Lefay Resort & APA Lago di Garda

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

Lefay Resorts & Residences

Internet contact

 lefayresorts.com

Size of business (if known)

Medium (from 50 to 249)

Category

Serviced accommodation

Country

Italy

Destination, with related protected area(s)

Contact Person at the nominated business

marketing@lefayresorts.com

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.

Heat energy usage decreased with a consumption of 127 Mwh per person, highlighting the success of the different measures the resort has put in place to ensure energy efficiency. Water consumption also dropped by 1%, despite the growth in guest numbers and a summer drought.

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.

In 2011, Lefay commenced major efforts in tackling the issue of CO2 emissions. On the 20th of December that year, the company signed a voluntary agreement with the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea in Rome. The agreement promotes common projects aimed at assessing individual environmental footprints through the calculation of a carbon footprint and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2013 Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda has been compensating 100% of its carbon emissions. Compensation is made by discounting the outstanding share of carbon emissions against the purchase of CERs credits recognised by the UN in compliance with the provisions of the Kyoto protocol. Implementation of such programs is aimed at cutting CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases in both developing and other countries.

Investment in Energy Conservation

Lefay has invested in new technologies that enable more efficient use of energy and the extensive utilisation of clean and renewable energy sources. These cutting-edge technologies assist in providing guests with the luxury of all comforts and services whilst retaining the utmost respect for the environment.

In particular, the Technology Facility at Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda is comprised of a biomass plant, a micro-turbine cogeneration plant and an absorption cooling system. It is one of the few plants of this type in Italy that ensures 75% of cooling production and uses heat emitted through the exhaust of the micro-turbines and the biomass boiler to generate cool air. The remaining 25% of cooling is produced by a high-performance compression cooling system. The biomass plants are fed by wood chips, local woods and gardening waste to produce thermal energy with significantly reduced carbon emissions which is used for heating rooms, swimming pools and producing sanitary warm water.

At Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, the biomass plant covers around 70% of the property's demand and allows an annual oil saving of about 220,000 litres equivalent to an annual CO2 emission reduction worth about 510 tons. At Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, it is estimated that the biomass boiler, with a nominal power of 1,100 kW, covers more than 50% of the needs of the property. Here the annual oil saving is about 300,000 litres, which corresponds to a CO2 emissions reduction of about 900 tons.

In addition to the biomass plant and the cogeneration plant at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, a free cooling system has been installed with two air-cooled chillers. The system operates primarily during the favourable weather conditions in summer when cool outdoor air can be used as a cooling source rather than a refrigeration process.

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.

Local community support and promotion of the local area
The Lefay Group actively contributes to the development and promotion of the local region in Italy and abroad. It performs extensive public relations activities, creates partnerships, sets up co-marketing activities and sponsors cultural, social and sports events in collaboration with local organisations and associations. The resorts are also committed to giving employment preference to people living in nearby cities and working together with local suppliers to promote development of the area.

Procurement Policy
Both resorts give preference to companies that operate in compliance with the processes and regulations envisaged by international quality and environmental certification systems. More than 60% of suppliers are from the immediate area, all located within the province of Brescia and Trento.

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.

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