Regional Added-Value and Cultural Preservation
Sustainable hotels are guardians not only of the environment but also of local culture. They work with local communities to create jobs, promote traditional crafts, and preserve cultural heritage. This collaboration ensures that local traditions are kept alive, creating authentic experiences for guests. |
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| One example is the OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol, which works closely with the Sägemüllerhof social cooperative (Demeter). The hotel purchases many of its products from this neighboring business and also provides financial support. It also offers its team social benefits such as health checks. In this way, it underlines its holistic responsibility towards the community.
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| The Relais del Maro in Liguria is proof of how strong the link between a hotel and its surroundings can be. The Scalambrim family designed the hotel as an Albergo Diffuso, a concept that involves restoring several old family homes scattered throughout the village and opening them to guests. Through this unique hotel concept, guests can experience the charm of a typical Ligurian village and immerse themselves in the history, culture, and traditions of Borgomaro. The family has been tied to the village for generations – and continues its legacy in an authentic way. In this way, the village is strengthened and its culture preserved.
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Vacation for Everyone
Several hoteliers in the Green Pearls® network have taken it upon themselves to help people in difficult circumstances. With programs that enable disadvantaged families to take a vacation, they offer not only relaxation but also precious moments of happiness, relief, and hope.
For example, the Hotel Weihrerhof cooperates with the South Tyrolean children’s cancer charity Peter Pan. The hotel offers families with children suffering from cancer a free vacation in the off-season to give them a break from the often stressful daily routine. This time is especially valuable for siblings.
Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld is an active member of the Global Family Charity Resort e.V. initiative. An organization dedicated to providing vacations for families in need. The Klosterbräu offers a free vacation to families who would otherwise not be able to afford one due to difficult circumstances. This support goes far beyond a simple vacation experience. It gives families strength and hope for their daily lives. Similarly, the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol and the Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA are involved with Global Family and offer families a carefree vacation in the middle of nature. |
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Stronger Together: Taking Social Responsibility for the Team
Sustainable hotels care not only about their guests and the environment but also about the well-being of their team. Through targeted programs and social offerings, they not only promote professional development but also create a supportive environment that improves the daily lives of employees. |
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| The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang is a pioneer in this regard. By providing affordable housing within a 2-kilometer radius, the hotel offers its employees the opportunity to live close to where they work. This project not only shortens the commute (and thus the working day) but also makes an important contribution to sustainability by reducing traffic.
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| Other notable examples are the ADLER Resorts & Spas, which include the ADLER Lodge RITTEN and the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA. They offer their nearly 65 employees not only attractive compensation and working hours but also specially subsidized apartments and housing to ensure a stress-free living situation. The Italian hotel group also attaches great importance to the professional and personal development of its team and offers regular training courses. With initiatives such as these, ADLER Resorts & Spas shows how social responsibility is also practiced within its team.
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Guests are Part of the Change
Volunteer programs and creative giving models directly engage guests in positive change and give them the chance to become part of it.
The Naturresort Gerbehof is doing this in the form of a fundraising campaign. The hotel donates four euros a day to the Sternenland children’s project of the Stiftung für Gesundheit in Taubenheim, Germany, when guests waive the daily room cleaning service. There, children up to the age of five are treated free of charge using the Philippi method. In this way, guests help to ensure that the youngest receive the support they need. It is a simple but effective way to do good.
Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa also proves that guests can make an important contribution to supporting social projects by choosing whether or not to have their rooms cleaned. The hotel donates the money collected to the local mountain rescue service and its important work in the Bavarian Alps. In this way, Klosterhof guests indirectly ensure the safety and protection of the alpine community. |
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Long-term Social Impact of Sustainable Projects
Social projects implemented in sustainable hotels often offer much more than short-term relief. They lead to profound, long-term change and promote the autonomy and independence of the communities they support.
Hotel Luise in Erlangen is an example of such a long-term and multi-faceted commitment to sustainability. In 2022, the hotel planted a microforest to increase biodiversity and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. This forest is continually maintained and expanded. The positive effects on biodiversity and microclimate are already noticeable. The hotel has also installed a vending machine with regional, organic, and fair-trade products to supplement the local supply for residents, as there are few supermarkets in the immediate area. Working with the Center for Independent Living, the vending machine was designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Food from the vending machine that is about to expire is used for breakfast at the hotel to reduce food waste. Projects like this have a lasting and positive impact on the community and daily life in the area. |
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Another example of the long-term impact of social projects can be found at the NGO Smiling Gecko’s FARMHOUSE resort, where chef Mariya Un Noun has had an inspiring career. Growing up in Cambodia and originally without access to formal education, Mariya’s passion and ambition for the culinary arts helped her work her way up the ranks. Under the guidance of renowned chefs such as Andreas Caminada and Peter Knogl, she developed her skills and became the first Cambodian chef to receive international recognition for her cuisine.
At FARMHOUSE Smiling Gecko, she uses her talent to delight and inspire guests, as well as to educate local youth and provide them with opportunities for the future. The Smiling Gecko Project supports rural communities by promoting education, employment, and sustainable agriculture. The goal is to create long-term prospects and alleviate poverty through holistic development projects. As chef, Mariya plays a vital role in promoting self-employment and career opportunities for disadvantaged communities. |
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Donations and Sponsorships
Many sustainable hoteliers are not only involved locally but also support international and charitable organizations through donations and sponsorship programs. These initiatives make it possible to have a positive impact beyond one’s region, benefiting global and local communities alike. |
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| For example, SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA collects bottle caps, which are recycled by the BlechWech organization. The proceeds from the recycling process go directly to SOS Children’s Villages, specifically to a mother-child clinic in Somalia. This simple but effective initiative combines environmental protection with social commitment.
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| The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt also supports various charitable projects. The hotel currently donates 10% of its water sales to WIR (Water is Right) to fund wells in remote regions of India and it offsets its CO2 emissions by donating to MyClimate, an organization that promotes social and sustainable projects worldwide. In addition, the hotel supports local associations in Zermatt and provides them with presentation opportunities at events. Since 2023, CERVO has also offered its employees the opportunity to actively participate in the design of sustainability projects through its internal Sustainable Ambassador Program.
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Sustainable Hotels as Drivers of Positive Change
The activities of sustainable hotels promote social justice and improve the quality of life in local and global communities. The examples presented here show how well-designed social projects not only benefit local communities but also the hotels themselves by providing an enriching experience for their guests.
This win-win situation strengthens social cohesion and fosters a sense of community that can bring long-term benefits to all involved, such as increasing the acceptance of tourism in the region. The members of the Green Pearls® network set the standard for a future-oriented travel and vacation culture that benefits guests and locals alike. |
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