News & Stories
Amsterdam. Indeed, to a lot of people, the term "sustainable travel" means an eco-friendly accommodation, but by far not everyone can say they have spent the night in such a location. What is simply missing is good communication by the hotel industry.
Augsburg. Mail from China: Regarding our article last week about eCharging stations and electric cars, Gerhard E. Mitrovits, Managing Director of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing, had communicated that ecologically friendly ideas are also being applied there. And from Munich, a service provider for charging stations at hotels had likewise responded.
Wiesbaden. The promotion machine for the luxury electric cars of the car manufacturer Tesla is in full swing all over the globe. Other automotive manufacturers are working at full speed on such environmentally friendly models. In addition, the German government is pursuing an ambitious programme for the switch to "e-cars". The hotel industry offers new service opportunities to these vehicles. Pioneers in the industry have already set an example and provide e-charging stations, while the trade show eCarTec will present e-mobility concepts for the tourism in Munich in October. An overview about what the hotel industry has to expect and what it is already contributing towards the cause.
Vienna. Guests want hotels to make use of renewable energies, though don't want to see wind generators or hydropower dams when on holiday. This indicates potential and perhaps a touch of schizophrenia at the same time. These were the findings of two current research projects undertaken by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. Ulrike Proebstl-Haider, a renowned environmental expert at the university, looked at the relationship between tourism and energy. "The focus was investment in renewable energies and trends in product development. In other work, we looked at the question of how holidaymakers respond to these new developments." The research revealed significant contradictions.
Hamburg. Even modern cruise ships produce substantial pollution. Environmental activists demand a move away from heavy fuel oil to more refined marine diesel or liquid gas. Many shipyards have meanwhile invested in technical systems for exhaust gas treatment. A current study shows that this is the wrong approach.
Madrid. People visit the Canary Islands mainly for its weather, beaches, quiet and landscapes. Since last November, the Spanish mineral oil company Repsol has been probing for oil in the waters around the islands. This has generated very strong social controversy in public and great political tension. Exactly one week ago, Repsol seemd to give up its plans.
London. The new "Corporate Responsibility Report 2014" of IHG shows the efforts and results of IHGs "Green Engage" program, which not only leads to reductions in the fields of energy, water or carbon footprint, but also to more bookings.
Hamburg. The environmental issues of cruise ships can be seen in two ways. On the one hand, the health and climate damaging pollutants from commonly used fuels that were described in last week's Part 1, and on the other hand, the issue of high energy and water consumption as well as waste disposal on the ships. This second part is about the announcements and already implemented measures by cruise lines that should relieve the strain on the environment, especially during the cruise giants' downtimes.
Hamburg. The Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union has just presented their current "Cruise Ranking 2014", with one good and one bad bit of news: The positive is that the protests by the environmentalists are show effecting against the "white giants" who, with their exhaust gases, apparently belong among the greatest environment polluters worldwide. As a frontrunner, the AIDA Cruises cruise line has adopted a hefty 100 million Euro environmental programme and on average, there are clearly improved assessments in comparison the year before. In contrast, the negative is the fact that of the 28 new constructions for the European cruise market in the period from 2014 to 2019, over half will still have no exhaust gas systems and will continue to use the cancer-causing heavy oil that is harmful to the environment. The "floating hotels" must still catch up with the "land hotels" as this article today and another to follow will demonstrate.
Palma de Mallorca.The fundamental values of Spanish Meliá Hotels International have always included a commitment to the environment, sharing local culture, and contributing to cultural integration and society. As part of the 2008-2010 Strategic Plan these values were included as a strategic line of work to help the company to make progresses towards them. The first challenge was to define the Sustainability Policy of MHI. In the new Strategic Plan 2012-2014, sustainability has become a force which underpins all strategic lines of work across the board.