Think Globally, Act Locally: How Green Pearls® Hotels are Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

Support from the tourism industry is an often underestimated but enormously effective lever for achieving these goals. It is one of the most important economic sectors worldwide and, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has the potential to positively influence nearly all SDGs. Tourism can promote economic growth (SDG 8), create high-quality jobs, strengthen gender equality (SDG 5), advance education (SDG 4), and preserve cultural heritage and local products (SDGs 11 and 12). At the same time, tourism enables climate and environmental protection measures (SDGs 13 and 15) when resources are used consciously and natural spaces are protected.

«Tourism can contribute – directly or indirectly – to all of the SDGs. It has the potential to spur inclusive economic growth, promote environmental sustainability, and foster intercultural understanding and peace.»

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Sustainable Accommodations Play a Key Role

Hotels and accommodation providers play a key role in this regard. As employers, service providers, purchasers, and users of local resources, they influence the social, economic, and environmental aspects of a destination. By investing in renewable energy, creating local value, training employees, and communicating sustainably with guests, they can contribute significantly to the implementation of global goals.

Green Pearls® Unique Places hotel partners have jointly committed to sustainable responsibility and provide an example of responsibility in action. While the individual members pursue their own sustainability strategies, they are often guided by the SDGs.

Green Visions for the Hotel Industry

For Green Pearls® partners, sustainability is more than just a marketing buzzword. It is a guiding principle and design standard that is becoming a hallmark of modern hospitality culture. The hotels below exemplify how the UN’s sustainability goals can be put into practice and show that, for them, these are not just abstract guidelines but tools for real change.

One notable example is the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Alpe di Siusi in South Tyrol. Since 2019, the hotel has consistently offered plant-based cuisine, and by the end of 2024, it had established itself as the first purely vegan hotel on the Seiser Alm. By doing so, the hotel specifically influences several SDGs, particularly sustainable consumption and production (Goal 12) and climate action (Goal 13). The reduced ecological footprint of plant-based cuisine is scientifically proven and can be experienced firsthand by guests.

Examining other Green Pearls® hotels reveals that many of the 17 goals are addressed individually, depending on the region, business, and philosophy. At the hotel My Arbor in South Tyrol, ecological and social sustainability are linked. The hotel’s cooperation with regional producers, conscious avoidance of mass-produced goods, and use of natural building materials demonstrate a responsible approach to resources. At the same time, the hotel supports Climate Goal 13 with energy-efficient building concepts and renewable energies. Fair employment conditions, long-term prospects, and targeted further training also make sustainability a social promise here.

«It is an ongoing process, and we will continue to optimize our strategies and actions.»

Alexandra Huber, Hotel My Arbor

The Hotel Weihrerhof in Ritten is a prime example of technical innovations driving sustainable development. Its modern heating systems, water-saving measures, and solar technology protect resources and help preserve the environment. The hotel shows that even small hotels can make measurable ecological progress through strategic investments.

While some hotels focus on technical or conceptual aspects, the SCHWARZWALD PANOAMA has deeply embedded sustainability into its corporate structure. With a 90% GreenSign certification score, the hotel is a model for energy-efficient construction, climate-friendly operations, and the development of sustainable cities and communities. These efforts are further bolstered by social initiatives and transparent reporting, such as the WIN Charter Baden-Württemberg and the German Sustainability Code.

The Lifestylehotel SAND on the Baltic Sea is also taking a forward-looking approach. Through the “SDG Scouts” project, young employees are actively involved in developing new sustainability ideas. Special training courses enable these employees to independently implement projects and act as ambassadors for the 17 goals. Through this project, the hotel primarily addresses Goals 4 and 16, „Quality Education” and „Strong Institutions and Participatory Processes,” respectively. These young professionals become multipliers of a new corporate culture, demonstrating that sustainable change can succeed when people have a say.