Nearly 5000 green beds in the greater Rotterdam

Details

Category: Latest news Visit Holland

More and more hotels and conference venues hold international eco-certificate.

The greater Rotterdam area offers nearly 5000 green hotel beds, at hotels that hold a Green Key. This international hallmark of quality is awarded to businesses in the tourism, recreation and leisure sector that have a serious and verifiable commitment to sustainable enterprise. Sustainability in the Rotterdam hotel and conference sector continues to show steady growth as a result of the ‘Sustainable Hotels and Conference Venues’ agreement.

22 of the 29 hotels and conference venues that signed the agreement in June 2010 hold the Green Key label. Nineteen of those achieved the gold standard, which is the highest level of quality in Green Key certification. Increasing sustainability in the hotel sector resulted in over half a million green overnight stays in 2011, reaching nearly 60% of the total number of overnight stays in Rotterdam.

The results were announced recently at the concluding event in the Van Nelle Ontwerpfabriek, holder of a gold standard Green Key and one of the oldest green conference venues in the Netherlands. Rotterdam alderwoman Alexandra van Huffelen (Sustainability) was pleased with the results of the agreement, saying “The tourism and hospitality sector is Rotterdam’s poster child for our sustainable image. Its value for the business market cannot be underestimated. Clients want a Green Key and sustainable events management firms, and more and more consumers are opting for fair products as well. Businesses that find clever ways to cater to those preferences are a step ahead of the competition.”

Entrepreneurs are also acknowledging the value of the Green Key label, as became clear again yesterday. “We are doing 20% better than other conference venues in the national platform we are a part of, and I would venture a guess that it’s because of sustainable enterprises that deliberately choose us as a ‘green’ location,” one of the attending clients stated. The biggest savings are seen in LED lighting and water conservation. Another client said, “The amount of water that can be saved was a real eye-opener for us. From 1200 down to 800 cubic metres a month!”

A possible continuation of the initiative will be discussed in the coming months with the signatories to the agreement. Steps are also being taken to explore Green Key certification for Rotterdam’s museums, theatres and smaller catering establishments.