Movenpick Hotels & Resorts named world's most sustainable hotel group

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has been named the world’s most sustainable hotel group for the second year running by certification body Green Globe.

The international hospitality firm has also been hailed a ‘global sustainability leader’ in the Green Globe Report 2017, with more than 50% of its certified properties worldwide achieving the entity’s Gold status – an accolade bestowed on hotels and resorts that have achieved Green Globe certification for five years or more.

These properties have been independently audited across 385 performance indicators and consistently met or exceeded the standards and criteria this rigorous certification process entails.

“This year is an important milestone on the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts sustainability journey,” said Green Globe CEO Guido Bauer.

The key requirement is for properties to execute an active sustainability management plan that delivers performance in the areas of socio-economic contribution; environmental protection; and the preservation of culture and heritage. For each Green Globe-certified Mövenpick hotel and resort, this plan is activated via an in-house green team and, to ensure verification of these actions, an independent on-site inspection is regularly conducted.

Best practice examples highlighted in the Green Globe report include: Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate in Dubai achieving an annual waste reduction of 60 metric tonnes; Mövenpick Resort El Quseir in Egypt developing an artificial reef to protect endangered coral reefs; Mövenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh‘s organic farm featuring 2,232 square metres of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers; and Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach in Phuket installing an innovative high-tech water supply machine.

All of these initiatives are part of Mövenpick’s successful CSR programme SHINE, which focuses on three pillars - environment, employer and social sustainability - with education an important thread common to each.

The hospitality firm has set ambitious Green Globe targets for its new and existing properties, explained Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts president & CEO Olivier Chavy: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in 2017, with our Green Globe ‘Gold’ status cementing our position as a hotel group raising the benchmark for sustainable hospitality practices, but as a company that never rests on its laurels, we will push the boundaries next year, ensuring our new and existing properties not only uphold, but exceed the standards we have set.”