Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in Europe, is bringing awareness of corporate and social responsibility into sharper focus with an enhanced ESG strategy. In order to systematically continue to meet its own high standards, Leonardo Hotels has incorporated specific measures and clear goals in the areas of climate action, social commitment and structural change in its sustainability strategy until 2027.
The strategy is based on three main pillars: protecting the planet, investing in people and driving change. Long-term goals have been adopted for each of these three areas. The strategy is an expression of the corporate guiding values, which include responsibility, quality, appreciation and connection with local communities. As an important step and as one of the numerous measures for more sustainability, the international hotel chain will, among other things, have all its hotels awarded the Green Key certification for sustainable management by
the end of 2024.
Green Key certification – the key to more sustainability
In order to offer guests, employees and partners a clear orientation, even more transparency will be created in the future, with the Green Key certification of all hotels, through measurable sustainability parameters. Green Key is a voluntary eco-label and the top standard for sustainable management in the tourism industry. Hotel companies awarded this certificate undertake to comply with the strict criteria of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
The criteria, which include efficient energy, water and waste management, are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Several Leonardo Hotels have already received the certificate.
“Through the Green Key programme requirements, we encourage the hospitality industry to increasingly integrate sustainable and low-carbon practices. We are pleased that Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is certifying all its hotels with Green Key as part of its long-term ESG corporate strategy,” says Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director at FEE. “In being a part of this, they contribute to more information, transparency and credibility in the industry. At the same time, our certification supports the participating companies in their further sustainable development.”
Commitment to sustainability at all levels
Leonardo Hotels Central Europe has been actively involved in both environmental and social issues for many years. This includes the established corporate social responsibility programme “LeoDo”, as well as the company’s own “Leo Academy”, which offers further training for employees at all levels, as important pillars of this commitment.
“There are topics that always take priority. Sustainability and social engagement belong to this list without a doubt. It is a social question of how we in the hotel industry want to deal with the issue. For me, there can only be one approach: not we have to – we want to,” says Yoram Biton, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. “We work on our goals every day and accept our responsibility together with all our colleagues.”
