Ulster University’s Academy Restaurant becomes first in UK and Ireland to be certified with Green Key

Ulster University’s Academy Restaurant becomes the UK and Ireland’s first to achieve the prestigious Green Key certificate, for its commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment.  

Left to Right: Professor Mark Durkin, Lisa Kennedy, Wendy McGuire and Professor Ioannis Pantelidis

Located at its Belfast campus, the Academy Restaurant boasts a state-of-the-art restaurant and kitchens. Academy also serves for culinary and beverage schools, hospitality and food innovation research as well as conference and meeting facilities. As part of the Department for Hospitality and Tourism management at Ulster University Business School its primary purpose is the provision of innovative and immersive education, that enhances students’ skills to prepare them for their future careers. As part of the strategy of educating future leaders of industry, the Academy’s menu showcases local, seasonal ingredients and its operations have a strong focus on sustainability.

To be certified with Green Key, the Academy has met the more than 60 imperative criteria stipulated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and operates to the high environmental standards expected by Green Key. 

Lisa Kennedy, Business Manager at Academy, states:

The team at the Academy are committed to Sustainable Development and aim to bring a balance between meeting the requirements of present day demands in hospitality, while not overlooking the needs of future generations. Obtaining the Green Key certification is a key indicator of our commitment to embedding sustainable practices and providing the future of hospitality with the knowledge to implement them.”  

Academy has implemented many sustainable practices and actions to reduce its environmental impact including: 

• Working towards zero-waste by reducing disposable paper food waste during the meal production and consumption processes. The restaurant is also trialling paperless menus, electronic production of receipts and digitalisation of marketing materials. 

• Sourcing food locally to reduce its carbon miles and informing about the carbon footprint / food miles of their meals. It also hosts low-carbon food themed events as well as vegan and vegetarian menus.  

• Using technology that is energy-efficient and installing water-saving appliances.

• Hosting training programmes for suppliers and other industry stakeholders as well as practical sustainability education in the Academy. 

• Academy is committed to creating a sustainability literacy workshop programme and becoming an industry leader in this area. 

Claudia Bogensperger, International Green Key Coordinator at FEE, explains:

For us at Green Key International, it is a great pleasure to certify the Academy Restaurant at the Ulster University as our first Green Key restaurant in the UK and Ireland! The team of the Academy Restaurant has done an incredible job in implementing our sustainability standards in their establishment, and we are proud to welcome them to our network!”

If you would like to find out more about the Academy Restaurant’s commitment to sustainability, please visit the Academy Restaurant website. 

Media contact: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk    
Academy contact: Lisa Kennedy   
Email: l.kennedy@ulster.ac.uk  
Academic contact: Dr Susann Power  
Email: s.power@ulster.ac.uk 

First Green Key certified hotels in the Seychelles

In a groundbreaking achievement for both, the hotels and the tourism industry of the Seychelles, the STORY Seychelles Resort and Fisherman’s Cove Resort are the first hotels on the island to receive the prestigious Green Key certification, marking a significant milestone in sustainable tourism.

Photo credit: Fisherman’s Cove Resort

The neighboring resorts on the well-known Beau Vallon Beach in Mahe, Seychelles, the Fisherman’s Cove Resort and STORY Seychelles Resort have achieved Green Key certification. The certificate marks the unwavering dedication to eco-conscious practices of the resorts and establishes them as trailblazers in advocating responsible tourism in the region.

Jelena Ognjenović, Cluster General Manager, explains:

We are thrilled and honored to be the first hotels in Seychelles to receive this remarkable certification. This milestone signifies our dedication to lead by example in sustainable tourism and preserve the pristine beauty of our island for generations to come.

Since 2021, the Fisherman’s Cove Resort, rooted in history since 1943, has transitioned into a sustainability beacon under the STORY Hospitality Group.

Len Jackson, Cluster PR & Marketing Manager states:

After the rebranding in 2021, we adopted a significant policy shift in how we manage the resort with a keystone indicator encompassing sustainability. Green Key has provided us with useful knowledge, insight and learning on best practices.

Photo credit: STORY Seychelles Resort

The STORY Seychelles and Fisherman’s Cove Resort have introduced a range of innovative eco-friendly initiatives, including energy-efficient lighting, water conservation programs, waste reduction strategies, and the support of local environmental projects. This achievement solidifies its position as a leader in combining luxury with sustainability.

Len Jackson, Cluster PR & Marketing Manager states;

Sustainability is not a once off fix or quick check list. It requires resources, commitment, passion, and dedication. STORY Seychelles chose to align with Green Key due to several factors that included a robust criterion reflecting current push factors; its auditing process and benchmarking; and the global trust in the brand.

The dual recognition underscores the resorts’ commitment to reducing their environmental footprint while providing guests with an exceptional, eco-friendly experience. Together, they contribute to Seychelles’ diverse hospitality landscape, embodying a harmonious blend of history and modern sustainability.

If you would like to read more about the two establishments, please click the links below.

Beach Resorts & Villas in Seychelles / Story Seychelles

Beach Resort & Villas in Seychelles / Fisherman’s Cove Resort

Green Key Ceremony for Camino Real Hotels in Mexico

On 13 September 2023, the Green Key certification event took place at Camino Real Polanco in Mexico, with 32 hotels under the Camino Real Hotels group (Camino Real, Quinta Real, and Real Inn brands) being certified.

In attendance were prominent figures from the tourism and hospitality sector in Mexico, including Miguel Torruco Marqués, the Secretary of Tourism; Humberto Hernández Haddad, the Undersecretary of Tourism; Dr. José Zeind Domínguez, the General Director of Tourism Certification; Leandro Trejo Escudero, the General Director of Camino Real Hoteles; and Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos, the CEO of FEE México.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ríos emphasized that "Green Key is not merely a recognition; it is the result of the significant technical support and strong commitment demonstrated by each and every department within the hotels during its implementation."

As part of their implementation efforts, Camino Real Hoteles successfully reduced electricity, water, and gas consumption by 7% compared to 2019. Despite a 2% variation in occupancy compared to 2019, electricity consumption saw a remarkable 13% reduction, resulting in a decrease of 3,320 tons of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to planting 276,000 trees in just one year.

Moreover, this achievement involved collaboration with over 200 suppliers from across the country, all of whom pledged to adhere to Green Key guidelines. In the process, more than 3,500 employees actively participated, receiving 96 training sessions on environmental issues, which were a central focus of the program.

In his closing remarks, Miguel Torruco Marqués, Secretary of Tourism, extended his congratulations to the establishments and emphasized that "Green Key represents a guarantee of sustainability in the management and operation of accommodation, as demonstrated by Grupo Posadas."

Reef Conservation becomes the Green Key National Operator for Mauritius

The Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) member organisation in Mauritius, Reef Conservation is launching the national management of Green Key in the country.  

Green Key certified Veranda Resorts, Mauritius. Photo credit: Rogers Hospitality.

The overall objective of Reef Conservation is to promote a holistic ridge to reef approach for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity through local, regional, and international efforts in partnership with all concerned stakeholders. Reef Conservation carries out projects and initiatives in four programmes areas: Training; Education and sensitisation; Research and monitoring and Community and conservation. 

Francois Rogers, Executive President of Reef Conservation, states: “After the development of Eco-Schools and YRE programmes in Mauritius and Rodrigues, it is an honour for Reef Conservation to oversee the deployment of Green Key certification across the hospitality sector in Mauritius. This high-quality certification with strict criteria developed to monitor and accompany the environmental and sustainable implementation of management and education. As this certification applies not only to hotels, but at large, to conference centres, leisure parks, restaurants and small hotels, the Green Key Certification will greatly contribute to support the transformation of Mauritius in a sustainable island destination.’” 

A Green Key Steering Committee has been formed in Mauritius with the support of professionals of the industry, namely: Mr Renaud Azema, General Manager of Vatel School (Mauritius), Mr Gulshan Teeluck, Training Officer  and Acting Coordinator for the Tourism Department at the Mauritius Institute of Training & Development,  Ms Jodi Naidoo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Tourism, Leisure, and Services School of Sustainable Development and Tourism (SSDT) at the University of Technology Mauritius and Mr  Daren Moodley, Coordinator of Sustainable Island Program & Consultant at the Tourism Authority. All on-site audits will be carried out by SGS Mauritius. 

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds: “We have had Green Key certified establishments (Heritage Resorts hotels) in Mauritius since 2017, and we are extremely proud to have Reef Conservation taking over the management of Green Key at the national level which will enhance the continued development of the Green Key programme in Mauritius.” 

Green Key to IBIS City Center hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine

Despite the challenging situation for the national Green Key management and especially the hospitality industry in Ukraine, we are very happy to announce that IBIS City Center in Kyiv has been Green Key certified.

 The Green Key programme in Ukraine has gone through a tough time in the last one and a half years. It nearly stopped after one of the Green Key certified hotels was destroyed by a missile strike. It was not easy to have any other priorities except the safety of human life.

Hotel management must be strong and believe in European values to start Green Key programme implementation in wartime. This is exactly what happened at the IBIS City Center hotel located in Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. On 17 August 2023, the Hotel's representative handed in the Green Key application form to the Ukrainian Green Key National Operator, and the hotel successfully passed its on-site audit.

The hotel staff has demonstrated its dedication to corporate social programme implementation, particularly to the part related to sustainable development and a high level of safety measures. According to the personnel, implementing the Green Key programme has helped saving resources, protecting the environment, and significantly cuts utility costs. The hotel management team is enthusiastic about implementing the programme and estimating it as future oriented.

Motel One to certify all hotels with Green Key

Motel One Group, a German hotel chain with 90 hotels in 13 countries, has chosen Green Key as the external certification programme partner for its hotels.

Motel One Linz Hauptplatz, Austria

Motel One has made it its priority to sustainably improve the hospitality world through its business activities. No matter whether it’s through climate protection, the purchase of sustainable products, being a multi-award-winning employer or through societal commitment. For this the group has launched the ‘One Planet. One Future.’ programme which is based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

With external certifications, Motel One is underlining its commitment to sustainable development and is obtaining objective confirmation that the ESG measures it has already put in place have been effective.

In July 2023, Motel One signed a cooperation agreement with Green Key to certify all Motel One Group hotels. The certifications will portray the high environmental and socio-economic standards through rigorous verifications and auditing processes.

Daniel Müller, Co-CEO Motel One Group, says: “We are very proud, that our longstanding efforts are now being verified and certified by an experienced external party. This will send a strong signal of quality and reliability towards our guests and underline our commitment. Green Key is a strong partner, and we are thrilled to start this cooperation.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds: “We are impressed with Motel One’s ambitions on sustainability, and we are grateful to be chosen as the external certification programme partner. We have already begun the work with Motel One’s hotels on their sustainability journey.”

Motel One Glasgow, Scotland

The Hilton Lake Como joins the Green Key programme

Following the Hilton hotels in Milan, Venice and Rome, the Hilton Lake Como hotel receives the Green Key certification.

Within walking distance of Villa Olmo, lush parks and the lakefront, the hotel is ten minutes from the city center and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Sophisticated and contemporary, full of style and charm, the Hilton Lake Como is not only luxury and relaxation: its reserved dimension well integrates and reflects the surrounding landscape, the lush nature and the splendid Lake Como. Hilton, on the other hand, is a guarantee of excellence, as is the rigor of Green Key, a quality standard in the field of sustainable tourism, which guides tourist facilities to play their part in achieving the 17 sustainable development goals established by United Nations.

The facility shows a strong focus on environmental issues and commitment to the implementation of good sustainable management practices, in accordance with Hilton's policy and the Green Key imperative criteria.

The hotel is undertaking many actions to further improve its sustainability performance. Its purchase policy is based on the choice of sustainable and local products, while the menu offers seasonal and vegetarian options. Understanding that holistic nature of sustainability, the Hilton is establishing partnerships with local authorities and associations to promote the territory, while also making guests an active part in the implementation of good practices.

The sustainable approach of the hotel is made possible by the fundamental support of the staff, which is always aware and constantly updated on good practices to be implemented in the daily management of routine activities.

Thanks to the hotel's collaboration with Caritas, basic necessities are provided to the needy people of the city, and the partnership with the non-profit association Imperfect raises awareness among guests on the importance of breast cancer prevention.

Hilton Lake Como is an excellence of the hospitality sector and, joining proactively the Green Key programme, it is also confirmed as a champion of sustainable tourism, inclusiveness, and enhancement of the territory.

Cultivating Sustainable Tourism in Cambodia through ESD

With education for sustainable development (ESD) at the heart of our work, we are excited to have reached a significant milestone this past July in our ongoing project with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) which seeks to promote sustainable tourism practices in Cambodia through environmental education.  

In 2022, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the Improved Competitiveness of National Enterprises (ICONE) programme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) launched a new project to support sustainable tourism in Cambodia, with FEE’s Eco-Schools and Green Key programmes providing a framework for implementation.  

As part of this project, Green Key Coordinator and Project Manager, Claudia Bogensperger travelled to Cambodia last month to participate in a regional conference on sustainability in tourism organised by the ICONE programme and to deliver an introductory course on sustainable tourism to three hospitality schools in Cambodia. The conference kicked-off this joint project, with various stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality industry engaging in discussions and workshops about customers' perspective on sustainability, waste management, zero plastic approaches, and capacity building of the local industry. Green Key presented practical examples of sustainable tourism from the Green Key International network, and the role of certification programmes in furthering sustainability within the industry. The conference offered a platform for exchange, collaboration, and collective learning. 

Another key element of the project has been the development and delivery of the "Basics in Sustainability in Tourism & Hospitality" course. This was delivered by Ms. Bogensperger to  teachers of École d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule (EHT), Pour un Sourire d'Enfant's (PSE) and SPOONS. The course addresses topics such sustainable purchasing, emission reduction, waste minimisation and management, and social sustainability.  The aim is to equip teachers with a basic understanding about sustainability in tourism and be able to pass along their knowledge to their students. To ensure a holistic approach to the course, teachers from various departments, such as Food & Beverage, Communications, Housekeeping, and Maintenance participated. 

Fundraising and Marketing Manager of SPOONS, Dym Chandy Loeung explains:

Participating in the three-day Sustainable Tourism Development course was an enlightening experience that deepened my understanding of core green tourism principles, and I'm now equipped with the knowledge and passion to promote responsible and sustainable travel, as well as the tips to make our NGO and social enterprise more eco-friendly.

The course will also function as important resource for those schools aiming to be certified with the Green Flag of the Eco-Schools programme, as the inclusion of environmental education in a variety of different curriculum areas is central to the Seven Steps methodology of the programme. This has also been pointed out by Project and Communications Manager of EHT Paul Dubrule, Enrique Blanco: 

Contributing to EHT Paul Dubrule's actions in becoming an NGO and TVET green school model, our teachers and team members were privileged to receive a comprehensive course in sustainability in tourism and hospitality. Delivered by Ms. Claudia Bogensperger from the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE), this learning experience included core green principles and practical examples demonstrated through group activities to apply sustainable practices related to resource consumption, waste management, biodiversity awareness, and more! 

Green Key Coordinator and Project Manager, Claudia Bogensperger reflected on her experience in Cambodia, saying,  

It was an absolute pleasure to work together with various stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sector in Cambodia and learn more about the inspiring work they are already doing in the realms of sustainable tourism. To create a truly sustainable industry, everyone needs to be involved in the process, and we need to work on different models of sustainability that are not only based on but support geographical and cultural differences. That is why at FEE, our approach is to stimulate capacity development through collaborations with local organizations. Recognising that sustainable practices are best tailored to fit the unique characteristics of each region, we believe that empowering local entities is central to achieving holistic and impactful outcomes. 

This project in Cambodia marks an important step in promoting sustainable tourism practices within the country. By mainstreaming sustainability into the local context and promoting inclusivity among all stakeholders, the seeds for a thriving and responsible tourism industry in the country have been planted. For the long-term success of the project, it is critical to cultivate sustainable tourism practices that not only benefit the environment, but also empower local communities. We look forward to continuing to do so in partnership with GIZ Cambodia and the ICONE programme. 

Copyright Pictures: Claudia Bogensperger

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) and Green Key International Enter Collaboration Agreement

Green Key is proud to announce to be an official partner of IHG Hotels & Resorts, supporting the eco-certification efforts of IHG hotels.

Crown Plaza Copenhagen Towers, Copenhagen, Denmark

IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company with more than 6,000 hotels in over 100 countries worldwide, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. IHG has a family of 18 hotel brands, across luxury & lifestyle, premium, essentials, suites and exclusive partners – including, among others: Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Kimpton, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites.

Continuing a long-standing commitment to operating responsibly, IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow action plan sets out the company’s ambitions to deliver its purpose of True Hospitality for Good, through efforts focused on creating positive change for people, communities and the planet.

Through its collaboration with Green Key International, IHG will support hotel pathways to participation in the Green Key programme, which will provide external third-party validation of the comprehensive sustainability efforts being undertaken by hotels across the IHG portfolio.

Kate Willoughby, Head of Corporate Responsibility, EMEAA at IHG, says,

“Our hotels are driving impactful progress toward sustainability goals as part of the Journey to Tomorrow plan. We’re pleased to be working with an internationally-recognised and leading eco-certification programme like Green Key to provide further external recognition for these initiatives, and to drive further continuous improvement.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, adds,

“We are extremely proud to be an eco-certification partner of IHG. We recognise the value of IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow in supporting their hotels’ journey towards achieving the external Green Key certification and applaud IHG for partnering with Green Key, thereby reaffirming their commitment to sustainability and accountability.”

Voco Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland

About IHG®

IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 18 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,900 in the development pipeline.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo

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