a collaboration agreement

Ecobnb runs a travel search platform that enables users to find and compare eco-certified accommodations. 

The website promotes responsible tourism with low environmental impact. It encourages stays in sustainable accommodations, organic food, environmentally friendly routes, green traveling, and the rediscovery of nearby and authentic places. Ecobnb itself has 0% CO2 emissions and uses 100% renewable energy. 

Ecobnb will highlight Green Key awarded establishments on their website www.ecobnb.com

Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center's fight against food waste

Posters and table tents in the Sheraton Buganvilians Resort and Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico remind guests to enjoy the buffet responsibly. 

The campaign was implemented to create awareness about the amount of food waste that is produced every year on the global level and to encourage guests to think about it when enjoying the buffet in the hotel. 

According to the poster above, some 30% of cereals, 40-50% of cultivated roots, fruits and vegetables, 20% of oil seeds, meat and fresh produce and 30% of fish are thrown away each year.

Informing guests about the problematic of food waste does not only help to raise awareness, but also to reduce the costs for food and beverages for the tourism establishment. 

Green Key National Operator Meeting dedicated to the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

Green Key National Operators from 39 countries as well as Green Key’s corporate partners participated in the Green Key National Operator Meeting on 27-30 March 2017 in Athens.

The Green Key National Operator Meeting is an annual event where the status and developments of the Green Key programme are discussed. As the UN designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the NOM was dedicated to the celebration of this special year for sustainable tourism. 

Sustainability lies at the heart of Green Key, and with each establishment joining the programme, Green Key helps transforming the tourism sector into a powerful tool for positive change. Tourism providers and tourists alike are becoming more and more aware of the need to change everyday habits to protect today what we would like future generations to enjoy tomorrow. This is why not only the number of Green Key awarded sites is growing year after year, but also the tourists' awareness of the ecolabel. 

During the National Operator Meeting Green Key International presented the planned activities to celebrate the IY2017 and encouraged all members to join the celebration in their countries all over the world. 

Green Key is actively participating in the IY2017 both through the daily work of the programme , but also through activities that will be specifically dedicated to the IY2017 this year. One of them will be a best practice competition that will highlight the contribution Green Key awarded sites are making to the sustainable development of their destinations. Follow our updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or in our News.