As we leave 2023 and move into the New Year, my message as Green Globe CEO is one of collaboration and cooperation. For our industry and those of us at Green Globe, as well as our collaborators and competitors, we wish to explore and pursue what it is that unites us, and invest in those commonalties for everyone’s benefit. 

I personally, and on behalf of my Green Globe team, wish to thank all our members for their support in 2023. We are grateful for the trust you as leading travel and tourism businesses place in us - from the biggest hotels to the smallest of eco-lodges; congress centres to destination managers, and tourist attractions to cruise ships - we will continue to uphold the values that underpin your trust.

Crowne Plaza Budapest has been a longtime practitioner of InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) Green Engage program which places a great emphasis on educating colleagues about sustainable initiatives, activities, and processes. A hotel committee has been established to develop new green and sustainable practices, which are regularly shared as best practices with the hotel’s partners.

Located on the Caribbean island of Dominica, Secret Bay is an award-winning collection of luxury villas sustainably crafted on a cliffside within the ‘Nature Island’s’ rainforest. Meticulously constructed without the use of heavy machinery to avoid clearing mature trees, the villas are entirely built of sustainably sourced Guyanese hardwood and outfitted with locally crafted furniture composed of Red Cedar.

Four Blue Diamond Resorts’ properties in the Dominican Republic have once again proudly received the prestigious Green Globe Certification for 2023. This recognition reflects the hotel management company's commitment to continuously crafting a sustainable future for travel and tourism. The resorts whose certifications have been renewed include the all-inclusive Royalton Bavaro, Royalton Punta Cana, and Royalton Splash Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resorts & Casino, as well as Royalton CHIC Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort & Casino - Adults Only. Going above and beyond, the staff actively participates in beach cleanup activities and meticulously manages waste in strict adherence to both local and national regulations, always striving to be environmentally responsible and acting as a catalyst for positive change within the community.

Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi sits amid the Shaviyani Atoll, on an island fringed by white coral-sand and the azure waters of the Maldives. Guests encounter fascinating and abundant marine life in the resort’s lagoons with its Coralarium, the Maldives' first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation. For scuba divers the resort offers its 9 km-long house reef, home to several species of dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays. First certified by Green Globe in 2021, a recent independent, onsite audit of Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi has confirmed a compliance score of 87% against Green Globe’s International Standard for Sustainable Tourism.

Nestled in the heart of Switzerland, The Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne stands as an epitome of luxury and natural beauty. Recently, the Bürgenstock Resort unveiled an ambitious sustainability plan, reaffirming its commitment to environmental stewardship. With initiatives from biodiversity to sustainable food waste. The Bürgenstock Resort has been a leader in sustainability since its opening in 2017 and continues to build upon these values.

In the most Southern corner of Jordan, on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay offer travelers beachside vacations in luxury. Both resorts were some of the first Mövenpick properties to be certified in the Middle East and each holds the prestigious Green Globe GOLD status. Recent onsite, certification audits, conducted by independent inspectors found both resorts once again earned high compliance ratings with Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba reaching 90%, and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay 95% of the Green Globe sustainability indicators. 

Atmosphere Core, a dynamic hospitality company, has taken a momentous step by benchmarking efforts across the pillars of CORE — expanding into Community, Operations, Resources, and Environment. The company’s recently published CORE IMPACT report showcases ESG initiatives across 8 resorts within 3 brands.

Parco San Marco Hotels & Beach Resort is located on the shores of scenic Lake Lugano Northern Italy, and enjoys its own expansive private beach and gardens, all surrounded by the pristine and ancient Valsolda Regional Forest, Lake Piano Nature Reserve and Monte San Giorgio. Certified by Green Globe for the first time, Parco San Marco Hotels & Beach Resort has reached an inaugural compliance score of 98%. This remarkable achievement reflects a wide range of sustainable practices deeply embedded in daily operations and a team who carefully balance their successful business with care for their unspoiled Alpine location.

The Palms Hotel & Spa, a family owned and operated Miami Beach resort, has been dedicated to sustainable tourism for over 10 years and has recently achieved 100% of Green Globe’s compliance criteria. This exceptional score places The Palms Hotel & Spa in the very elite of travel and tourism businesses seeking to protect and preserve the ecology and prosperity of their destination.

Royalton Saint Lucia, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, has proudly received the prestigious Green Globe certification, underscoring the resort's steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible tourism. In an era marked by a heightened global focus on environmental challenges and an increasing demand for sustainable practices in the tourism industry, the all-inclusive property has been acknowledged for its significant contribution to preserving the delicate balance of the planet.

The Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, Green Globe certified in 2014, has continuously committed to sustainable practices and has now been recognized with PLATINUM status, placing it in the top 10% of Green Globe members.

Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage, a national monument since 1903, works with stakeholders to produce events in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. Certified by Green Globe for the second year, Beurs van Berlage has pledged its support for the global goal of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5°C and reduce total global GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.

Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Riyadh has recently been awarded the prestigious Green Globe Certification, a testament to their unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This achievement reflects their dedication to making a positive impact on both theie local community and the planet. General Manager Peter Hoesli said, “This Green Globe Certification is a milestone that highlights our dedication to creating a sustainable and responsible business model. We are proud to be at the forefront of the hospitality industry's sustainability efforts and will continue to innovate and lead by example.

Liibeck +++ 1200 Gaste aus Politik, Gesellschaft. Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft nahmen am 29. Oktober 2023 am Festakt zur Verleihung des Deutschen Umweltpreises der Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) in der Musik- und Kongresshalle Liibeck teil, darunter Bundesprasident Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bundesumweltministerin Steffi Lemke, Schleswig-Holsteins Umweltminister Tobias Goldschmidt. Biirgermeister Jan Lindenau, DBU-Generalsekretar Alexander Bonde und DBU­ Kuratoriumsvorsitzender Kai Niebert.

Hidden in the green valleys of the Basomtso region, between Tibetan villages and Himalayan barley fields, Songtsam Basomtso Linka (previously named Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso）stands as a shining example of sustainable tourism. As the first property in Tibet certified by Green Globe, this enchanting property seamlessly integrates responsible practices into every aspect of its operations, setting a remarkable standard for environmentally conscious hospitality.

For the third consecutive year, The Hotel Christopher is proud to be awarded the Green Globe Certification for its continued commitment to nature-first tourism and low-impact practices. It also remains the only hotel in Saint-Barthélemy to have obtained certification. This year's award recognizes the new efforts of the hotel for its entirely self-sufficient water management system thanks to its own water treatment and desalination plant making it the only hotel on the island to have a drinking water station. In a partnership with AQUAchiara, the French leader in transforming unpurified water into microfiltered quality drinking water for more than 15 years, their water is bottled and purified for hotel guests and restaurant guests.

For over a decade the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) has maintained its Green Globe certification and has been awarded PLATINUM status for its exemplary efforts. First certified by Green Globe in 2010, the EVVC achieved 90% of Green Globe’s certification criteria during the independent, on-site verification inspection conducted in October this year. Day-to-day, the EVVC staff are dedicated to the responsible use of office materials and resources. This includes simple but effective actions, including the purchase of office supplies and other consumables that are made from recycled material and can be further recycled, saving water and electricity, and reducing printing and copying to save paper. The EVVC has also made the sustainable decision to locate its main office near to Frankfurt’s main station providing good accessibility by rail. This has paid off with all employees making their way to work via public transport.

Located on Grenada’s famously beautiful Grand Anse Beach, Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club captures views across to the inlet of St. George’s Harbor and the beautiful and verdant mountain range at the center of the island. Every day the management and staff at Mount Cinnamon are committed to the delivering a truly sustainable tourism experience. All single use plastics, including straws and food containers have been eliminated. Recycling is a top priority including composting of organics and use of manure in gardens. The resort believes that when it comes to their environment, that beyond doing no harm, they should protect and enhance, meaning a dedication to keeping their community and beaches clean from litter.

In a secluded and beautiful corner of St Lucia, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort opens on to the blues of the bay while resting in the lush green of the surrounding rainforest. Joining the Caribbean’s sustainable tourism elite, Windjammer Landing has recently been independently audited and awarded Green Globe certification. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort Managing Director, Nick Prattas says, “Preserving St. Lucia’s natural and cultural landmarks is the center point of tourism on our island, and we strongly believe, as much as we’ve proven throughout the years, that with the right leadership, everyone in the hospitality industry can and must adopt sustainable strategies.”