Hotel Okura Amsterdam

Boosting Sustainable Tourism Through Certification

EUROPEAN GOOD PRACTICE COLLECTION 2021

NOMINATION FORM

Please send until 6^th August 2021 to (herbert.hamele@ecotrans.de / cc diego.nunez@ecotrans.de)

NOMINATING CERTIFICATE

Green Globe

Contact Person:

bcox@greenglobe.com

NOMINATED BUSINESS

Hotel Okura Amsterdam

Internet contact

www.okura.nl

Size of business (if known)

Medium (from 50 to 249)

Category

Serviced accommodation

Country

Netherlands

Destination, with related protected area(s)

Contact Person at the nominated business

Roos.Bijen@okura.nl

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS

according to following SDGs on Tourism4SDGs.org:

Please indicate very briefly their exemplary or innovative actions and measurable achievements (including quantified results if known)

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

The tourism sector needs to adopt sustainable consumption and production (SCP) modes, accelerating the shift towards sustainability. Tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for tourism including for energy, water, waste, biodiversity and job creation will result in enhanced economic, social and environmental outcomes.

.

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Tourism contributes to and is affected by climate change. Tourism stakeholders should play a leading role in the global response to climate change. By reducing its carbon footprint, in the transport and accommodation sector, tourism can benefit from low carbon growth and help tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

 Energy conservation remains a main focus of the property with the installation of 873 solar panels on the Grand Ballroom’s roof. After just one year, the hotel has saved more than 89 tonnes of CO2 emissions which is equal to almost 2,700 trees being planted.

Hotel Okura Amsterdam’s WKO (warmte-koudeopslagsysteem) or heat-cold storage system allows the hotel to be heated or cooled using energy efficient methods that minimize CO2 emissions. The property has taken important steps toward removing its reliance on gas as an energy source. In 2018/19 three chiller plants were replaced with one central generator in the basement that has very high efficiency cooling machines connected to canal water and a heat pump connected to two mono sources.

In addition, a number of air ventilation units have now been converted to a low temperature range CV and a high temperature range GKW. As a result, the source for cooling can be used directly without mechanical cooling. Furthermore, the heat pump / cooling machine is used for cooling purposes in the summer period with the conversion to low-temperature GKW installations. And the heat pump with its low-temperature central heating supply is used in winter when sources are loaded with the residual cold. The hotel’s vision is to eventually make all technical installations more sustainable with any new installations converted to low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling to match the economic and technical lifespan of existing equipment.

The hotel also utilizes a new Guest Room Management System (Room Domotica) that automatically varies settings on equipment based on whether guest rooms are vacant or occupied. The smart system adjusts lighting, opens and closes curtains, and changes air conditioning and heating temperature settings accordingly. In this way, it reduces energy consumption and improves guest comfort.

Eco-friendly transportation is supported by the hotel and delivery by bikes has increased since 2019. Hotel bike couriers pick up bread, cheese, wine, poultry and other items from local producers. Guests are also encouraged to use green transportation options such as bikes or electric bikes when getting out and about in Amsterdam.

SDG 14 – Life below Water

Coastal and maritime tourism rely on healthy marine ecosystems. Tourism development must be a part of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in order to help conserve and preserve fragile marine ecosystems and serve as a vehicle to promote a blue economy, contributing to the sustainable use of marine resources.

Exemplary or innovative actions:

Measurable achievements:

SDG 15 – Life on Land

Rich biodiversity and natural heritage are often the main reasons why tourists visit a destination. Tourism can play a major role if sustainably managed in fragile zones, not only in conserving and preserving biodiversity, but also in generating revenue as an alternative livelihood to local communities.

SDG 8 - Decent work and Economic Growth

Tourism, as services trade, is one of the top four export earners globally, currently providing one in ten jobs worldwide. Decent work opportunities in tourism, particularly for youth and women, and policies that favour better diversification through tourism value chains can enhance tourism positive socio-economic impacts.

Exemplary or innovative actions:

Measurable achievements:

SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals

Due to its cross-sectoral nature, tourism has the ability to strengthen private/public partnerships and engage multiple stakeholders – international, national, regional and local – to work together to achieve the SDGs and other common goals. Public policy and innovative financing are at the core for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Hotel Okura Amsterdam supports charitable causes in the community including sponsorship of the Sint Maarten charity lunch and working in co-operation with Emma Kinderziekenhuis Academic Children’s Hospital (AMC). The hotel regularly contributes toward CSR initiatives ranging from hosting the biennial Bio-Gala, an event that raises money for the Bio Foundation which supports children who have undergone epilepsy or suffer from cerebral palsy and spina bifida to donating 300 retired duvets to Human Aid in Greece.

Measurable achievements:

Link to further information about the nominated business (if available):