VILLA HERMANI

Contributor	Herbert Hamele
Country	Germany
Keywords	ETGG2030-GP ETGG2030-MAP
Organisation	VILLA HERMANI
Postal address	Sat Măgura 130, 507133 Măgura, România
Webpage	http://www.cntours.ro
Release date	08/04/2022
Landscape type	Mountain
Topics	Good Governance & CSR
GSTC Criteria for Industry	A: Demonstrate effective sustainable management A3 Reporting and communication A10 Destnation engagement B: Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts B1 Community support B2 Local employment B3 Local purchasing B4 Local entrepreneurs C: Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts C1 Cultural interactions D: Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts D1.3 Energy conservation D1.4 Water conservation D2.1 Greenhouse gas emissions D3.1 Biodiversity conservation D3.3 Visits to natural sites D3.4 Wildlife interactions
Marketplace category	Certified Green: Accommodation Providers
Type	(Best Practice Business)

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#	File name	Contributor	Release date	Uploaded by	Upload date	Size	Content type


Category:	Guest house and local tour operator
Size:	Micro
Protected areas nearby:	Piatra Craiuliu National Park
Certifying body:	Eco Romania AER

Outstanding contributions

Villa Hermani is a 17 bedroom guesthouse in Măgura mountain village, in the middle of the Piatra Craiului National Park. Livestock breeding is the basis of the local economy. In summer the animals graze in the alpine meadows cared for by shepherds and dogs as protection against wolves and bears, and the hay meadows in the village are still scythed. The guesthouse was opened in 2004 and initially certified by the Eco-tourism association AER in 2006. The guesthouse is operated by Carpathian Nature Tours (CNT), a tour operator specializing in soft adventure, nature/culture discovery and wildlife watching, with a high level of responsibility.

The guesthouse uses solar energy during the summer, which covers 90% of the requirement for water heating. All electrical equipment is low energy. Water consumption is reduced by special devices in each bathroom. Food is purchased locally as far as possible, with all the beef, mutton and lamb sourced from the village. Bulk purchasing of items such as sugar reduces the use of packaging. Guests who participate in the Nature Tours spend six out of seven days on trekking excursions with no use of motorised vehicles.

CNT was founded in 1999 in cooperation with the Carpathian Large Carnivore Project as a sustainable tourism programme for the area of the National Park. Its main interest is the conservation of nature and the protection of the European large carnivores – bear, wolf and lynx. Bear watching generates substantial revenue for wildlife management units (around EURO 10k in 2019). The owner is also involved in a stork monitoring programme. CNT also works with the Romanian Institute for Wildlife Research on some of their projects, such as programmes for the reintroduction of beavers and marmots.

All staff come from the local village and local contractors are used for construction and maintenance. The guesthouse initiated a new ecotourism trend in the village and other local people have also opened accommodation. The guesthouse team initiates and supports various clean-up actions on the village, as well as other activities mobilising volunteering by local young people to meet common objectives.

Key SDGs related to this action

See: Tourism for SDGs - Recommendations for Companies