Valsana Hotel Arosa

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

Valsana Hotel Arosa

Internet contact

www.tschuggenhotelgroup.ch

Size of business (if known)

Medium (from 50 to 249)

Category

Serviced accommodation

Country

Switzerland

Destination, with related protected area(s)

Contact Person at the nominated business

e.knaak@tschuggenhotelgroup.ch

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.

Valsana Hotel & Appartements is a 100% plastic free hotel that has successfully eliminated single-use plastic products throughout its daily work operations. Paperless procedures have been fully implemented. To further reduce environmental impacts, all food waste is sent to companies that produce biogas fuels.

Valsana Arosa Hotel proudly supports the Every Toner Counts recycling campaign run by the Red Cross. Used toner and print cartridges are collected by the Pelikan company and checked, prepared and processed at its recycling centre. For each toner collected, Pelikan makes a financial donation to the Swiss Red Cross. Funds raised assist families in Switzerland affected by poverty.

Circular economic principles are carefully considered at Valsana Arosa Hotel in efforts to reduce overall waste volume. The hotel has partnered with the Lienert company to recycle candles while bottle corks are also collected and recycled. Hotel staff have been busy creating recycled glass vases from wine bottles at the property which are used to display fresh seasonal flowers in guest rooms.

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.

 Innovative sustainable approaches stand out at this alpine retreat. Valsana uses 100% renewable energy with electricity generated from hydropower. There is no reliance on fossil fuels during colder periods as an ice battery along with several geothermal probes utilize heat recovery processes to create warmth. Furthermore, 100% LED lighting is installed throughout the property and all windows are triple glazed and covered partially with window film to provide improved insulation.

Water saving measures have also been implemented with aerators fitted on all taps to conserve the consumption of potable water. In addition, green areas are irrigated via a drip system and only hardy plants that can withstand seasonal changes are grown in the gardens.

The hotel is a carbon neutral hotel and offsets all CO2 emissions through My Climate. Valsana in partnership with My Climate, has the opportunity to support two climate protection projects namely the renaturalized upland moors in the Tourbières des Ponts-de-Martel nature reserve in Neuchâtel, Switzerland and the Virunga mountain gorilla project in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda where energy efficient cooking stoves used by families are subsidized to reduce the use of firewood and the destruction of gorilla habitat.

From the time they check-in to the time they check-out, all guest stays are completely carbon neutral and each guest is given the opportunity to offset their entire journey to Valsana as well as the return trip back home.

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.

Regional and certified products are used in all departments but above all, in the Food & Beverage department. Valsana’s Chef pays great attention to the quality and variety of food available in the Twist Restaurant and other dining establishments where only MSC certified fish is purchased and vegan meals are a permanent part of the menu. Some of the delicious local Swiss specialties on offer at breakfast are Appenzeller cheese, Bündnerfleisch, Bircher Müsli and fresh eggs from a farm situated about 30 km away in Felsberg. The property’s wine list consists of 75% Swiss wines and 100% European wines.

Valsana bottles its very own Arosa spring water that replaces bottled drinking water to minimize plastic consumption. To support regional development, only Swiss products are offered in guest room minibars.

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.

Exemplary or innovative actions:

Measurable achievements:

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