All the nuances of sustainability

Sustainability is a key element of tourism development. In fact, it is not a trend destined to end. On the contrary. Travelers, especially those of Gen Z, are and will increasingly look for hotels and experiences that respect the environment. Also willing to increase their budget in order to make green choices

According to the study “Sustainability objective: new development trajectories for Italian tourism“, carried out by Deloitte in collaboration with AICEO-Associazione Italiana Ceo, which analyzes the impact of sustainability on the Italian tourism supply chain, Italians are increasingly attentive to environment and increasingly willing to pay a premium even for sustainable travel and stays.

And so studies like the 2023 one by Relais & Chateaux are commissioned. Read it here.

Here are 10 virtuous examples that respond to the sentiment of travelers and guests, increasingly oriented towards sustainability.

1 Natura Hospitality, the network of eco and bio structures

Ospitalità Natura was born from the collaboration between Teamwork (hospitality consultancy and training company) and NaturaSì.

Objective? Respond to an increasingly widespread need. In fact, according to recent data on tourism, 47% of Italians consider the commitment of accommodation facilities and activities to respect the environment and biodiversity to be important.

The network now has over 35 structures. They range from bio-farms such as La Cerqua in Umbria to 5-star hotels, including the Bio Hotel Raphaël in Rome.

2 Enterprise Hotel obtains DCA ESG Certification

Enterprise Hotel by Planetaria Hotels has obtained the Sustainable DCA ESG Certification issued by Dream&Charme.

That is, the international Certification Body accredited by Accredia ISO 17065 to certify the sustainability of accommodation facilities and officially recognized by IAF in 97 countries.

A continually evolving path has allowed the hotel to achieve the requirements analyzed and certified by Dream&Charme on the basis of 9 macro-parameters which refer to the SDGs of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and include 1,200 evaluation parameters.

3 Eco-green amenities

To reduce the impact on the environment, hotels are gradually abandoning plastic in single-dose bathroom amenities in favor of dispensers and offering ecological products, even in spas.

Among the companies that stand out for offering green solutions to the hotel industry are Groupe GM and Prima.

Groupe GM is a French company, an international leader in the guest amenity sector. Headquartered in Paris, Groupe GM designs, manufactures and distributes cosmetics and accessories for the hospitality industry in more than 80 countries on all continents.

Furthermore, thanks to an international network of dedicated agents, Groupe GM distributes a unique portfolio of over 50 brands.

Thanks to innovative approaches, Groupe GM has managed to develop products that not only minimize its water footprint, but also substantially reduce its dependence on plastic and other scarce resources.

Prima has been collaborating with ADA Cosmetics International for over 25 years to distribute the most exclusive cosmetics brands throughout the Italian peninsula.

Over the years it has created tailor-made atmospheres for the bathrooms of thousands of prestigious hotels, offering the most sought-after cosmetic treatments, the most innovative environmental protection dispensers and the creation of tailor-made dry amenities.

Prima recognizes its responsibility towards the planet and is committed to reducing its environmental impact.

It supports the transition to sustainable energy sources, reduces the consumption of non-renewable resources and promotes waste reduction. It collaborates with its suppliers to ensure that its products and services are produced with a sustainable approach.

It also promotes solutions that help preserve the beauty and vitality of nature for future generations.

4 Sleep green with Natural Heritage by Simmons

Simmons, a multinational bedding company and leader in the hospitality segment, has signed a product line capable of changing the rules of the hospitality sector.

The “revolution” is called Natural Heritage. This is a family of products designed to bring together technologies, materials, a green heart and design, interpreting the sentiment of a guest who is increasingly sensitive to environmental issues and the use of natural products.

The Natural Heritage line is made up of 2 toppers and 5 mattresses, produced with cotton fabric and padding in natural material obtained from recycled plastic bottles and virgin wool.

All from a Reuse, Reduce, Recycle perspective. In fact, the company vision aims at increasingly sustainable production also through a lower use of precious raw materials, a drastic reduction in waste and the use of energy produced from renewable sources.

“The difficulty of having ‘green’ products in the hotel sector – confirms Fabio Formenti, ceo of the Formenti Industrial Group – is that, first of all, they must be fireproof. But the research has continued, and we have selected suppliers who are able to create materials that aim for sustainability and which, at the same time, comply with fire resistance regulations.

All this has a slightly higher cost, but not as much as one might think, since the use of recovered materials will be increasingly widespread.”

5 LeFay Resort AWARD Best SPA in the world

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda was awarded “Best Sustainable SPA of the Year” at the World SPA & Wellness Awards.

The award was awarded during the World SPA & Wellness Convention, dedicated to international wellness hospitality professionals. T

he World SPA & Wellness Awards reward the best SPAs on each continent that stand out for their excellent service, standards and commitment to sustainability.

The prizes are awarded by a jury made up of independent specialists and experts in the SPA sector, coming from all over the world and belonging to both the SPA and hotel sectors.

For the second time in a row, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda was awarded as “Best sustainable SPA“, thanks to the commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility carried out since its opening.

The structure, carbon neutral, is characterized by bio-architecture and an interior design inspired by the territory, uses energy mainly from clean sources and is oriented towards the preference for recycled materials, with the aim of eliminating the use of plastic.

Finally, great attention is paid to its collaborators: the Group is certified Top Employers, the seal that rewards the most virtuous companies in terms of HR policies, which stand out for the benefits offered and working conditions.

6 Lexus brings electrification to Milan Design Week
Milan Design Week 2024 enters the future with Lexus. He will be present in the spaces of Superstudio Più, at the Art Point and the Art Garden, from 16 to 21 April, with “Time“.

This is an installation made up of 2 works. The works on display will be “BEYOND THE HORIZON” by Hideki Yoshimoto/Tangent and “8 minutes and 20 seconds” by Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel. Both installations are inspired by the “LF-ZC” (Lexus Future Zero-emissionCatalyst) concept car.

That is, a new cutting-edge electrification model that will allow highly dynamic driving, as well as a new concept of the automotive experience defined by the synergy between hardware and software to create distinctive and unforgettable mobility.

7 Dubai says no to single-use plastic water bottles

In just 2 years since its launch, the city’s sustainable initiative, “Dubai Can”, has achieved a remarkable result.

In fact, it has reduced the use of nearly 18 million single-use 500ml plastic water bottles.

Furthermore, thanks to the support of its partners and sponsors, Dubai Can has positioned 50 fountains in strategic points of the city. Overall they delivered almost 9 million liters of water.

With the extension of the Emirates Year of Sustainability to 2024, the Dubai Can initiative plans to expand further. As? Through the installation of another 30 water fountains by the end of the year, distributed in various places in the city.

This will further stimulate residents and visitors to adopt minimal but effective changes in their lifestyle, such as using reusable water bottles and installing water filters in their homes, offices and schools.

8 The commitment of Barceló Hotel Group

Barceló Hotel Group’s sustainability standards, integrated into its Ser Barceló system, have received the approval of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

This means that they have been fully recognized as complying with the GSTC criteria established for the hospitality sector. Obtaining this recognition confirms Barceló Hotel Group’s commitment to defending sustainable tourism.

That is, the axis on which the BarcelóReGen strategy is based, which maximizes its positive impact on the economic, social and environmental development of the destinations in which it operates.

With this recognition, Barceló Hotel Group becomes the first Spanish hotel chain whose sustainability standards have been approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

9 Hotel 2024: sustainability in catering among the themes of the 48th edition
The journey into sustainability of Hotel continues, the hospitality and catering trade fair, which will be held from 21 to 24 October 2024 in the pavilions of Fiera Bolzano.

The close link between Hotels and the theme of sustainability was further strengthened on the occasion of the presentation of the new CER – CARE’s Ethical Restaurant certification.

This certification represents an important step forward in the world of sustainable catering. CER is the first evaluation that verifies the sustainable commitment of restaurants according to measurable and verifiable standards.

There are 2 aspects that make CER certification unique. First of all, it is not limited to the sustainability of raw materials, but evaluates every aspect of the restaurant system, dividing it into 7 categories.

Furthermore, thanks to the presence of measurable, reliable and transparent criteria, it constitutes a universal standard of restaurant sustainability, accessible to any gastronomic activity, regardless of the type or location.

10 Sustainability for Carlton Hotel St. Moritz

The Carlton Hotel St. Moritz, part of the Tschuggen Collection group, has a constant commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

The heart of the holistic Moving Mountains program, offered in the hotels of the Tschuggen Collection, is the commitment to protecting the environment and the surrounding natural beauty.

With the spirit of DARE-GIVE, the founding pillar of the program. It is no coincidence that the Tschuggen Collection is the first high-end Swiss hotel group to combine exceptional standards of hotel management with effective climate protection measures.

In fact, in the last 10 years the total consumption of fossil fuels has been reduced by over 60%, with the aim of eliminating it almost completely by 2025.

Added to this is the financing of local (and non-local) climate protection projects for residual emissions that cannot yet be reduced.

The Carlton Hotel St. Moritz, together with the other hotels of the Tschuggen Collection group, obtained the Green Globe certification as the most sustainable premium hotel chain in Switzerland in 2022.

Furthermore, Carlton Hotel has also been recognized as a sustainability leader by The Leading Hotels of the World, which identifies hotels capable of making a difference in terms of sustainability.

Furthermore, the Tschuggen Collection group organized a special charity event in March 2023. That is, the Race for Nature, with a fundraiser for organizations involved in nature protection.

Almost a year later, several projects have been supported and financed thanks to Race for Nature.

For example, the Swiss parks network project, with free travel to and from Swiss parks, or the initiative to protect the Alps. Among these important activities there is also a particular project in favor of bees and wild butterflies in danger of extinction.

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash