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The international Green Key ecolabel that recognises tourism establishments for their environmental performance has just been granted to 6 new accommodation businesses in Brussels, taking the number of organisations in the Capital Region with the label up to 15.
As we know, sustainability is an important issue in the tourism industry, where corporate buyers (for conferences) and some visitors (leisure tourism) are looking for "greener" products. In light of this, the range of ecolabels and other certification schemes has grown, which runs the risk of causing widespread confusion. To respond to the interest of the hotel sector and other tourist establishments based in the Brussels-Capital Region, Christos Doulkeridis, Brussels’ Minister for Tourism, was keen to introduce a clear, recognisable labelling system to help establish Brussels as a sustainable destination by 2014. At the end of a period of reflection and independent analysis, the international Green Key label was selected, represented in Wallonia and Brussels by the Federation Inter-Environnement Wallonie (IEW).
It was back in January 2011, with the Minister’s support, that the Green Key labelling programme was officially launched in Brussels. After a pilot labelling scheme in 2010 (by the Radisson Blue Royal hotel) and recognition of 8 candidates in 2011, the label has just been granted to 6 more establishments, taking the number of organisations with the Green Key label in the Brussels Capital Region up to 15.
The Green Key label follows a system of compulsory criteria, which the candidates must satisfy completely, and optional criteria, for which candidates must achieve at least a third of the total points available. Labelled organisations therefore fulfil a series of demands in a variety of areas, setting themselves apart by the measures they take to satisfy the optional criteria. The labelling process takes place twice a year.
Below is a list of the 2012 crop, with a brief description of just some of the many best environmental practices that each one boasts to justify their inclusion in the Green Label club:
- The Auberge des 3 Fontaines: a youth hostel in the Sonian forest, distinguished by its sparing management of water and energy, and in particular by its programme focusing on the gradual introduction of dry urinals.
- The B&B BiHome: a B&B in a traditional Brussels manor house, it has developed a green purchasing strategy, particularly when it comes to sustainable food, using 100% organic food products.
- The NH Atlanta hotel: a hotel in the historic heart of Brussels, it has introduced a participatory approach involving all the heads of departments in the environment project. You can also sort and recycle your rubbish in your room when you stay there.
- The Le Plaza hotel: an historic building, one of the oldest hotels in Brussels, it communicates actively with its clients to encourage them to act in ways that respect the environment inside the hotel, but also to steer them towards more ecological modes of transport and activities outside.
- Stanhope hotel: a 5-star hotel in a manor house in the European quarter, it sources almost all of its ingredients from the local area, and does all of its cleaning without using chemical products.
- Dolce La Hulpe Brussels hotel: a luxury hotel on an exceptional site on the outskirts of the capital, it offers its clients different kinds of bikes and the benefits of onsite renewable energy products (by installing over 1,000 solar panels).
Two hotels have also had their labels renewed: the Radisson Blu Royal and the Radisson Blu EU.
Supported in particular by the Brussels Hotels Association (BHA), this initiative is led by the Federation Inter-Environnement Wallonie, official partner of the FEE for Brussels and Wallonia, in close collaboration with Wallonie-Bruxelles Tourisme (WBT), VisitBrussels, Brussels Booking Desk (BBD) and the professional associations Hostels in Brussels, Bed & Brussels and Brussels Special Venues, as well as the Brussels authorities responsible for tourism within the COCOF.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
