Raffles Europejski Warsaw Receives its First Green Globe Certification
Green Globe has awarded Raffles Europejski Warsaw, its inaugural certification and is the only hotel in Poland holding this Green Globe award for independently verified excellence in sustainable tourism.
Robert Kmita, General Manager, shares his pride in this great achievement, “The Green Globe certification honours the everyday endeavours of the entire team in fusing heritage and luxury with responsible practices and sustainable hospitality measures. However, achieving this certification is even more momentous for us – it is not only an honour acknowledging our hotel's standards, but also a significant milestone for Warsaw as a tourist destination and the entire Polish hospitality industry. Raffles Europejski Warsaw is the only hotel in Poland to hold the prestigious Green Globe certification.”
More than 160 years since its 19th century heyday, Raffles Europejski Warsaw takes its place in the heart of Poland’s capital city. Sitting proudly on Warsaw’s Royal Route, the hotel reflects the true spirit of Poland. The neo-renaissance palace was built by Enrico Marconi in 1857 and quickly became the city’s creative heart, filled with writers, poets and artists, resonating with the glamour of the period. With its own historian, plus history and art tours, the hotel is the perfect place to explore the many stories of that time. Here the artistic identity of Poland is reflected and championed, the traditions of the past reinvented in the spirit of understated modern luxury. Here is the restoration of a cherished icon, a place where stories – both old and new – are told.
TODAY, THE HOTEL’S MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE AND ENHANCE HISTORICAL, ARTISTIC AND LOCAL HERITAGE
The first, notable step in this direction was to create an impressive Art Collection and promote its artists and artworks in a dedicated approach. The Hotel Europejski Art Collection contains approximately 500 modern and contemporary artworks by over 120 artists. For that reason, a unique position has been created – Art Collection Manager. During the exceptional art tour, the manager provides profiles of all the artists, describes the exhibits, discovers the history of the collection, including both works historically associated with the hotel and those representing the contemporary Polish art scene. Among those interested in Art Tours are not only hotel guests, but also Warsaw residents, art enthusiasts or cultural institution employees and students of the Academy of Fine Arts. The Art Collection Manager does not limit the creative experience to the hotel venue only. As a historian and passionate varsavianist (local resident of Warsaw), he takes guests on tours of the capital city. Not only showcasing places that are well-known and iconic, but also those that are unusual, unique or chosen specifically to match the guest's passions.
Through curating Polish heritage and fulfilling the hotel’s mission, collective growth is fostered for institutions and initiatives related to local culture and the arts. This has resulted in building connections with the local, artistic, non-commercial initiative promoting Warsaw's art galleries and contemporary artists. Raffles Europejski Warsaw also works in partnership with the National Opera and Ludwig van Beethoven Festival supporting notable premieres and unique projects. The grand opening of the Museum of Modern Art demonstrated Raffles Europejski Warsaw’s valuable contribution to the artistic history of Warsaw and was the final pillar in the hotel’s network of strategic partnerships.
WHILE HONOURING ITS HERITAGE, THE HOTEL ALSO SUSTAINABLY MANAGES ENERGY AND WASTE REQUIREMENTS TO ENHANCE AND DEVELOP DAILY WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL
Highly efficient energy-saving technologies have been implemented at the property. Ventilation utilizes heat recovery systems fitted with CO2 sensors and variable speed drives that minimise energy consumption to the lowest possible level. Air conditioning is equipped with free cooling functionality which significantly reduces electricity consumption during the winter season. The hotel is particularly proud that almost 100% LED technology has been introduced into the building. But technology is not enough – what leads to success in energy savings is also energy management. Adapting daily to weather conditions and occupancy through the building management system led to an over 11% reduction in energy consumption last year as compared to the previous year 2023.
Waste management is equally important. The hotel is committed to a Reduce-Reuse-Recycle program. The property takes great efforts to reduce amounts of waste as new products are introduced and consumed. A sustainable purchasing policy has been implemented which limits packaging and single use plastic has been eliminated across the hotel with bottled water provided in glass only. The Orbisk system in kitchens monitors food waste resulting also in significant cost savings. Retired linen and products that can no longer be used are repurposed and donated to charitable causes such as providing goods to Ukraine during the ongoing war. In addition, waste is recycled into several categories including paper, glass, plastic and organic materials, achieving a total recycling rate of 50% of the overall waste volume.
Contact
Raffles Europejski Warsaw
Krakowskie Przedmieście 13
00-071, Warsaw, Poland
social.warsaw@raffles.com
raffles.com/Warsaw