Green Key (FEE) and ATTA announce partnership to promote sustainable travel practices

ATTA and FEE have created a Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of jointly promoting sustainability awareness, fostering practical implementation, encouraging community engagement, and activating market participation among the members of both organisations. This collaboration will benefit the members of ATTA and FEE (Green Key and Blue Flag programmes), while aiming to build more sustainable destinations and companies.

““The collaboration between ATTA and FEE will lead to the development of more resilient and eco-friendly travel destinations and continue setting a high standard for the industry.””

— Daniel Schaffer, Chief Executive Officer of FEE

By leveraging each other's strengths and resources, this partnership will enhance the visibility and impact of sustainability initiatives. It will provide a robust framework for members to adopt and showcase best practices in environmental stewardship. Additionally, it will facilitate deeper community involvement, encouraging local populations to actively participate in sustainability efforts. This concerted approach is expected to drive market activation, creating a competitive edge for businesses that prioritise sustainable practices. 

According to Shannon Stowell, CEO of ATTA, "Sustainability is no longer an option; it is a necessity for the future of travel. This partnership between ATTA and FEE represents a significant step toward equipping more destinations and businesses with the tools and knowledge to implement meaningful change. By working together, we can create a more responsible and resilient tourism industry that benefits communities, protects our planet, and enhances the traveler experience."

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About Foundation for Environmental Education

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries. With a network of over 50,000 educational institutions, the Eco-Schools, Learning About Ecosystems and Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes empower young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning. The Green Key and Blue Flag programmes are globally recognised for promoting sustainable business practices and the protection of natural resources. With over 40 years of impactful experience in ESD, FEE’s strategic plan, GAIA 20:30, prioritises impactful action across all five programmes to address the threats of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. 

About the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), established in 1990, is the largest global network of adventure travel leaders with around 30,000 individual guides, tour operators, lodges, travel advisors, tourism boards, destination marketing and management organisations, outdoor educators, gear companies and travel media who share a belief and commitment to sustainable tourism. ATTA’s mission is to empower the global travel community to protect natural and cultural capital while creating economic value that benefits both trade members and destinations. ATTA offers a portfolio of strategic solutions and a robust ecosystem of events around the world. ATTA has specialised expertise in research, education, media, and promotion.

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Statement on Green Key's status - 2025 and beyond

The current Green Key standard (criteria and explanatory notes) took effect on 1 January 2022 and has been internationally recognised. This Green Key standard is expected to remain in force until 31 December 2026.

The certification process includes third-party verification, conducted either by an independent auditor or a National Jury, to ensure compliance with Green Key requirements.

To meet upcoming EU directives on consumer protection and green claims, Green Key is committed to securing scheme approval from Denmark’s national accreditation body (NAB), a member of the International Accreditation Forum.

During 2025, Green Key will be updating and revising criteria and process to allow for application for scheme approval which will be submitted by 31 December 2025, with the goal of achieving approval by 31 December 2026.

Any updates to the Green Key standard and certification procedures resulting from this process will be implemented no later than 1 January 2027.

First Bulgarian restaurant to receive the Green Key award for a restaurant in Eastern Europe

An article by the Bulgarian Blue Flag Movement, FEE member in Bulgaria

When we heard for the first time at the Bulgarian Blue Flag Movement that a former school in the Bulgarian village of Devino had been transformed into what is probably the most sustainable restaurant in Eastern Europe, we simply couldn’t believe it.

As the Bulgarian full member and representative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and its Green Key programme, the Bulgarian Blue Flag Movement has a long experience in sustainability certification. So after receiving the Dieci Boutique Restaurant’s application, we decided to check for ourselves whether this is real.

We analysed the entire business process of the restaurant according to the Green Key criteria - the world's leading eco-label for environmentally responsible tourism businesses.

Undoubtedly, the owners of Dieci, Chef Gianfranco Chiarini and Chef Anna Chiarini, have decided to turn sustainability not only into a moral thing to do, but moreover into their philosophy, lifestyle and passion.

Dieci Boutique Restaurant is blessed to be located in the heart of Bulgaria, among pristine forests that provide the game, truffles and hundreds of foraging treasures to the wonderful and innovative cuisine it offers to its guests. But it also provides its visitors with direct contact with the priceless nature of the country, which is an important requirement of the Green Key programme.

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The remodeled building gives credit to the chefs and their philosophy, where the reuse of old materials and adapting rather than demolishing is sustainable in itself. But they went further by improving the building’s energy efficiency during the renovation and were very smart in the use of reclaimed wood for the floors, organic painting materials for the walls and everything in the villa and the restaurant, from the tables to the restaurant’s food is organic and fair trade certified - in line with the Green Key criteria.

What is most exciting is how they’ve turned an old abandoned school into something exceptional, where all traditional elements have been preserved, old furniture and tools have been restored and beautifully displayed. Watch a video about the duo and the restaurant.

The owners' day begins at 6:30 in the morning, when foraging from the forests brings the best of nature to their dishes, with pure and fresh aromas and incredible flavors that are unusual to a regular palate.

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Their day continues with the vegetable garden and the fruit orchard where all the vegetables, roots, fruits and herbs are being provided to give way to the preparations for their exquisite dinners. This follows one of the guideline requirements of the Green Key.

Finally we get to the most crucial part of their sustainability philosophy. All the electricity and the water in the property is produced via photovoltaic panels (22 in total) and a deep well which goes as far as 63 meters below. All this makes Dieci, not only energy efficient, but 100% energy independent. The Green Key programme requires serious management of energy and water consumption, and Dieci has even built on this.

The cooking takes place at specific hours of the day where the use of special equipment is calculated by Kph in order to never enter the national grid and only use the flow of energy once the batteries are full. Then in the dark hours of the night the restaurant switches to batteries.

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During the entire operation of preparations and dinners, every bag, every plastic, every little material that is metal and glass are separated as they go. Any left over food is placed into an Electronic Food Composter, that turns in 10 hours all the organic food waste into a beautiful organic compost that looks like earth soil. This compost is stored in natural jute bags and afterwards used in the colder months to grow in their nursery the small plants that will be planted at the end of May in the vegetable garden.

It is important also to state that for the small plants nursery, Dieci Boutique Restaurant has its own seed bank with different species and a sort of Bulgarian tomatoes that are as old as one century. Some species were considered lost and Dieci are happy to have brought them back. These wonders are to be enjoyed in the warm months of the summer, since Dieci not only consumes and grows local, but also seasonal.

Also Dieci has its own fermentation rooms, aging rooms and beehives to produce their own organic honey 100% pure and without any sugar. All the honey is the product of direct and unaltered bee to flower pollination.

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During the entire food preparation any paper, plastic, metal or glass material is collected separately for future processing in their own recycling center, which has certainly become second nature to Gianfranco and Anna. Even for the experienced auditors of the Bulgarian Blue Flag Movement, the recycling measures seemed extremely impressive:

• the glass is being collected and crushed in a special machine, then sent for processing, with no glass being thrown away;

• the metal from aluminum packaging, cans and any other metal left-over is melted down in a special

• machine and with the melted metal Dieci makes its own unique souvenirs for its guests;

• the paper and cardboard are being shredded and left in recycled water from their rainwater collectors. The resulting material is used in a special press to make briquettes, which are utilized afterwards as organic fuel for fire in the winter.

• plastic is being shredded in a special machine, then melted into molds with the form of a brick. A new recycling center will be built from the bricks produced.

All these incredibly smart and environmentally friendly activities are open to all restaurant guests, who can witness them during the short tour before dinner. This is part of the mission of Chef Gianfranco Chiarini and Chef Anna Chiarini to inspire them and teach them what true sustainability is. At the same time, it is an important element of the Green Key programme's education for sustainable development.

It is fair to mention that all the revenue from the sales of their handmade recycled souvenirs go back into the community: the funds received are used to pay local people to clean the village and the surrounding forests of plastic, glass, metal and paper, and to provide them for processing at the Dieci recycling center.

This last action closes the circle of sustainability by involving and teaching their community to think green and to reduce and reuse sustainably. In this way, not only is the local community supported, but it is also educated not to pollute, to collect waste separately. All this fully covers the social aspect of the Green Key programme.

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But the most impressive thing is that, in addition to the culinary magic they create, all the maintenance of the building, the gardens, the bees, the trees, the fermentations, the aging of meat, game, reservations, accounting, marketing and social media and above all – sustainable management with care for nature is in the hands of Chef Gianfranco and Chef Anna Chiarini alone.

The certification and audit of Dieci Boutique Restaurant under the Green Key programme did not turn into a control visit, but into an exchange of experience and useful ideas, how to preserve the natural environment, how to run a tourism business in the most sustainable way with reasonable resource consumption and waste management with an undeniable positive economic effect, which enriched all parties. Dieci definitely stands out as an example that sustainability can also have a beautiful, luxurious, delicious and inspiring side, which should motivate other Bulgarian tourist sites to follow suit.

The sustainable daily activities of Dieci Boutique Restaurant cover all and even build on many of the Green Key criteria and hopefully the international guides will take notice that this petite place in the middle of paradise is not the product of coincidence, nor an accident. But the exemplary result of hard work, passion and ingenuity of two persons in the middle of nature, delivering the highest creative cuisine that Bulgaria has to offer with zero waste and the minimum impact to their surroundings.

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Thank you, Gianfranco and Anna, for choosing Bulgaria as your home and for teaching us how to deliver the highest quality at the lowest cost to nature.

Due to the fact that the impressive green practices of this special place are not just sustainable policies and procedures, but a lifestyle and business style, a personal philosophy and credo, Dieci is the first restaurant to be awarded the prestigious GREEN KEY global award, not only in Bulgaria, but also in Eastern Europe.

World’s Leading Travel & Tourism Certification Organisations Collaborate to Meet Growing Demand for Sustainability

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Green Key International, and Blue Flag International are proud to announce our participation in a global collaboration of leading certification organisations dedicated to developing and upholding industry-recognised standards for sustainable tourism.

This significant milestone highlights the critical importance of our 10-year strategic plan, GAIA 20:30, which pledges to empower climate action, protect global biodiversity, and reduce environmental pollution. By joining forces with these respected partners, we collectively enhance our capacity to drive global sustainability initiatives and demonstrate our commitment to creating a more sustainable future by providing transparent, achievable, and affordable solutions for the industry.

Representatives from the organisations which took part in the meeting in Copenhagen. From left to right: Billy Bishop (Travelife for Accommodation, Daniel Schaffer (Foundation for Environmental Education), Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada (Responsible Tourism Institute), Elissa Keenan (Ecotourism Australia), Naut Kusters, (Travelife for tour operators), Birte Pelayo (Green Globe Certification), Gary Graham (Green Key Global), Albert Salman (Green Destinations), Marco Giraldo (TourCert)

At the commencement of 2024, leading sustainable travel & tourism certification organisations formed a collaboration to address better practices and improve cooperation across the globe. These certification organisations and their related educational and training bodies include Biosphere: Instituto de Turismo Responsable; Blue Flag; Ecotourism Australia; Good Travel Seal; Green Globe Certification, Green Key: Foundation for Environmental Education; Green Key Global; TourCert; Travelife for Accommodation; and Travelife for Tour Operators.

For more than 30 years, these leading certification organisations have been responsible for developing internationally accepted sustainability criteria, constituting the industry-recognised standard for sustainable tourism. Collectively these organisations have certified more than 19,000 of the world’s leading travel and tourism enterprises, organisations, and destinations.

The hallmark of these certifications has been and continues to be, a focus on transparency, integrity and credibility. This inclusive approach is underpinned by the combined knowledge of industry professionals, academia, quality assurance auditors, destination managers and regulators. All stakeholders contribute and benefit from the ongoing development processes, providing a common platform that neither favours nor discriminates, but promotes the continuous improvement of sustainable performance by all.

As leading sustainability certifiers, these organisations have ensured that the criteria and indicators of the industry-recognised standard have been developed for use in various countries, regions, and geographies. This process has allowed the travel and tourism industry to comply with the standard, via actions that contribute to the sustainability of the communities in which they operate and on which their activity has a direct and indirect impact, promoting more respectful and resilient business models.

The travel and tourism industry and destinations have for many years relied on the indisputable veracity of the professional services delivered by these certification organisations. These organisations’ certification services are underpinned by a quality management approach and assured by independent verification inspections.

Participants in the meeting in Copenhagen from Travel & Tourism Certification Organisations

Over decades and today, many thousands of travel and tourism enterprises, organisations and destinations utilise the certifications provided by these organisations to prove ESG practices to shareholders, investors, governments, and destination managers. Recently, sustainability’s remarkable rise in popularity with travel consumers has led to an unprecedented demand for certification by many more businesses and destinations.

With the rapidly growing appreciation of sustainability’s immeasurable value, certification organisations have come together to ensure that core values, along with criteria and indicators that define sustainable tourism, are not diluted, or manipulated.

Furthermore, on behalf of their clients and members, the organisations will work collectively to satisfy the requirements of emerging consumer protection legislation such as the European Union Green Claims Directive. This collaboration of certification organisations looks forward to discussing and aligning approaches to future legislation, reporting standards and other requirements relating to sustainable tourism certification.

Concerning their historical roles as founders and developers of the knowledge and practices that have grown sustainable tourism, the certification organisations are dedicated to further fostering a global industry that thrives on sustainability. This includes the development of frameworks and pathways that encourage all enterprises to engage sustainability as a driver for their business. The fundamental goal is to provide transparent, achievable, and affordable solutions for the industry, and assist them in meeting the challenges of operating sustainably and achieving continuous improvement.

This new level of collaboration by certification organisations will further empower travel and tourism to embrace sustainability through rigorous certifications, and promote destinations that endorse eco-friendly practices, support local communities, and preserve cultural richness. To this end, the certification organisations will continue to guarantee that their professional services are provided fairly and affordably across all sectors and to all businesses, including micro and small-to-medium-sized enterprises, that make up the great majority of the travel and tourism industry.

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About Green Key International
Green Key is an internationally recognised programme that certifies hotels, resorts, theme parks, and conference centres, that adhere to strict criteria in social and environmental responsibility, alongside sustainable business practices. Achieving this certification reflects a commitment to exceeding global standards through innovative solutions.

Green Key operates under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is recognised by a range of international hotel chain partners and other entities in the tourism and hospitality industry as a preferred sustainability certification partner. With over 5,900 certified businesses in 70+ countries, Green Key is the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism and hospitality industry. Learn more at www.greenkey.global.

About Blue Flag International
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism boats. To qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. Central to the ideals of the Blue Flag programme is the aim of connecting the public with their surroundings and encouraging them to learn more about their environment. As such, environmental education activities must be offered and promoted in addition to a permanent display of information relevant to the site in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental phenomena.

Blue Flag operates under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is world-renowned award trusted by millions around the globe. With over 5,100 awarded beaches, marinas and tourist boats in 51 countries, Blue Flag is the leading programme promoting sound environmental education and sustainable management of beaches, marinas and boating operators worldwide.

About Foundation for Environmental Education
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 80 countries. With a network of over 60,000 educational institutions, the Eco-Schools, Learning About Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes empower young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning. The Green Key and Blue Flag programmes are globally recognised for promoting sustainable business practices and the protection of natural resources. With over 40 years of impactful experience in ESD, FEE’s strategic plan, GAIA 20:30, prioritises impactful action across all five programmes to address the threats of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.

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For more information, please contact:

Alessandro Venti, International Blue Flag Coordinator
Email: alessandro@fee.global

Increasing presence of Green Key in Colombia reflecting a positive step toward Sustainable Tourism

ACODAL, the Asociación Colombiana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental is taking over the work as National Operator in Colombia. The main focus areas of the NGO are to promote the development and strengthening of the Water, Sanitation and Environment sectors through national and international representation, the dissemination of knowledge, as well as the management and execution of projects in these areas. The launch of the Green Key programme reflects a significant step towards aligning the country's tourism industry with global sustainable practices. The general shift towards more sustainability in Colombia is also reflected by different hotel chains starting to put more efforts in to the certification of their hotels in the country.  

One of these chains is the Minor Hotel group, international hotel owner, operator and investor with currently more than 530 hotels across the world. Minor Hotels, a growing chain with extensive experience in the hotel market, has excellent locations for business and leisure travellers and is continuously working to achieve its objectives in terms of Sustainability and Social Responsibility. In Colombia, Minor Hotels can now showcase that they are rigorously following their objectives, through the certification of four NH hotels in Bogota:  The NH Collection Bogotá WTC Royal hotel, the NH Collection Bogotá Andino Royal, the NH Collection Bogotá Teleport Royal and the NH Collection Bogotá Hacienda Royal. Minor Hotels’ group will continue its efforts to increase the number of hotels that obtain the certification in 2024. 

NH Collection Bogotà Hacienda Royal

Oscar Restrepo, general manager of the Andean region of the Andean region of Minor hotels, explains in connection to the hotel group's objective of developing a sustainable and responsible business that has a positive impact on the planet.  

“We are very pleased to have obtained Green Key certifications in four of our hotels in Bogota, thanks to the good practices applied in the hotels, which include recycling actions, environmental certifications, energy efficiency, partnerships with third parties to promote green initiatives and training for our employees, among others." 

The NC Collection Bogotà WTC Royal Hotel

Besides that, Accor, one of the largest global hotel chains which has signed a global cooperation agreement with Green Key at the beginning of 2023, is putting more focus on certifying their hotels in Colombia and Latin-America as a whole. As part of their goal of certifying all Accor hotels by 2026, the first two hotels in Colombia, the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara and Hotel Boutique Bovedas Santa Clara have been certified with Green Key in December 2023. 

Celebrating the First Green Flag Awarded EcoCampus in Cambodia

In November 2023, the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule became the First EcoCampus in Cambodia and the first vocational hospitality school globally to receive the Green Flag Award.

Just over a year ago, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) joined forces for the Improved Competitiveness of National Enterprises (ICONE) project, which aims to increase sustainable tourism in Cambodia. By leveraging synergies between FEE’s EcoCampus and Green Key programmes, staff from vocational training schools, their students,  personnel and managers from the tourism and hospitality industry in Cambodia, were trained and supported to implement sustainability measures in their corresponding institutions/businesses, including the Green Key certification.

This past June, Green Key International Coordinator and Project Manager, Claudia Bogensperger travelled to Cambodia to participate in a regional conference on sustainability in tourism and to deliver an introductory course on sustainable tourism to three hospitality schools in Cambodia, including the school Ecole d’Hotellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule in Siem Reap.

Founded in 2002, as a project of the nonprofit organisation Formation et Progrès-Cambodge, the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule, has successfully established itself as one of the most renowned vocational schools for hospitality and tourism in Cambodia, having trained over 4,000 Cambodian future tourism professionals.

Last month, FEE’s Senior Director of Education, Pramod Kumar Sharma travelled to Cambodia to award the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule, making it the first EcoCampus in Cambodia and the first vocational hospitality school globally to receive the Green Flag Award. In order to receive the Green Flag Award, EHT Paul Dubrule had to successfully embed sustainability initiatives not only into their curriculum but also into the overall operation of the school. EHT Paul Dubrule is a unique example that illustrates how tourism and hospitality, vocational training and sustainability can successfully work together.

We congratulate the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule on their achievement and look forward to seeing the further development of the sustainable tourism sector in Cambodia.

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About FEE:

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 80 countries. With a network of over 60,000 educational institutions, the Eco-Schools, Learning About Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes empower young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning. The Green Key and Blue Flag programmes are globally recognized for promoting sustainable business practices and the protection of natural resources. With over 40 years of impactful experience in ESD, FEE’s strategic plan, GAIA 20:30, prioritises impactful action across all five programmes to address the threats of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.  

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Develops its Climate Action Plan as a Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has taken another significant step towards delivering effective Climate Action in the Tourism sector.

As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration, FEE has pledged to develop and implement an Action Plan focused on addressing climate change impacts in tourism. The plan will be reviewed annually to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Glasgow Declaration was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in November 2021. It is a voluntary commitment requiring organisations to deliver action plans within 12 months of their becoming signatories. These pledges should be aligned with five pathways: Measure, Decarbonize, Regenerate, Collaborate and Finance.

The Glasgow Declaration encourages the acceleration of climate action in tourism by securing commitments to reduce emissions in the tourism sector by at least 50% over the next decade.

The objectives of FEE’s Action Plan for Climate Action are strongly connected aligned with FEE´s GAIA 20:30 strategy’s Climate Action pillar, as well as with the global goal of reaching net zero emissions as soon as possible, before 2050.

FEE aims to implement global actions through its five programmes, with a particular focus on Blue Flag and Green Key International, renowned for their sustainable tourism initiatives and broad network of destinations and hospitality establishments.

In the coming years, FEE has outlined key objectives to guide its actions, in particular:

• Support member organisations in the FEE network to deliver quality change action and develop Climate Action Plans, while providing access to tools and resources to do so.

• Wherever possible, align the criteria of its sustainable tourism programmes with the goals and with the five pathways of the Glasgow Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate and Finance).

• Promote a culture of measurement and monitoring of carbon emissions. This will involve analyzing energy consumption, waste management practices and other relevant factors in order to form a basis for targeted emission reduction strategies throughout the network.

The Foundation for Environmental Education builds initiatives and activities together with and for its broad network of organisations in around 80 countries all over the world. More than 5000 sites are awarded the Blue Flag in more than 50 countries, and more than 4000 sites are certified with the Green Key in more than 60 countries. FEE aims at taking the role of a strategic multiplier for the Glasgow Declaration effort.

To read the Glasgow Declaration Action Plan of the Foundation for Environmental Education, click the picture below:

By fostering collaboration, promoting sustainable practices, and raising awareness, FEE’s Action Plan for Climate Action aims at inspiring positive change, and at contributing to global efforts in mitigating climate change locally, nationally, and globally.

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Green Key blooms in Bulgaria: 10 new establishments receive the certificate and embrace sustainability in their operations

After hard work on introducing the principles of sustainable management and thorough document checks and on-site audits, ten new Bulgarian hotels receive the Green Key certificate and reinvent themselves as a supplier of a high-quality sustainable tourism product. 

© "Debeli dab" Eco village - Stara Kresna  

In addition to the first Bulgarian hotel to receive the Green Key - InterContinental Sofia Hotel, we warmly welcome the following establishments in our global Network: 

• Boutique complex "Forest Houses" - Godech 

• "Debeli dab" Eco village - Stara Kresna  

• Complex "Bozhenski Chiflik" - Sabotkovtsi 

• "Zlaten Rog" Guest house - Iskrets 

• "Katarino" SPA Hotel - Razlog 

• “Orpheus” SPA & Resort- Devin 

• "The Five Elements" Hotel  - Sapareva Banya 

• "Pirina Club" Hotel  - Bansko 

• "Rudi" Thematic Hotel - Gorno Draglishte  

• "Topola Skies Resort & Aquapark" Hotel Complex - Topola  

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All the newly certified accommodation facilities are part of the international "Project ETGG2030” (European Tourism Goes Green), co-financed under the COSME Program of the European Union. They followed their own principles of environmental management, but complying with the strict Green Key criteria, achieved remarkable success and qualitative change.  

• Boutique complex "Forest Houses" in Godech is located on a picturesque meadow tucked away in the forest. It is built only from local natural materials such as wood and stone and takes special care of the natural habitat and its precious inhabitants. 

• "Debeli dab" Eco village in Stara Kresna takes immense pride in involving its guests in their mission of environmental preservation. With a range of activities including organised rafting, cycling, hiking and cycling tours, as well as children’s camps, they effectively raise awareness of the significance of biodiversity preservation.   

• Complex "Bozhenski Chiflik in Sabotkovtsi provides traditional experiences such as crafts, access to locally produced food, and practical lessons to learn about the flora and fauna.   Eli from Bozhenski Chiflik says:

“We offer hospitality with a guarantee for real food, pure nature and preserved traditions.”

• "Zlaten Rog" Guest house in Iskrets is a 100-year-old house in the Balkan mountain, completely preserved and restored to its original, whose construction serves as a model for architects from around the world. It provides organic farming experience for its guests in a natural garden, where no chemicals are used, and all the wastewater is treated and re-used for watering the plants.  Ani, the owner of Zlaten Rog says:

"We are the last generation that can choose what to leave to our heirs. The next generations may not have a choice, it's up to us!" 

• "Katarino" SPA Hotel – Razlog is surrounded by three mountains and it is the embodiment of the idea of a luxurious spa holiday in nature. The hotel has an impressive program of activities taking their guests outdoors on hiking or riding free tours along mountain tracks to peaks, lakes and landmarks where they can observe different species of birds, butterflies, animals, plants. They offer their guests their homemade produce and drinks of natural origin which are delicious, pure and inspired by nature. 

•   “Orpheus” SPA & Resort’s General Manager, Valentin Kotsakov,  points out:  

“As a person, I myself have always sought to live in such a way as to be in maximum harmony with the environment. This applies to me, my family, and the establishment I manage. Through our application for the Green Key certificate, we were able to synchronize many of the activities we were already doing anyway. But we also gained new knowledge and skills on how to be even more useful in nature conservation. But most importantly, Green Key gave us the self-discipline and a new focus on our daily activities, from which we received the satisfaction of being worthy inhabitants of our planet Earth.” 

• "The Five Elements" Hotel- Sapareva Banya is proud to receive the Green Key, because following its requirements they managed to educate their team, who are 99% local people, the philosophy of sustainable development and the reasonable management of waste, and by taking these principles to their families – they succeeded in influencing the whole community. The hotel is located next to the hottest gayser in Europe and using modern technology they can utilize the thermal power of mineral water. The hotel management adopted and took care of a nature trail in the Rila National Park and they are happy to support various noble local causes.  

© The Five Elements Hotel

• "Pirina Club" Hotel ‘s owner, Deana Hristova, from Bansko says:

“The Green Key certification program is very important to our business, as it has defined our priorities and helped to fill many gaps in our sustainable development plans. We are especially proud that we managed to create a waste recycling system. We separate paper, glass, plastic and metal, used batteries and plastic caps, which we collect especially for the "Caps for the Future" campaign. We are happy that our own sustainable practices are coherent to the Green Key criteria.” 

• "Rudi" Thematic Hotel - Gorno Draglishte has a motto: Let's move forward by returning to nature! Their mission is to respect, preserve and live in harmony with the environment. All their guests can enjoy cozy atmosphere, home-cooked meals, local traditions and customs. Over a cup of aromatic forest tea with pine elixir, they hold talks about wild mushrooms and herbs. And after the walks on the eco-paths, the experience is unforgettable for everyone who is happy to return. The owner of the hotel Velka Yadkova points out:

"We can move forward only with a clear awareness of the need for preserving the nature around us, through good practices and responsible training of the team, the local population and the guests of our hotel.”  

• "Topola Skies Resort & Aquapark" Hotel Complex - Topola is famous for its zip-line to the beach through picturesque cliffs and the nature trail, that they have created themselves, with information boards about the indigenous flora and fauna. They are happy to be able to preserve local traditions by supporting folk groups. Every week they organize a Bulgarian evening for their guests with dance and music performances. In this way they manage to show the rich Bulgarian culture to the visitors of the complex. 

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director adds:

“We would like to congratulate all the newly certified Bulgarian establishments for their efforts toward a sustainable hospitality industry!”

Accor and Green Key sign collaboration agreement

The collaboration agreement between Accor and Green Key for 2022-2026 will have Accor hotels implementing their sustainable development initiatives through two preferred certification programmes globally, including Green Key.

© Accor

Accor is one of the largest global hotel chains, with over 5,400 hotels across 40+ brands in over 110 countries at present.

Accor has been committed to sustainable development for many years. With new goals set in 2020, the Group has decided to go a step further in its sustainability transformation, aiming for all its hotels to receive an external sustainability certification before the end of 2026.

Due to Green Key’s established expertise across environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, the programme has been chosen by Accor as one of two preferred certification programmes to cover all regions globally (except USA and Canada, where Green Key is not offered).

 Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer at Accor said:

I am very proud of the collaboration agreement between Accor and Green Key, which now has Accor hotels implementing their sustainable development initiatives through two preferred certification programs globally. It indicates Accor’s commitment to responsible hospitality and will help increase external recognition of our sustainability practices amongst all stakeholders in the industry.

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, added:

“We are proud to be chosen by Accor as a preferred certification partner. With our large network of National Operators, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to support Accor with its sustainability ambitions and seeing many Accor hotels globally displaying the Green Key.”

About Accor:

Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries in 5 400 properties, 10 000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 40 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is committed to taking positive action in terms of business ethics & integrity, responsible tourism, sustainable development, community outreach, and diversity & inclusion.  Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit www.group.accor.com or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

© Accor

About Green Key:

Coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Green Key is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 4,200 hotels and other establishments in 60+ countries and is the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. The high environmental standards expected of Green Key establishments are maintained through a strict set of criteria, rigorous documentation and frequent audits. Green Key is eligible for hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants and attractions.

For more information, please visit www.greenkey.global or contact us through finn@fee.global.